Lucius Banda supports federalism for Malawi

United Democratic Front (UDF) leader in parliament, Lucius Banda, has spoken in support of  adopt the federal system of governing the country in which each region will have its own administrative power and report to the central government.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has been pushing for the federal system with support from politicians and stakeholders from the northern region.

Banda, a top singer and lawmaker f from Balaka in the eastern region, said  the federal system of government will be ideal for Malawi and important for  fair share distrubtion of development and wealth creation.

“In fact we needed it by yesterday,” said Banda as quoted by Afriem online news website.

“My only worry is the people pushing for  [federalism] have not been as sharp as those who pushed for multiparty democracy and succeeded in those years.

“With a federal system of government, the central government will still benefit and be on top. The only plus would be that even those regions or provinces that felt neglected will benefit equally. It does not mean we shall fall into an affirmative action situation,” said Banda.

Banda urges federism zealots to engage many stakeholders and carry out civic education, saying the issues should be debated in sober manner and with the interest of the nation at heart.

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.

President Peter Mutharika’s winning and formation of his government opened wounds of mistrust as he is being accused of favouring people from the South in his appointments to the Cabinet and other top government positions.

Malawi has four political regions namely south, central and northern region.