The Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament has applauded the establishment of the National Children’s Commission almost a year after the House passed its Amendment Bill.

Parliament passed the National Children’s Commission Amendment Bill in March last year which addressed the disparities observed in some sections of the National Children’s Commission Act of 2019, especially on the appointing authority and eligibility of commissioners.

Chitsulo: The team is the best in everything

The passage of the Bill meant operationalisation of the commission as President Lazarus Chakwera became the appointing authority of the commissioners to lead the body.

Speaking in an interview yesterday after confirming four of the five appointed commissioners, PAC chairperson Joyce Chitsulo described the team as “the best in everything.”

She said: “This [commission] is the best in terms of composition, experience and qualifications. Even age wise, it has a combination of youthful and older individuals with a wonderful gender balance.”

The chairperson also commended the appointing authority for taking into consideration every aspect that matter in children’s affairs.

“It was one of the best interviews to handle as PAC. The committee unanimously nodded to their appointments as commissioners,” added Chitsulo.

The confirmed commissioners are chairperson Reverend Father Vincent Mwakhwawa, who is Vicar General of Lilongwe Archdiocese of Roman Catholic Church, Benedicto Kondowe, an activist and executive director of the Civil Society Education Coalition, Lucy Kachapila, a global early and childhood survival and development consultant and Julia Chimula.

However, the committee is yet to confirm Lyka Rashida Milanzie, who was occupied with other tasks and will be confirmed within the forthcoming Budget Sitting of Parliament, according to Chitsulo.

Jenipher Mkandawire, child rights activist and executive director of Foundation for Children’s Rights, expressed confidence in the commissioners, saying she believed they would deliver to the expectations of Malawian children.

NGO Coalition on Child Rights chairperson Desmond Mhango also commended PAC for completing appointment process, saying it has given the Malawian children a special body to lean on. The Bill was passed two years ago and an allocation of K100 million was later made by Treasury but without the commissioners in place the funds were just lying idle.

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