MCP proposes federism in Malawi : PAC to facilitate debate

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) made a proposal for federalism to the Public Affairs Committee (PAC)  and the grouping has said it will facilitate debate on subject.

Executive director Robert Phiri said disclosed that PAC received proposals on federalism from main opposition MCP months ago .

“The ideas on federalism have been channeleld to PAC executive committees and trustees. The board has not taken any position,” Phiri  told Nation on Sunday.

PAC has encouraged debate on federalism, saying the “destiny of this country is in the hands of Malawians themselves. What can be done is to constructively promote debate on issues of national importance.”

MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila confirmed the party engaged PAC on the federal system of government and asked the religious body to facilitate a debate.

First MCP lawmaker on record to back the calls for federism in National Assembly was Alekeni Menyani.

Last week  MP for Kasungu East Madalitso Kazombo contributing to the 2014/15 debate started advocating for a federal government for the Central Region.

He was heckled by MPs from the government side, mostly from South Malawi, but Kazombo refused to be stampeded and made his points clear.

“When we speak like this, it means it pains us. It pains us to see Kapyanga area with a population of 4 000 people, but it has no health centre,” Kazombo said

First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje warned MPs against bringing “controversial issues which will bring disorder in the House.”

Meanwhile, the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia has said the push for federalism should be national.

But President Peter Mutharika has been dismissing such calls as unnecessary . The President has since dispatched his aides to lure traditional leaders in campaigning against federal government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units such as states or provinces.

In Europe, most countries run federal system of government  while in Africa, federal system of government is practised in some countries including South Africa and Nigeria.

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