Federation zealots insist, ‘lets split Malawi or change system’

The Forum for the Advancement of a federal system of government in Malawi has warned that they will be forced to hold vigils if the executive will not respond favourably to their petition on the issues of their proposition and rotational presidency.

The forum is arguing that the current unitary system has failed to develop the majority of Malawians and wants to either split the country or change the system of government.

They are calling for Malawi to adopt the federal system of governing the country in which each region will have its own administrative power and report to the central government.  However, they say if federal system is not an option then they are calling for secession of northern Malawi, claiming the region has been sidelined in the sharing of the national cake.

In their recent petition which was sent to the Office of the President and Cabinet signed by Dr. Bina Shaba the current chairperson for the forum and its secretary Patrick Mwale, the forum wants government to allow Malawians decide in switching on the federal system or remain with the status quo.

The pressure group wants people to decide the issues through a regional vote then a national referendum.

“A federal system of government would ensure that resources trickle down to people on the ground and they would be given a chance to make their own development priorities,” said Mwale.

Mwale said that in the event that other regions are against a federal system of government then the northern region should secede and be a standalone country.

Proponents of the federal system of government claim it will help the country to equitably develop as well as fight tribalism and nepotism which they claim have characterised the central government while the proponents of secession say the northern region has been on the sidelines for years.

Following the controversial May 20, 2014 presidential election, Peter Mutharika’s administration Mutharika’s is being accused of favouring people from the South.