MP Mwenifumbo decries tribalist tendencies: ‘What’s wrong with Atumbuka or North Malawi?’

Karonga Central Member of Parliament (MP) Frank Mwenifumbo has described as unfortunate the steadily growing tribalist tendencies getting haywire in the country,  saying they can explode into something “very” disparaging.

Mwenifumbo: North Malawi demand its fair share of development

He said tolerance must quickly be invoked in the minds of everyone to avoid a replica of the 1994 Rwanda escapade where thousands of people were massacred based on tribal differences.

A spirited Mwenifumbo told Nyasa Times, in an exclusive interview in the capital Lilongwe, that he was baffled why some people were taking people from the northern region – including politicians – as “simply” a power hungry kindred.

North not power hungry

He said people who believe in the notion that people from the northern region are power hungry have to “seriously get back to read and understand the history of this country.”

Mwenifumbo said, “on the contrary, people from the northern region have always wished this country well.”

In his analysis, he said even before Malawi became independent, it was mostly people of the northern region that, after clearing “the way”, invited Malawi first President Kamuzu Banda to come back and lead them.

“It was the likes Orton Chirwa, Chisiza, Banda and, of course, with others like Chipembere that invited Banda from abroad to let him lead them. Nowhere is it written that people from the northern region fought to be leaders. They simply wanted the best for this country,” said Mwenifumbo.

But Mwenifumbo said it was sad that during the 30year rule of Malawi and Kamuzu northerners suffered the worst of times.

“Chirwa actually died in detention, so many others. A lot of northerners, including some members of my family, died mysterious deaths,” said the politician-cum-businessperson.

He repeatedly said on-point that the remarks that are recurrently rained on people from the northern region as people who are “hungry for power” as baseless as history corrects them as not being such characters.

“Even at the dawn of multiparty, it was Chakufwa Chihana who fought had for it.  Again, for the good of this country.  [Bakili] Muluzi hijacked but Chihana chose to work with government again to support it until his death,” he said.

Time to act

The independent legislator said it was, therefore, unfortunate to say people from the northern region are bad and power hungry, saying there is need for nationwide thoughts on the matter.

“It has come to a point where people will blatantly say Atumbuka (generalizing people from the northern region) are bad. That Atumbuka are power hungry. Some have gone to the extent of openly saying that they hate people from the northern region. What’s wrong with Atumbuka,” queried Mwenifumbo, concerned.

The issue, he said, looks simple at hand but “can explode” to something tragic.

“That is how the genocide in Rwanda started – with speaking. We surely don’t want a repeat of that in Malawi. It has always been a peaceful country,” he noted.

Malawi is a multi-tribal country with the main tribes such as Ngonde, Tumbuka, Lambya, Chewa, Ngoni, Yawo, Sena, and Lhomwe spread across through the three regions of the country.

But since the one party rule of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) under Kamuzu Banda, people from the northern region continue to feel rejected and discriminated.

On a number of occasions people from the northern region have felt that government deliberately sets up policies that purportedly aim at letting them benefit minutely from the national cake.

One of such policies has been the quota system whose aim is to make sure that every district is evenly represented at Malawi colleges. But the northerners feel the system punches them in the stomach as hundreds of their brainy ones are left out on selection with less performers from the other districts being picked.

The region has recently been advocating for a federal system of government that would make it more of an independent state, and therefore enjoy its resources and make its own policies.

Government has been playing hide and seek on the matter.

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Oky
Oky
7 years ago

Kent ur write up is good,wel analysed but there are just a few observations and some additions.Dont mislead malawians, (1)democrancy was indeed artectured by westerns but in most african countries it was through the influence of personalities of brave hearts, in the case our country Chihana and Catholic bishops took the risk (2)MCP did not replace NAC rather NAC was abolished after facing financial constraints so a new party later was borne in the name of MCP with its founder Orton Chirwa.Please consult ur resource wel kent(3)Finally our Education system is wel defined in a number of objectives that contribute… Read more »

Mwinithako
Mwinithako
7 years ago

Mathumbuka are the same as the Tutsi.Very arrogant the same as their siblings the Matchewa.Very pwambwatic.Imbeciles,Abude!!Agong’ong’o Ananseta !!!!.Noways for the small nepotistic tribe.These DOGS helped by the mbwambwanatic Tchewa oLilongwe eiishhh!!Goats,mbuzi zokhazokha.Mwenifumbi,one time as minister of Agriculture followed Chihana type of Thumbukalising the whole ministry.Malawi should not wonder to see most of them rush for HR positions to be in the position to feature their relations on every and each opportunity they grab.National Council of Higher Education full of Thumbukas has tried to frustrate Malawi College of Accountancy for NO Accreditation,the reason why??It used to be run by Mr Chirwa… Read more »

wika
wika
7 years ago

MWENEFUMBO YOU ARE CONTRADICTING YOURSELF.YOU ARE ASKING DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL BUT EDUATION FOR ONLY THE TUMBUKAS.THATS WE SAY YOU PEOPLE FROM THE NORTH ARE SELFFISH

MWINI NORTH - CHAIRMAN
MWINI NORTH - CHAIRMAN
7 years ago

Wake North people the time has come for us to forge a head own
our own not on someones shoes,As i have seen the way other
region use abusive words to us.So lets SEPERATE NOW.

MOST CONCERN CITIZEN
MOST CONCERN CITIZEN
7 years ago

KUTUKWANA SIKUTI NDINU ANZERU KWAMBIRI AYI PANKHANI YIMENEYI AYI
MKAMATUKWANA ZIKUONETSERATU KUTI NDINU OPANDA NZERU.
LETS TALK AS MATURED PEOPLE NOT KIDS,AND SOME ISSUES DO INVOLVE
THE NATION IT NEED PEOPLE OF HIGH CALIBER TO COMMENT NOT
KU NGO KHUTA MBATATA NAYAMBA KULEMBA KUTI TIZIWE ZOTI NANUNSO
MNAPONDAKO KU SUKULU.
IF YOU DONT AGREE WITH PEOPLE FROM NORTH THEN “LET US DIVIDE
THIS NATION INTO 2 COUNTRY’S” BEFORE BLOOD STARTS FLOWING.
People of North are ready to run their own country.So if you
continue kutukwana we are ready to change our mind set.

Weniweni
Weniweni
7 years ago

Lets talk politics we have had MP erected in the southern region from north the likes of Billy KAUNDA but we have never seen an MP from south or central being erected in the north. Who is tribalistic here.

Kent Y.G. Mphepo
Kent Y.G. Mphepo
7 years ago

Dear COUNTRYMEN, I know that my views have pleased some BUT angered some people too. Let me say once again that I have no intention to anger any section of the country. My only concern is that we Malawians always fail to say the truth to one another and we have allowed lies to become “the truth” about our country. The truth of the matter is we people belong to one family. We are one people. We have one destiny and we waste time hiding behind pseudo names, kutukwanana simply because we are from different tribes or we speak different… Read more »

Mwananyanian
Mwananyanian
7 years ago

Kent Y.G Mphepo: Having other things to do (we all do) is not a valid reason for not writing again here. You seem to be passionate about the subject matter you write about; and you also seem better informed on historical matters, mostly, and readers get tickled by some of your facts and observations. Apparently you are a patriot, even though not necessarily more than most of us. But it is easy to detect BIAS in favor of MCP, in your opinions. The computer screen cannot hide your good wishes for MCP. Perhaps you should declare your affiliations to the… Read more »

Moses Mlenga
Moses Mlenga
7 years ago

Kent’s line of thinking is quit appetizing. Let us accept that we are all by nature tribalistic. Operating from this premise will make a good footing for those entrusted with power to come up with fair policies that will serve the interests of all tribes in the country under one Malawi. The greatest tragedy lies in the fact that those who accuse others of being tribalistic are often times not free from the vice. We need more research in this area. SO HELP US GOD!

shadreck njobvuyalema
shadreck njobvuyalema
7 years ago

People can pour ideas, just checking the flow of reasoning within the comments, you can read between the lines.

karonga boy
karonga boy
7 years ago

zinalakwika poyambirira kwenikweni.Ife akumpoto bwezi tili gawo la Tanzania.Ndipo we support Tanzania on Lake issue,let them have the Lake!

Ntumbuka
Ntumbuka
7 years ago

Murara uyu wakukhumba unduna. Remember he was once Minister of Agriculture and used subsidy coupons as a political tool. Let him and his fellow tribesmen from kuthengere get lost. I come from the same thengere but well assimilated into Malawi. I chose to abandon Nyika Banana Republic thengere thinking.

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