PAC welcomes President remarks on federalism: ‘Let Malawians decide’
The quasi-religious Public Affairs Committee (PAC) ) has welcomed President Peter Mutharika’s stand on calls for federal system of government, allowing the citizens to decide.
Mutharika speaking during a news conference at Sanjika Palace, Blantyre on Monday said the citizenry will be given opportunity to decide if the country should adopt federal system of government.
“I think Malawians have a right to decide on that. But those who are pushing for this issue should do so carefully and with honest,” said
Mutharika.
Mutharika however warned his government will not allow the nation to be misled on the issue, arguing he will defend the Constitution by any
means necessary.
He said the issue of federalism can best handled by allowing Malawians to decide, adding the issue could be included in the current
constitutional review.
And Pac Excutive Director, Robert Phiri said in an interview with Nyasa Times that Mutharika’s comments are inline with what his institution has been advocating for.
“That is welcome development. The President’s comments are inline with principles of democracy where the will of the people always prevail.
His comments are the same of what we have been saying,” said Phiri.
Phiri said Mutharika’s stand on federalism would advance health debate as Malawians decide on their future.
“We need to handle this issue with sober minds and allow health debate solve the impasse on whether the country should move to a federation.”
Pac, Phiri said, is currently waiting for an audience with Mutharika on the same issue of federalism after writing his office for a meeting last month.
Recently, government said that if need be the country will go to a referendum to decide on the federal system or total secession of the northern region as being suggested by other quarters.
Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa said government intends to embark on a national wide civic education tour on the question of federalism, and secession.
CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, one of the powerful churches in Malawi, has said no one should be threatened for supporting on-going calls for federal system of government in the country.
The Synod also told the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government that time for oppression was over, warning it against suppressing calls for federalism.
Synod Moderator Douglas Chirambo said Malawi is not a dictatorship, as such people should be allowed to debate federalism.
“People should not be threatened for voicing their concerns. If proponents of federalism are pushing for federal government, it means something is wrong,” said Chirambo.
He cited the recent quota system of selecting to students to conventional secondary schools and public universities as a justification for federalism calls.
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Much as I am not impressed with the Lomwe’s type of leadership which is nepotistic, I am of the view that this is the right direction to involve Malawians to decide their future. By putting blocks against it, they will make the issue so complicated and therefore lose focus on development. The Northerners may have a point in this campaign but I believe it is coming out of frustration. If I were Peter I would have allowed the northerners to run the north as a country on its own, honestly they have made noise for a long time. One thing… Read more »
We are decided and we want a federal system of government.
lets face it Malawi is not USA or AS nor INDIA.federal government is the way to go in Malawi only bad people will say no.
Mr APM pls try to care for all Malawian citzens if u can’t manage pls just resign tomorow b4 u get heart attack
alekeni apite ka north kasatibowe. anthu phokoso how about anakakhala ambiri? et them be! and onse akagwire kwao komweko asamaloze malo kuno. nonse mudzipita muime panokha as per your wish. tisapasane busy.mwana akanyanyala nsima katayeni mawa sadzapanganso now awa asamalalate kodi kuli chiani kumpoto? anthu akuwakokera akuzitenga mashasha! what else? let them be!
I never wanted to comment on this issue but have been forced to after reading comment number 34 which among things, contains some misleading information. To begin with may I start by saying that it is not true that Livingstonia Synod ‘encroached’ Nkhoma Synod territory. What is true is that it was Nkhoma Synod that encroached Livingstonia’s territory around Dwangwa area. After this has happened, Livingstonia Synod complained to the General Synod (a body that oversees all the Synods) and the General Synod ordered Nkhoma to withdraw from Livingstonia’s territory. This issue was never resolved for about fifty years because… Read more »
Time has finally come, ican see wind of change, awa akulalata against the ideas of the blessed benjamins they will find themselves playing against God,i hate quota system more than death. Who knew that malawi would one day ruled by female president? Expect so sooner his exllency from nyikaland. God is not stupid,believe me.
ROTATIONAL PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!! OVER OUR DEAD BODIES!!!!!!!!!!!! MARK THAT AMBWENUMBWENU, AGALU INU. YOU ARE CONTRADICTING YOURSELVES ACTUALLY, AFORD IS TAKEN AS A RUMPHI PARTY…CHAKUFWA CHIHANA WAS FROM RUMPHI, DINDI GOWA NYASULU WAS FROM RUMPHI AND ENOCK CHIHANA IS FROM RUMPHI. MUNGANENE CHANI CHANZERU INU. MUKULEPHERA KWANU KONKO KUPANGA ROTATE KA UPULEZINETI KACHIPANI MUKANENA PULEZIDENTI WA ZIKO. FOTSEKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU NORTHERNERS, DONT DISGUISE YOURSELVES WITH CHICHEWA NAMES, USE YOU TUMBUKA NAMES WHEN COMMENTING HERE. BY THE WAY, WHICH DISTRICT IN MALAWI IS DEVELOPED? HAVE YOU BEEN TO NENO, CHIRADZULU, THYOLO, PHALOMBE, MACHINGA, MWANZA? IF YOU SAY SOUTH IS DEVELOPED, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? OSANGOKHALA NDI KAMPOTO KANUKO BWANJI!
kodi ccap Synod of livingstonia osangoyambitsa chipani chanu bwanji? mumafuna kumabisala ku za church pamene ndinu andale opemphera onyenga inu. lekani kusocheletsa anthu. mumakangana ndi a nkhoma synod mpaka kumalowerana malo za church za satanic? sovani kaye mavuto anu mu church yanu ndipamene muzikamba za dziko lonse onyenga inu. federal, federal, federal ambuyanu ife ayi osatisokoneza mavuto ndi ambiri kale awa.