CounterJab: North Malawi wants federalism? Be daredevils, go for independence
Selling the idea of changing the way Malawi is governed it is not an easy task. Leading public intellectual Edge Kanyongolo points out that the “federalism debate has quickly descended into emotive quarrels that cloud rather than clarify issues at stake”.
Proponents of federalism, says Kanyongolo, have failed to “explain how federalism or secession in and of itself can cure the problems of discrimination and inequality” while opponents’ “only response to those advocating for federalism (or is it secession) seems to be limited to saying repeatedly that the advocates of federalism wish to divide the country.”
This author cannot agree more.
Respected columnist D.D. Phiri says Malawi is too small to be broken up into states and legal scholar Danwood Chirwa says “the call for secession or federalism is nothing short of beer hall chatter.”
Chirwa says proponents should substantiate “their proposals rather than appealing merely to their personal perceptions of victimization based on alleged regional identity.” They must prove that the North “has indeed been consistently marginalized and dominated in Malawi’s socio-economic and political landscape for a considerable period of time.”
The learned man goes on to say: “The right to self-determination guaranteed by international law and the jurisprudence thereon has been interpreted very strictly to limit the scope for secession… It cannot be proven…that the various ethnic groups in the Northern Region constitute a ‘people’ in order for them to receive protection under this right.”
Did Chirwa raise similar questions when Scotland, which is part of the United Kingdom, sought independence before the idea was rejected in a referendum?
On Malawi, Chirwa argues that nothing “unites the peoples of the North in a fundamental way” and that the region “has numerous ethnic groupings that practice different cultures and speak different languages. There is no unique shared identity between the Tumbuka of Mzimba and the Lambia of Chitipa, any more than there is between these and the Sena of Nsanje and Lomwe of Thyolo.”
Under which rock has Chirwa been living? Lobola (payments of bride price from the husband’s family) runs strong in the North. Northerners are patriarchal. Chirwa mentioned Nsanje which is in the South. Yes, they have something similar to Lobola but the rest of the South and Center do not practice Lobola and they are matriarchal. For the benefit of the uninitiated, the difference between the two is that in the North the father is the head of the family while in the two other regions it is the mother.
Is the practice of Lobola not good enough for cultural identity and why should everything else be similar for a country to hold together? Somalia, in the Horn of Africa, is a country with one religion, Islam, and Somalis speak one language yet peace eludes them.
You probably have guessed by now where this author stands on this issue: Independence. Is that setting the bar too high? Not a problem. Nothing wrong in aiming high. In fact, lack of ambition is one reason Malawi remains backward. If the North ended up with federalism, and not independence, that particular outcome would still be better than continuing with the status quo. What the North would then have to do is make sure that they type of federalism crafted devolves meaningful power to the region.
Talk of federalism or secession triggered by feelings of economic disenfranchisement has been there before but nothing came out of it which perhaps prompted some to dismiss the latest call as mere “beer hall chatter”.
The North, whose development has largely been sponsored by religious institutions, need not be afraid of the many challenges that would emerge with independence. One has to start from somewhere. What did Malawi have when it gained independence from Britain over five decades ago? From the get-go, Malawians knew they had to do the bulk of the work themselves. Fifty years after independence, the North, like other regions, has enough brain power to transform the region.
As the call for federalism or secession gets louder, you cannot rule out undemocratic means by the government to quell the sentiment. But this is the 21st Century and like Scotland, Malawi should allow full public debate on what the North decides it wants; let people choose and both sides should respect the results.
*The author is former founding editor of Maravi Post who is now a ‘CounterJab’ columnist on Nyasa Times
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I am surprised why many people from south are against federal type of government. Do they mean they can’t develop the south without northerner or people from centre? Come on, wakeup southerners.
iwe ndi galu eti lero ukudana ndi mbuli,mayesa iwe lero ngati ukudya mkumakhala ndi mphamvu zo bwebwetuka mchifukwa cha mbulizo.
It is not fair for nothern region to have their rulling.if their is problems just discuss,thats all.
Under a decetralised/federal system the resources of the country (budget) are allocated (as per Malawi Local Government Act of 1998) according to population size and level of economic development just to mention a few. This means (all things being equal) Lilongwe should get a biggger share of the resources than Mzimba.
Secondly, some of the economic activities are planned and executed at local level, thereby speeding up development turn arround. The practice of deploying District Commissioners who are appointed by and report to National Local Government is old fashioned and too colonial. Most developing countries (such as South Africa) have moved away from this practice and instead advocate officials who are appointed at local level. You may have noticed that some DCs have already started siding with the National Government before they fully understand what is being said.
Those against federal system should not be using size or cost as arguement because Malawi (with a population of around 13 million people) is not a small country at all both geographically and economically. The fact that at present our GPD is pathetic does not reflect the true economic potential of the country.
Unity should also not be mentioned because there is no emperical evidence that federal system brings disunity. When South Africa was attaining its democracy in 1994 we all thought that they were going to do away with the system of Provincial Governments. Instead the system was enhanced and in some cases the Provincial boundaries mirrored those of the old Banthustan boundaries. I live in South Africa and I have never heard of anyone argueing that the system has brought about disunity. Any mention of abolishing the current system has been purely on cost basis.
There is a big difference between developing people of the North and developing the North as a Region in that people can move from the North to the other Regions (as they normally do) to seek better economic conditions whilst Northern Region (as a geographic area) cannot. Furthermore, a developed North will benefit all Malawians although it is likely that those who live in the North will benefit more and directly. There is nothing that can be done in the other Regions that cannot be done in the North. If anything there are so many economic activities that can be done better in the North than in the other Regions due to its untapped reources.
Although the current debate on federalism has been labeled North aginst other Regions, my appeal is that it should not be seen that way. What is being proposed is the breaking up of unitary state in favour of a more decentralised system beyond the current Local Government Act of 1998. The system (if well designed) should benefit the whole country. People should take charge of their own economic affairs. In Malawi there is too much dependance on Central Government and those in power love it that way. The country has tremendous economic potential that should be unlocked for the benefit of all. Federal system does not mean segregation on regional orindeed tribal lines. There is nothing stopping a Chewa living in the North from participating in Northern Region Politics. It does not mean that the North will be ruled by a Northern Region Party. MCP, DPP, PP or any other party could take part in the running of the North especially if we follow a Proportional Representation system.
Let us shape a better Malawi for all. Let us stop name calling but work together to find a common goal. The path to success may be a rough one but some day we will be there.
let the north get independence or sucede as its people wish. we are now sick and tired of this issue. There shouldn’t be no one that should cling to people that want to break away. even in a family, if one wishes to go, the nkhoswe and courts do allow, yes they are consequences and one advocating for such move should be prepared to face that. in that situation, you gain some and you also lose some. it’s never a win situation. my thinking though is issue will do more harm than good to Malawi for following reasons; this is already a tiny country, and if it divided further geographically, it will be too tiny; this only will bring more divisions, tensions. for proponents for this should answer me following questions; what will happen to people from the north who are married and settled in either south or Central? what will happen to their property and careers? what should happen to their marriages? this question also applies for those southerners, central region people currently residing in the north. South Sudan, who suceded two years ago is grappling with the same problems till now, peace continues to elude due to these challenges.
NOW I KNOW WHY MAXON MBENDELA WAS CRYING!!!! CRY MY BELOVED MALAWI CRY BLOOD!!!
Mbuli ndi zomwe zikuonongetsa dzikoli. Zikumavotera anthu based fundo zopusa komanso zosathandiza. Zina mwa izo:
1. APM ndi Professor, anaphunzitsapo Obama. Ngat anamva kuti kuphunzitsa Obama means intelligence and wisdom to lead a nation
2. APM ali ndi ndalama kale kotero sazafuna zina kuti abe. Kuiwala kuti iwo sanalowe mmaganizo mwake and anthu omwe amuzungulira are also hungry for money
3. APM ndi wanzeru ngat mchimwene wake Bingu kotero adzapitiriza chitukuko ankachita mbale wake. Kuiwala kuti no body exactly equal to another person no matter what.
…Lero ndi izi wagawanitsa komanso mitundu mdziko muno. I think we should set minimum academic qualification for voters in general election. I propose MSCE or Diploma. Mbuli zikutionongera dziko ndithu.
I second
Now we have heard from two profs., Kanyongolo and Chirwa; and from DD Phiri, an original thinker. It would be instructive to consider their views, as these people would act by their heads, and not necessarily by their hearts.
For those advocating secession or federalism, please throw sentimentality out the window, real quick. Not serving the country favorably at all. Present solid economic (not sentimental) arguments regarding the pending benefits of federalism (cf. the costs): remember you will be adding another layer of government, and that’s not cheap.
Malawi is not Great Britain, Belgium, Canada or Spain where great noises of secession are being made. And the Northern Region (or any region for that matter) is not Scotland, Flemish area, Quebec or Catalonia. Our country is so poor, it’s pathetic. So, stop quoting these examples, for lack of good ones.
Secession would not necessarily improve the economies of any laggard district or region. The credible solutions are to be found elsewhere.
Mvyonye, you have talked no fact at all. You should be defending your region and why it is not necessary to be in a federal state. Mwana akafuna nyanga ya mtsatsi umusemere. Why are you not advocating? It is because you have no problems and see nothing wrong with what is happening. I am made to believe you are talking theoletically. You have never been to the north. We feel it and is getting deeper each day. Enough is enough. We must get things moving very quickly. QUOTA, NO DEVELOPMENT, POSITIONS IN GOVT, name them all.
Where to find them? Please elaborate Mr Mvonye so that we can all consider these alternative solutions.
Sue mikanichi, you started very well until when you started saying the north should form their own party. Why? The north had a party before, where did it take us? Please don’t regionalise parties. That is exactly one Of the problems that we Malawians are still far behind on democracy, we still think on regional lines. A party should be national, not regional.
The north has refused to think on regional lines or forming another party or supporting aford because it takes us no where. It is the perpetual Numbers game!!!
The north now votes for a party that we think will help us, no more voting on tribal or regional lines and that is the way things should be. The north is now leading and setting good example on how democracy in the country should be, not voting on tribal lines.
So it is waste of time and resources for the north to have its own party or to support aford, it is better to promote unity of Malawi by voting for whatever party we feel will help us.
Shame on you who still
Vote on tribal lines and yet want the unity of Malawi. How?
I for one do not see why people are so afraid of a federal government in Malawi. After 50 years of independence, most of us can see that the leadership of our country has failed us.The development of Malawi as anation has been polarised and it seems it will continue to be polarised because our political leaders are selfish and afraid to make unpopular but wise decisions for the sake of unifying the nation. Whatever the aurguments they can put forward, there is no need for the government to continue with university quota system selection. The policy has proved to be very devisive and if the government is really truthful about uniting the nation, it should abolish this policy. People in the north feel victimised and denied their right to education because a small group of politians have decided to change the rules to favour where they are coming from. The policy is draconic and clearly shows what they think about the northern region inspite of the words that come out of their mouths. This policy is just an example of the many which highlight the fact that different regions are seen in different light by the leadership of the nation. Malawians and especially people from the north can see this and have murmured about it for some time now. Murmurs of discontent with time become a shout because people want to be heard. Who doesn’t know tha the northern region is nicknamed ‘ the dead north’? The system has failed the nation and in particular the north. It is time to try something else. If the curreny system was working for the whole of the nation, people would worry about the effects of change. As it is, there would be very little to worry about. Infact, fedelism would do the north a lot of good. Remember that when you back someone against the wall, they can resort to anything to free themselves. It is time to put this matter in the hands of the people themselves rather than in those of a few politicians who are benefiting from the current system.
Chirwa, you speak like a beer hall chatter yourself who has no idea what problems the north is suffering from. Why did the author of this article even interview you? What constructive knowledge could you have on the federation debate? You’re a mtchona in RSA and you long lost touch with the affairs of Malawi. You journalists should know who to interview and who not on key issues. Chirwa is a drunkard and psychotic and not useful on this topic. I’m sorry to say.
I respect Prof Chirwa’s opinion coz he’s entittled to it despite being a bit rude with his phrase ” beer hall chatter. Surely we who advocate for federalism are not drank with mtonjani. We are very sober and knowing that federalism in itself can not be a panacea to development challenges being faced by the regions in particular the North. We are well aware that many years of discriminatory leadership as practised by successive administrations has had colossal side effects to the development of the region.
We are not advocating for federalism on the basis that the North is a homogenious society. There are many countries with diverse tribal groupings that exist in harmony eg Tanzania. Incidentally Malawi is the only country in Africa where a citizen is identified by his tribe. If one is being employed in public sector one has to state his village, TA and distict of origin.If you cause a road accident the police will want to know your tribe and home district and so too when you go to a government hospital. Late President Bingu used to refuse to approve recommendations for promotions for senior civil servants and parastatal CEOs if the details of VIllage TA and district were omitted in the submission. I am sure professor is aware that its only in Malawi where pass mark for entry to public secondary schools is regional not national. A pupil with 55% mark from Mangochi can go to a secondary while a pupil with 78% pass mark fron Mchinji can not go because of competitivenss central region,s pass mark. There are so many examples of official discrimination on the basis of tribe in Malawi. In Tanzania people are promoted, employed on the basis of their ability, political orientation than on tribal identification.
Prof you should know that what unites people is not only tribe but also shared values. For example my wife is from Nsanje but I come from Kameme in Chitipa. If what unites people was tribal I wouldnt have been married to my wife for 21 years. Federalism would in my view unite Malawians than divide them.
Who can waste their time hating people from the North?We keep them in our our areas but for them to keep somebody who is not from the north eeeee! becomes a problem so people just act likewise.Stop the selfishness, but by the way the author of this article which fool told you that households are headed by women in the South and centre.Kodi mukamagula azimayi when slavery ended sometime in 1900 you think you are superior.From now onwards know this! ‘The sale of a fellow human being is tantamount to slavery and violation of Human rights” so do not pride on it.
So the majority of africa are practising slavery of women!!! Yes, you just expose your total ignorance. While chirwa is wrong by saying that the househods in centre and south are headed by women that doesn’t make your response right either. Mutu wa banja ndi mwamuna, that is a chewa expression which clearly shows the man is the head of the family or house!! Even when he is chased away by the wife in the village he is still the head of the house!!! In the north the wife is chased away not the man.
independence from what?who said northern region belongs to a tribe?
professor chirwa,did you forget to take your morning pills before the interview? look you are putting your title to a big disrepute,i am not a professor but i think i can argue better than you did,are you so addicted to theory that you can fail to see practically the uneven distribution of resources by gvt in malawi? chirwa you have let me down,you can present your arguments sobery not calling the federalism proponents ”beer hall” participants,next time you wanna be interviewed on important issues like this,dont forget to take your anti-psychotic pills before the interview,it will help you.
After going through the so many comments regarding this issue, I am now convinced myself that as Malawians we do not have love in our hearts. Your brother is crying in the North but none seems to care. your sister is complaining in the center, the north pretends as everything is Ok and the south ignores the cries. Children are being forced into prostitution in the South and the northerners are mocking people in the south. none of us will succeed as long as we have no love in our hearts.
Afterall, we are all live corpses awaiting for the angel of death to take our miserable lives.
whether this is political or not, it has just exposed our big divisions we have as a nation. if it can not explode now, it will later and time is the best judge.
No need of that all this is because of power hungry of leaders. The North is on its way to development like other regions though slow but it will catch up look at Mzuzu now was it like that what more if the present government builds the morden morden Mombere University. Convince people of Malawi to be elected not just one region and you killed our mighty party AFORD instead you want a federalistic state, to hell no way
SIZOWONA. few will agree with me that even in those areas where you treat as well developed region that services are still lacking well fundind. No drugs Rotten bodies in the mortuary in the case of KCentralH in fact the death of previous president was power failure of which had to fly him to south Africa these are under developments of the present government which doesn’t necessarily needs north only to fight alone. We all could prefer to go to mwaiwamtsogolo hospital if we could afford. Many are in china or south africa for their lives. Why not Queens hospital Blantyre? Some times its better to have nothing at all than having a hospital with doctors with no single TABLET. North its eye opener but it needs to work together to bring a real government for all people. Go to mangochi hospital and see if you will get tablets worthy the money you paid for BUS. PUSH THE GOVERNMENT TO BRING THE BEST FOR ALL MALAWIANS THAN THESE MONEY SITTING FOR CASHGATE.
You could try this when kamuzu was in full power.COWARDS. when a working democracy is in power you failing to create a working PARTY that can benefit these potential equal economic developments for all north central and south you talk in your Dream. WEAK POLITIX which is still promoting divisions which already you blame. Federal System is being used as a rubber stump. Luck of confidence in leadership is the problem here. If you were confidence enough to run malawi tomorrow would you bother to change today things that you know you will change when you become a leader of Malawi tomorrow. Singing my sorrow is the song of now tomorrow. Dumbo. Sketch now from scratch a better political party that all will love to vote for if you dare.
What did you say?
Indeed we need it Malawians frankly speaking, muonetsetse chitukuko chamhiri chikuchitika ku mwera basi. Si I support it. Central Region timalima kwambiri kumadyetsera anthu akumera chonde tiyeni tichite zathu. They buy at a cheaper price and they are the ones making profits. We are tired of this!!!!
Mzomera is a failure, he failed as reverand he has failed as a politician now he wants us all to fail, pls mr IG arrest this terrorist he is inciting violence.
Donwood Chirwa, first go to your home area and find out if there is any development. Try to translate your column in different languages (for the sake of wambula kupulika chingelezi). D.D. Phiri comes from the North ( Kamteteka ,near Rukuru river in Mzimba District). He has not been to his home area for the past 15 years . Kulije chitukuko chamahala kwawo . The area is well known for farming but his relatives still leave in iron stone age. These town people should not speak for the northerners. Tichite referendum ya BECHU
Mee O Kanyongolo. ozanu soluona tero yayi.
Tikadakokana mashati anthu alibe mankhwala ku Chipatala. Ko Msebu, ko Bikiyele, po Mpasuleni mpaka ko Dzamalala. Anthu alubuula mmatenda ko Matako atuwa, uko ko Mpaleni mamba mpaka ko Pindani.
Ndili no mama ku matowo. Zanu izo
But who told this dull author that there is any tribe in the south and the centre whose households are headed by the women? Kuganiza moperewera
Hahahahaa!!1 Pit coat government yakuwawani eti?? Hahahahahaaa! Usova!!
We are not united in this country. if we are united why this resentment against northerners?
It seems the author is a dull educated figure, itsnt about tribes if we pioneer federal system of government. Discrimination of power and resources has triggered the northerners to cal for economic and development structures. So many areas of concerns, eg stadium amongst others yet we hav other potential natural resources which can help braaa
Those Calling 4 federal state of govt are failures. They want to destroy what our fore fathers died for to gain independence.
People like John Chilembwe, Orton chirwa fought hard for independent Malawi & not independent Northern Region,
People from the north should work had to have a common strong political party just like MCP, UDF.
Instead today’s politicians from the region are being used by other parties because of selfish interests.
How many times has people like Harry Mkandawire, Frank Mwenefumbo, Khumbo Kachali among others switch political parties like clothes in the past decade?
Their interests is self financial gain. nothing else.
Its high time these people comes up with strong ideas for the whole of Malawi & not calling for Independent North.
Why not mr? Our forefather did not fought for nepotism which you are practicing. Why are you insisting the so called ozikonda to be part of you?
Let them go their X way. Let there be referendum like in Scotland and let majority rule…hahaha mwayamba kuopa juti chikangawa, kayerekere badi ikupita…
We are not one people in Malawi. Northerners are simply disliked in this country. The north has always been treated like a foreign country. If we are one people why are the northerners discriminated against? All regions have a fair share of tribalists and this eveil is everywhere and destructive people are also everywhere in this country, but why is it that tribalism practiced by few northerners seems to be worse that tribalism practiced by few Lomwes? The majority of people in Malawi are good people but northerners are being punished collectively for some things that many northerners don’t even know or understand. My young brother who was born in town here and has never lived in the north and is less that 26 years old and doesn’t even understand the culture of his own tribe , once asked me this question after being denied university admission first and secondly being discriminated against during job interviews; ” Brother, why do they hate us so much” I just shed tears for him. Northerners are looked at with suspicion for no apparent reason. Many of the youth today, especially those born in town don’t understand these things. The only crime they commit is to wear the name of Nyasulu, Gondwe, Nyirongo, Mkandawire, Soko, Nyirenda etc. some of them cant even speak Tumbuka or understand the culture of Tumbuka. Some of them are not even Tumbukas but because they come from the north then they are Tumbukas. What a shame!
some people are just noise makers that is my opinion
i am from de north en my idea on de secession idea z dat de north an de center shud become a nation leaving de rude south on its on.
Patrick Mwanza is right federalism is a democratic system that decentralizes or devolves powers from a central authority to autonomous province. South Africa has devolved its central powers to 9 autonomous regions, China too, although a communist state with central powers in Bejieng,is gradually devolving its central powers to autonomous regions as such China is spreading its development fast to all regions.
Malawi needs to take the same structure of federalism by devolving its central powers from one man at capital hill to autonomous regions in order to spread economic and social development fast. The central government will still have powers on international relations and defence.
One may recall that in recent presidential debate before elections,there was an outcry that the president has enormous powers which need to be reduced.Federalism offers a good opportunity where presidential central powers may be devolved to autonomous provinces.
Leave China out of this discussion, Nikisi. That country is hardly a paragon of democracy; and as such Malawi should not follow in its political paths.
These same cowards condeming Federal governance are the ones who were against Multiparty.They said multiparty cannot happen in Malawi because no sane person can beat MCP. These same cowards when ill they go to Federal South Africa, they send their children to schools in federal countries like the US and UK. Stop the hypocrsy, Northerners are always aheard in thinking.
LET THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE BE HEARD/ HONOURED AND RESPECTED !! DONT JUST IMPOSE EVERYTHIING ON THEM !! IT SEEMS OUR LEADERS ARE HAPPY WHEN THE POOR MASSES ARE STRUGGLING WITH LIFE OUT THERE WHILE THEY ARE ENJOYING TAX PAYERS MONEY ANYHOW !! SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 21 CENTURY AND COLONIAL ERA ???
Malawi wants federalism, let it be, if it fails wil come up with something else, let people choose what they need!
Independence is not about the size of the country, there are very small countries out there that are smaller than some of our big districts so this notion that Malawi is too small to split is nonsense. Belgium is as big as the Central Region and Swaziland and Mzimba are almost of similar size.
Independence is not about viability either. There are some who have stated that the Northern Region cannot be a viable country. These people seem to forget that Malawi is not a viable country either. It has survived on AID in the last fifty years and there have been years when its citizens have starved to death. Malawi is ranked very low in Human Development Index. Clearly Malawi is not a successful state. What matters most is how the people manage their country. Some countries with little or no resources are far much better off than Malawi. Singapore is a far more prosperous country as compared to Malawi yet it is far smaller and endowed with very few natural resources. It probably even imports its water. Malawi is in its current predicament because it is not well managed. Resources are not properly used. People in power think of having a good time over building a nation that is why a trip to New York is considered important over and above everything else.
People like Professor Chirwa and D.D. Phiri seem to forget that Malawi is in reality a British creation. It was not the decision of the people occupying this territory who chose the current arrangement, it was the British who created this country after making various treaties with the Portuguese and the Germans. I, for one, do not see anything wrong with us deciding our own arrangement if we are uncomfortable with the current arrangement. I am therefore for independence however unlike the author, I am for the independence of the Central Region.
what a great view from JohnM, i endorse your views they are rational and objective, it is very interesting to see the young professor Danwood chirwa who is currently residing in south as a professor of law at university of capetown, has be been palmoiled this guy???????????
On Federalism issue which is for national interest I wish to ask APM to allow people to debate in different media whether Anti-Federalism or pro federalism so that people can conclude themselves without hatred jelousy nepotism religious tribalism and regionalism.Let us have special programs for this Federalism Chapter to involve all knowledgeable stakeholders and they must openly debate it.
Pointless. i havent learned anything new out of this article. i bet he is just one of the shallow learned columists quoting shallow university lecturers
Yes bear hall chater thats great
Words from a Learned man indeed! but I feel after everything has been said and done the Northerners remains a greedy,selfish,pompous,immaterial,good for nothing and sturborn people.After seceding from Malawi they will quarrel among themselves. You remember one Thole is the one who started it all by suggesting that Mzimba was not part of Malawi and believe me not after the secession Mzimba with its Tumbuka like Ngoni (they speak Tumbuka so I believe a language is an element that distinguish one tribe from another -so I do not know whether to call them Tumbuka or Ngoni)but the point is that Mzimba will also seceed from whatever their country will be called.I am not a prophet but only this I prophesize “There wiil be total chaos”
so what is ur concern if they secede and fight again, now the issue is endorse their desire via peter mathanyula mutharika, otherwise being worried with what will happen in independent north is a sign of jelousy, that should not bother u but those who have opted to secede!!!!!!
Beer hall chatter? ha!ha!ha!haaaa!! words from professor are amusing! Malawi is Democratic country hence we expect different views from different quarters of the society and no one can blame Chirwa on his opinion. But telling people what to do is what i find wrong with his opinions. If Northern Region have numerous ethnic groups does that guarantee not calling for Federalism? Him as a learned man he should respect minority rights whether are mixed ethnic groups or not. People of North need not to prove anything as things are visibly seen Professor Chirwa don’t you see poor road network in the north? what about Universities? Hospitals? Education infrastructures, what about Quota system, our City Assemblies are in desperate situations due to poor funding. D.D Phiri is respected historian but i think he need to understand the pains of the northern people this time around. Does Federalism only work for Big Countries? His story should not guide our future but learn from it.
we are one identity under the lord. do not be bothered with earthly problem solutions. the lord knows all.
THERE IS NEED FOR A LOT OF THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THIS
A Mwanza zikuwoneka kuti mzeru zanu nzochepa. Look at Nigeria now, a country which is under federal system of government. Some states are still very poor especially the northern states. The north defines federation as the number of ministerial positions held in government which is wrong and selfish. Development is powered by the private sector the government only provides the enabling environment for develpment
Danwood is quite right! Here is a writer who has just qualified as a member of “beer hall chatters”. The points raised here are like from someone who never entered into any classroom. You seem not to understand the culture of the people in central and southern regions. People in central region pay lobola which is known as “chiongo”. However, it is not implemented stringently as done in the north. The key difference is that the woman is not sold for life to the husband as it is in the case in the North. It is treated as a “thank you” and not as a restriction to a woman’s rights and freedoms. In central region, a man is the head of the family for your information; and not a mother as you have presented. It is the “Uncle i.e. mtsibweni”. I can believe you if this English word “uncle” stand for a woman.
D.D. PHIRI THINK TWICE, YOU ARE BOUGHT MALAWI IS NOT TOO SMALL COMPARING TO OTHER COUNTRIES WHO ARE IN THE SAME SYSTEM.
PROF. CHIRWA WELCOME, BUT FOR SECESSION,INDEPENDENCE FOR THE NORTHERN REGION DOES NOT SOUND AT ALL,LETS NOT DIVIDE MALAWI.
FEDERALISM IS GOOD IDEA IN MALAWI, SUPPORT THIS, NORTHER,CENTRAL, EASTERN AND SOURTERN REGIONS, SOME DISTRICS AND AREAS WILL GAIN DEVELOPMENTS.
Chirwa is drank at best in his argument. The government of Malawi has define northerners as one when it comes quota system. Which northerner is excluded ada, when it comes to the quota system? Does the Quota system look at a tribe?
There are three regions, North, South and Central. Why not have a Quota System for the president’s position since they all come from South and Central?
I propose a rotating presidency, every 5 years.
By the way as reputable and organized as Ed Kanyongolo is , he is wrong in intimating that in the US, the Federal Government has overall control over the States. Well that is not true.
If that were true, States would not be selling Marijuana as is the case in Colorado, Washington, etc. Yes, you can go over there and smoke it too. The Federal Government wont put you in jail, definitely not the mentioned States. States have so much control over their decision making, it is enlightening. For example, different States use different taxation system uninfluenced by the Federal government. Above all, States act as a counterweight to the Federal Government in the same way as Federal Government checks and balances out affairs of the State. Incase, there are similar misinformed individuals, proponents of Federalism are citing, the Quota system, having no say in the development of their region, massive corruption by leaders, cruelty by presidents, and the aftermath of punitive non-stop sanctions on the people of Malawi, when the people that are corrupt have amassed billions of Dollars in foreign bank accounts. So to speak, Ed, there is no accountability. Change the the constitution that gives a sitting President immunity to prosecution. As is the case now, they are above the law, to do as they wish. No former president has been prosecuted for past misdeeds – corruption successfully. More money is wasted on these dead-end cases. This is a failed State’s law. Malawi needs to enact an emergency law to investigate sitting presidents but to prosecute immediately if looting is threatening the security and welfare of the country.
great opnion sir, very objective, and i adore what u written, keep pumping sense from these idiots!!!!! including idiotic professor, is this the way he teaches his students?????? using force to get his opnions to students???? shamlesss danwood mzikenge chirwa u were my role model but no more, u are not objective idiot!!!!
A Mwanza tu mulibe nzeru. Nanga ndikumati pa central ndi south the mother is the head of the family. Mwazitenga kuti zimenezi? And as was said there is no valid argument you have put to justify secession.
Counterjab my foot……don’t you know the UN is tougher on small countries and very weak on big countries and you are here writing nosense. So you do not to live with the world’s reality.
If you want secession then go to America get support…those ones will let you succeed but on your own then you are dreaming. Shupiti….
mwati ndi ndani akulongololayu?
Let there be referendum.
I like the author of this article well articulated.lets ask the pipo.malawi had nothing wen got independent.north wl work hard to hv wat we need.
Very nice piece Mr Mwanza. Well elaborated but tell the so called proffessor Chirwa to shut the fuck up and think like a proffessor and not like a danderhead.
That will not materialise if it goes through a referendum,therefore you are just wasting your time and energy.In deed this is beer hall chatter,and Mzomera is a mere chatter box.
u mean when there is referendum about north being country it will not happen how???? who suggested that north be country?????? mind u its only northerners voting when its about secession, idiot!!!!!!!!!
Palibe chamvapo ine apa. By the way get your facts right. Although the south and the centre are mostly matrilineal the head of the family is always the man and NOT the woman. Go to any household in the south or the centre this is the real truth you will get on the ground. You must be a bum.
Unfortunately Mzimba is a Ngoni land.We dont have Tumbukas.Think before you air your views
Chirwa the blind learned man indeed of the 21st centuary. What a sad thing
Amasuleni atumbukawo asatikwane
Agreed prof Chirwa. Let people debate and have referendum as Scottish did am sure 100% north will carry the day and that will be the newest nation on earth.
No doubt westerners will jump in to support as they are doing in South Sudan.
Go for it and north has lots of brains and cash. Majority of mansions in central and south belong to northerners…the centre and south are tenants. .lol.
northerners are again very hard working.
Go independent go guys.
ma
i adore what u have written, let me say that when nyasaland was pushing for seccesion, it was the poorest among the three, but they went ahead, we have cleared much bush in south and center we now need to clear the remaining bush up north team seccesion!!!!!!!!!!
anthu openga awa
U know fr sure that Malawi gains more by atumbuka creating their own country. With atumbuka as part of Malawi, the country is steadily losing national coherence and identity. All they preach of is about north, all they think of and do is about north. Even their church its all about north. Work place etc is about north and not Malawi. Gradually south and center are getting sensitized and are starting the same. one thing for sure is, south, center and north have different levels of suaceptability, potential and influence. Now similar behavior adopted by southernors and centrals will impact the country and other regions differently. Why? The levels and spheres of influence for these regions are different. However the loser is Malawi.
ok who brought this issue of secession to southerners and centralizers?????? idiot if u were that smart u could have told them 20 years ago for them to form their own country, and the funny thing its them who have asked for secession, u must be a big idiot!!!!!!! they have proved that they are smart to u, by telling u in the face we want secession full stop, did u read what justice zonzi said in today daily times????????????????? usova!!!!
Change is coming! I believe.
Don’t dwell too much on north because Central and Lower Shire is also supporting federalism . By the end of the day it’s the majority which wins , the academic ideas will not work against the masses. Peter is a well educated fool but he is failing to unite all Malawians instead he is busy dishing out money to chiefs, churches , NGOs and to many people in order to discourage federalism.
Let’s give Malawians to make their own choice. You might have been given money in order to change Malawians pushing the federal idea . Money can buy you , we know that Malawi is a corrupt country and today we are in this mess because many people went away with billions Kwachas during the general elections to declare DPP a winner.
Prof Chirwa’s motives are questionable. He is being used by the DPP to put spanners in the Federation debate. If you know him warn him, the people of northern Malawi will not be intimidated.
theres no tumbukas in mzimba,but tumbukas settled in mzimba.nizokhuluma kuti muyizwe.in chitipa theres 12 languages,dont generalise saying north is tumbuka.
Malabishi! Mbwelera!
Let the north decides on its destiny if it is independence. However, federal state would work best because that referendum will be supported largely by the centre.
Tavomereza
All what this artcle entells is rubbish! Malawi is clocking 50years as a republic but there has been no tangible development In the Northern Region. This is the only point we are talking about. Sooner or later the north shall be called Nyika Republic!
This one of the best writings pasted here. There so many things that we share in common as north Malawians. WE ARE TIRED AND IF FEDERALISM IS BAD THEN IT IS A BETTER EVIL. NORTH IS FOR BETTER EVIL (FEDERAL GOVT STAY WITH US PLIZ.)