MP asks referendum on federalism as Parliament fails to hold public hearing
Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee says the idea to hold public hearing on federalism has stalled due to lack of financial resources thereby prompting legislator Yeremiah Chihana to ask for a national referendum for a federal government or the North to become a standalone country amid feelings that the region is being sidelined in terms of development and public appointments.
The committee chairperson Kezzie Msukwa said parliament’s secretariat is looking for funds for the public hearing.
The federalism public hearing was supposed to be heard in November last year.
“You see, this is a private member’s motion, this is why it is not easy to attract funding,” he said.
He asked organisations and other well wishers are welcome to fund the exercise.
Mover of the motion, Mzimba North legislator Yeremia Chihana (Alliance for Democracy-Aford) said it would be the waste of time to hold the public hearing on the matter.
He suggested that the government should just order a referendum to allow Malawians decide on whether to adopt federalism or not.
Chihana argues that in the interest of equitable distribution of resources and development in Malawi, and as a solution to the challenges brought about by quota system in the Education Sector, coupled with the elasticity of Malawi politics, and to ensure equal participation in political decisions, the country needs to change its system of government.
He said there is evidence that national resources are not distributed equally and the quota system has denied many deserving Malawians the right to higher education, hence the country needs to change its system of government.
In 2006, President Peter Mutharika, then a professor of international law at Washington University School of Law in the United States of America, proposed federalism as a solution to address the issue of national unity.
In his paper presented at the National Constitutional Review Conference in Lilongwe held from March 28 to 31 2006 titled Towards a More Manageable Constitution, he observed that Nigeria successfully resolved problems that were created by its three regions at independence in 1960 by establishing what are now 36 states and one federal territory.
However, in August 2014, three months after becoming President, Mutharika urged political and religious leaders against calls for federalism, arguing it would divide the country.
I disagree with this kind of reasoning for several reasons.
Here are my points, WHY DID QUOTA SYSTEM STARTED???
Answer; TO COUNTER THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE NORTHERS MASTERMINDED BY KANYAMA CHIUME IN 1964 WHEN HE WAS MINISTER OF EDUCATION.
WHY DO NORTHERNERS HATE QUOTA SYSTEM???
Answers: BCOZ THEY KNOW IT WILL UNDONE ALL THEIR EFFORTS OF DOMINATING THE TWO REGIONS ACADEMICALLY.
WHY DO THEY NOW PUSH FOR FEDERATION NOW???
Answer: BCOZ THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE LOST THE BATTLE, THE GROUND IS GETTING NARROWER AND NARROWER, HENCE LEAVING THEM NO CHANCE OF EVER ATTAINING THE MANTLE OF POWER!
IS THE FEDERATION MOTION GOOD OR BAD???
Answer: IT IS GOOD, VERY GOOD, UNFORTUNATELY IT IS THE MOTIVE THAT IS VERY BAD.
WHAT MOTIVE???
Answer: POWER! THE NORTHERS WANTS POWER, THE HAVE TASTED EVERY POSITION IN THE SYSTEM EXCEPT THAT OF THE FIRST CITIZEN. AND THAT IS A SOURCE OF THEIR ANGER.
BUT WHY THE NORTHERS, I MEAN WHY IS IT LIKE THIS???
Answer: The year is 1964, Kanyama Chiume has just been appointed as a cabinet minister of education. He seizes this opportunity to promote his ‘wakwithu’ sydrome. He did this by offering every scholarship at his disposal to his kinsmen to study abroad with reckless abandon. He don’t stop there he makes sure that most students selected to secondary schools will be from the North. He did this tactifuly by devising a system whereby the central and Southern region will be using black pens, while the Northers will be using blue pens during exams. This will be made easy for the markers to separate sheep from goats. THIS BECOME THE GENESIS OF MOST NORTHERS DOMINATING THE ACADEMIC SECTOR HENCE MANY INSTITUTIONS.
CONCLUSION???
THE NORTHERS ndiwozikonda too much akafika pa ntchito amafuna azikhala okha okha ndichifukwa chake samakondedwa. Ngakhale angapeleke maganizo abwino komabe zimabvuta kuwakhulupilira chifukwa samalabada za mtundu wina uliwonse except Wawo.
Ndichifukwa tikunena kuti WE DONT WANT FEDERATION IN MALAWI. YES PETER SUGGESTED FEDERATION IN 2006, BUT BY THEN HIS ASSERTION WAS BASED ON THE EXPERIANCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES BUT WHEN HE CAME HOME HE REALISED THAT THE MOTIVE IS NOT ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OFTHE COUNTRY, RATHER GREEDY FOR POWER HENCE, RESCINDING HIS POSITION!
I cannot respond to the whole historical nonsense of yours….but as long as you agree that Federalism is good……the motive is to develop this country……please remember that even if you can keep on oppressing us time will still come when this country’s cracks will open and make it impossible for you to hold on….just mark my words and even give them to your grand sons or daughters…..it will happen….if not careful….it may start with the Concourt’s verdict…….
This is not about Northeners,Southerners,cetralners or even you people as you may call it but its about our beloved country Malawi and for our Great grand childrens.Please THINK MALAWI,THINK YOU AND FUTURE GENERATIONS thats the MOTO for FEDRAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.
Think guys before you oppose,Do you Know the meaning of federalism and its importance.Simple terms share fair: means accountable-more political checks,Transparent-more checks and balances,Equitable,Upholding rule of law,efficiency and effectiveness when transacting Government business.Bingu was right when he talked about taking Malawi to federal Government.Do you Know why USA is inimirtable and why other gorvernment can not influence Nigerian internal affairs even if Boko haram troubles them,Do you know why mozambique wealthy is more than Malawi despite having civil war for decades, and South Africa-despite apatheid,zenophobia-the answer is federalism.Each state manages its affairs well and corruption of one state can not affect the other.Now Malawians tell me thhe truth.The issue of denying federalism is none other than Self,and political enrichment.Do you know Government of Malawi implemented Decentralisation as a means to run away from the issue of federalism.Tell me is it working,If you can agree with me the answer is no.Councils,statutary coporations,investment companies from each region are being controlled politicatically by the central Government.People are mistakenly, Unitary gorvenment does not mean uniting people that is why politically our late prisident Bingu wa mtalika after having nice sweets,decided to contradict and abandon a nice and lasting solution.Where there is federal rule of law is observed Highly.Talk of USA now Donald Trump is having difficuties to just do what ever he wishes why:federal is answer.From 1964 to 1994 our economy was same as USA.because we exchange Malawian Kwacha against USA Dollar to ratio 1:1.in other ways we would say our net wealth was equal and we were rich.Imagine if only we could have as many busines as it is today but now we are the poorest country in the world-number 3.even if we can achieve 50+1 voting system we will only address 1% of the problem.What if we have elected a president using this system,either is from MCP,DPP or UTM is all the same.All things starts when people are in power,so our solutions should look at addressing the main problem of political influence on Malawian economy and its effects on decision makings-thats 100% solving not current problem of voting system-1% solving.Federal system will provide that needed 99% and the remaining 1% you can bear it.
I don’t think that federal government will help the people of North Malawi. Those people in power they don’t want to see prosperity of North Malawi,both in infrastructure development and education training institutions. Just think about the deserving students from north Malawi who scored better points are left out of university. There is only one way for north Malawi to develop, that is session/stand-alone,or all three regions should be independent,it is possible so that no one should punish other regions.Each region will plan for its development.However, from the last stanza or paragraph of the article above, the country is already divided that’s why a thing like quota system was introduced and it’s working,those in power should not say that ,they are dividind the country when debating about federal system.. There will be no money for federal government debate.They will keep saying there is no funds for that, until you give up.They are afraid of things that north Malawi can do. People who wants you to be poor can not help you to get out of poverty,it is the people who wants you to prosper that can help you to prosper.All citizens should prosper.And all regions should prosper.If north Malawians are poor what will happen to South Malawians , disaster.Those were just my thoughts. For over 54yrs of self-rule and democracy combined ,the country is still in poverty.Dziko lathu lidzakwanitsa Zaka 100 of independence in 2066 if all three regions are still together.Tasauka 54yrs so far, now 46yrs remaining to end poverty in Malawi.The government should end quota system and construct more universities,so that 20000 first year students should be selected for higher education, this will take every one who has 6 to 36points.Everyone Will be happy.God bless Malawi.Keep it a land of peace.
Please not everyone can go to university. We stop cheating each other. No country in the world has that policy. We need equal opportunities and those deserving to proceed.
Of course…but why are you manipulating results…let those who deserve to go, go and those who deservedly cant ….fail to go but you and this stupid government are doing the opposite
This is a stupid tumbuka logic. I think the best way is for all of you and your stupid tumbuka MP Yeremia Chihana is to campaign to be a district within Mbeya Region of Tanzania or a perfecture within Tukuyu district of that country. Mumatikwana ndi kupanda nzeru kwanuko.
No brains……go back to school and understand what the MP is saying…….you have chosen to ignore what he is saying………kuzolowera kuba ndikukhala mtimanyumba taudzu kwanu ndiye mukufuna mupitirize kuba ndikuwononga dziko……..mbuzi ya mano kunsi……if you cant give us Federal then give us a country as North…tatopa nanu, we are a hard working and development concious region siizi mukuchita ayi…zo mamanga ma dam a ng’ona nkumati ndidooko…we want and are fully determined to develop….we want Federal or allow us to go our way but WITHOUT you and your corrupt and myopic leaders……..minani abambo kuti muliwone dziko bwino!
Joni..Listen Anthu aku Central and south invest in their regions. Look at Midyomba in Mangochi. unfortunately you northerners rush to invest in the Central and southern region too. Open your eyes and admit you are part of the problem.
Apange aku mpotowo okha
I absolutely support federalism. It is the best move and ensures that every region develops itself. contrary to what people are thinking that money generated will be split into 3 that is not the case. Counties benefit from what they make as a county and a bit may me used in other regions as the national government deems fit. Hence it will make people from the north rethink about investing elsewhere but the north if they do indeed want to see rapid development within their county. That is why certain states in the USA are poor and the same applies to certain counties in Kenya
Take us to a land of peace
Mister reporter why this obsession with the news seeking MP . North Malawi is comprised of many tribes and within those tribes there is a dominate one. In this case its the tumbukas which means that in the long run we will have a scenario were the Tonga’s, nkhondes will be crying foul over one tribe being in monopoly of power. People want power at any cost thats why the like of this MP is always suggesting ways and means whixh will bring him and his cohorts in the corridors of power. In 1994 Aford was regarded as a regional party but today it is almost a briefcase with one MP out of all the seats in the north. Simply it show the region is not an Afford fiefdom and they don’t represent the aspirations of those people. UTM was born yesterday but look how they performes in the just ended GE bett3 than this noise maker. Two party leaders in one party is that the oneness which yiu will bring in the north. Bakili once said some parties will turn into old curtains Aford once had power but misused it for individual benefit 2nd VP. Munganya uyu sydrome and hiatory has it that the first president of MCP was from the north but abducted for HKB that was your chance and you let it go. The chance will never come back Thom could have done it in 1993 but coz of history it happened again and Bakili won
Kikiki!
Chitsiru kuyamikira chitsiru chinzake…….no brains…….mamina pamphuno basi
One of the most stupid and myopic ‘Chirwa’ I have ever heard from…….like the Vuwa Kaunda one…..the Hon MP is true in his motion but you choose to ignore the reasons of this call. You want this country to remain poor and stagnant in development because of this system which is manipulated and is favouring the sleepy, lazy and cowards like you who are scared to change even for the better…..this country deserves the brave like Hon Chihana not cowards like you……if you are afraid, keep quiet nicompomp!!!