APM discuss federalism with Malawi opposition leaders
Malawi President Peter Mutharika held talks Thursday with nine opposition leaders to discuss thorny issues affecting the country, including federalism.
The meeting was held in camera but sources said the President and opposition leaders also discussed the issue of federalism.
Mutharika is under pressure to call for a referendum after opposition parties, especially from northern and central Malawi, have called for a federal system of government.
Many felt sidelined in Mutharika’s cabinet formation and the way some of his tribesmen have occupied influential posts after his election.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition leaders, Kamuzu Chibambo, the president of the Peoples Transformation Party (Petra), said Mutharika was very open to the ideas they had tabled.
“We assured him of our support because this is our country; its either we go forward together or we sink together,” said Chibambo.
The President said the meeting was a fulfillment of a promise he had made during the presidential campaign.
“We had a wonderful working luncheon discussing all sorts of aspects of issues from electoral system to Cashgate to economic reforms and economic development,” Mutharika told reporters.
Mutharika won 34 percent of the vote in the hotly-contested election, defeating first female president Joyce Banda and others.
Conspicuously missing at the meeting held at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre was Lazarus Chakwera, the leader of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
Banda, the leader of the Peoples Party (PP), also did not show up for the meeting.
Her spokesperson, Tusekele Mwanyongo, said the former president was still in the U.S. where she had gone to attend some events on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
President Eddy Banda, you are a tribalist to the core. Why would you introduce quota system in the presidency when you are the same who is rejecting quota system in university selection? Do you know that you don’t own anything apart from your brain? What you claim to be yours belongs to the Lord? Even the president is just a steward of the Lord? Don’t be stupid. Today you’re here tomorrow you are dead. You owe nothing in the land.
Malawi is poor and too small a country to have several gvts plus the main gvt.this will benefit the politicians.apm cut the size of the gvt.because of this some greedy politicians want to go federal so that they become ministers in thier little states.this wont improve the life of poor malawians but the greedy politicians.malawians go and vote to refuse this animal called federlism.
Can we improve please…I was expecting to see my president in a jubilant youthful attire talking to his fellows standing with glasses in their hands etc. The guys are not even smiling and looking at APM …his eyes are on 2019… Nothing else…
The story sound very sketchy.It only give supporters of the parties space to argue in defending their readers.
MCP matama bwanji osangosanduka mpingo bwanji. À bus a a chakwera, a church elder a Tembo ndi wankulu was a mai kabwira. Zangovuta Uladi mussa akanakhala oyimba belu ndi kwaya master. Koma mazenenewo CD one osagula.
dont say central region and northen.You have to say nothern region because us people from central we dont want it either……. za nkutu kutu za njeee
We need Electral reforms now and that was supposed to be the main agenda not just lunching on our had earned paid taxes monies ,PERIOD.
I LOVE REV CHAKWERA IS A GREAT LEADER!!!
Ha!! Ha!! Ha!! this APM government is a joke, APM discuss federalism without Main opposition, can u believe it!!!!
jumbe and Katsonga should protest over the headline because they are part off DPP and not oppostion