Malawi paper says ‘no’ to secession, but backs federalism debate

A prominent Malawi newspaper, Nation on Sunday has become the first paper to publicly reject the North Malawi independence campaign but has strongly supported the stance taken by the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) to facilitate a national debate on proposals for the country to adopt a federal system of government.

The weekly newspaper in its editorial comment with the headline ‘We say no to secession’, said: “Let Malawians speak their minds on how they wish their country to be governed.”

The paper however said it does not agree with the idea of accommodating secession calls.

“Whatever grievances some quarters of society have and no matter how legitimate the concerns may be, the solution cannot be to dismantle this country into pieces,” reads the editorial.

Although the paper has rejected the secession call, is does not dispute the fact that there are genuine concerns calling for immediate attention and action.

It nonetheless stress that “secession is certainly not the right way to address such issues.”

Reads the editorial: “Even in the face of  nepotism, lack of development or the quota system of selecting students into the University of Malawi (Unima) and many other issues that are being cited by proponents of secession,  there is no justification whatsoever for the country to take this regrettable path.”

The paper noted that Malawians have together “fought colonialism, dictatorship and ushered this beautiful country into democracy”, adding that “in this long walk, we have stood together as one Malawi; our patriots have shed blood for Malawi as one country.”

It wonders where things have gone so wrong that the word secession should be heard in our midst.

Pro-federalism campaigners said newspapers are “perfectly entitled” to back one side or the other.

Meanwhile, the Nyasa Times  is giving its columnists and those posting comments,  freedom to take their own position on the federalism or North Malawi independence.