MP Mwenifumbo decries tribalist tendencies: ‘What’s wrong with Atumbuka or North Malawi?’
Karonga Central Member of Parliament (MP) Frank Mwenifumbo has described as unfortunate the steadily growing tribalist tendencies getting haywire in the country, saying they can explode into something “very” disparaging.
He said tolerance must quickly be invoked in the minds of everyone to avoid a replica of the 1994 Rwanda escapade where thousands of people were massacred based on tribal differences.
A spirited Mwenifumbo told Nyasa Times, in an exclusive interview in the capital Lilongwe, that he was baffled why some people were taking people from the northern region – including politicians – as “simply” a power hungry kindred.
North not power hungry
He said people who believe in the notion that people from the northern region are power hungry have to “seriously get back to read and understand the history of this country.”
Mwenifumbo said, “on the contrary, people from the northern region have always wished this country well.”
In his analysis, he said even before Malawi became independent, it was mostly people of the northern region that, after clearing “the way”, invited Malawi first President Kamuzu Banda to come back and lead them.
“It was the likes Orton Chirwa, Chisiza, Banda and, of course, with others like Chipembere that invited Banda from abroad to let him lead them. Nowhere is it written that people from the northern region fought to be leaders. They simply wanted the best for this country,” said Mwenifumbo.
But Mwenifumbo said it was sad that during the 30year rule of Malawi and Kamuzu northerners suffered the worst of times.
“Chirwa actually died in detention, so many others. A lot of northerners, including some members of my family, died mysterious deaths,” said the politician-cum-businessperson.
He repeatedly said on-point that the remarks that are recurrently rained on people from the northern region as people who are “hungry for power” as baseless as history corrects them as not being such characters.
“Even at the dawn of multiparty, it was Chakufwa Chihana who fought had for it. Again, for the good of this country. [Bakili] Muluzi hijacked but Chihana chose to work with government again to support it until his death,” he said.
Time to act
The independent legislator said it was, therefore, unfortunate to say people from the northern region are bad and power hungry, saying there is need for nationwide thoughts on the matter.
“It has come to a point where people will blatantly say Atumbuka (generalizing people from the northern region) are bad. That Atumbuka are power hungry. Some have gone to the extent of openly saying that they hate people from the northern region. What’s wrong with Atumbuka,” queried Mwenifumbo, concerned.
The issue, he said, looks simple at hand but “can explode” to something tragic.
“That is how the genocide in Rwanda started – with speaking. We surely don’t want a repeat of that in Malawi. It has always been a peaceful country,” he noted.
Malawi is a multi-tribal country with the main tribes such as Ngonde, Tumbuka, Lambya, Chewa, Ngoni, Yawo, Sena, and Lhomwe spread across through the three regions of the country.
But since the one party rule of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) under Kamuzu Banda, people from the northern region continue to feel rejected and discriminated.
On a number of occasions people from the northern region have felt that government deliberately sets up policies that purportedly aim at letting them benefit minutely from the national cake.
One of such policies has been the quota system whose aim is to make sure that every district is evenly represented at Malawi colleges. But the northerners feel the system punches them in the stomach as hundreds of their brainy ones are left out on selection with less performers from the other districts being picked.
The region has recently been advocating for a federal system of government that would make it more of an independent state, and therefore enjoy its resources and make its own policies.
Government has been playing hide and seek on the matter.
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Kent ur write up is good,wel analysed but there are just a few observations and some additions.Dont mislead malawians, (1)democrancy was indeed artectured by westerns but in most african countries it was through the influence of personalities of brave hearts, in the case our country Chihana and Catholic bishops took the risk (2)MCP did not replace NAC rather NAC was abolished after facing financial constraints so a new party later was borne in the name of MCP with its founder Orton Chirwa.Please consult ur resource wel kent(3)Finally our Education system is wel defined in a number of objectives that contribute to growth of our nation in many ways but this seriously is compromised by quota system.Look if you can check with MANEB, MSCE results for the north are well off than from the other regions but quota is letting them down when it comes to university selection.The query is kodi MANEB ndiyozaza ndi atumbuka ngati ayi ndiye kuti reasons behind quota system are fake
Mathumbuka are the same as the Tutsi.Very arrogant the same as their siblings the Matchewa.Very pwambwatic.Imbeciles,Abude!!Agong’ong’o Ananseta !!!!.Noways for the small nepotistic tribe.These DOGS helped by the mbwambwanatic Tchewa oLilongwe eiishhh!!Goats,mbuzi zokhazokha.Mwenifumbi,one time as minister of Agriculture followed Chihana type of Thumbukalising the whole ministry.Malawi should not wonder to see most of them rush for HR positions to be in the position to feature their relations on every and each opportunity they grab.National Council of Higher Education full of Thumbukas has tried to frustrate Malawi College of Accountancy for NO Accreditation,the reason why??It used to be run by Mr Chirwa their favorite with Albert Kumwenda as the Principle.The moment these Idiots were not hired and replaced by Agrippa Phiri the former ACCA boss and deputised by Gidion Kalumbo Phiri,all from the central,this did not go on well with the Thumbukaz.Luanar had the same problems.Intake at Luanar is 70% Thumbukaz.Almost every college Thumbukaz firebrand themselves as the brilliant people yet they are dull who believe in nepostic theories for being a minority.No wonder Kamuzu chased them from every and each quarters of Malawi back to their BUSH.Bingu would have done the same.He was right to tell them of their devilish theories of Mzuzu Corner in Colleges.
They need to be dealt with drastically.Osawanyengelera ayi siiiwo anzeruyiii!!!
MWENEFUMBO YOU ARE CONTRADICTING YOURSELF.YOU ARE ASKING DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL BUT EDUATION FOR ONLY THE TUMBUKAS.THATS WE SAY YOU PEOPLE FROM THE NORTH ARE SELFFISH
Wake North people the time has come for us to forge a head own
our own not on someones shoes,As i have seen the way other
region use abusive words to us.So lets SEPERATE NOW.
KUTUKWANA SIKUTI NDINU ANZERU KWAMBIRI AYI PANKHANI YIMENEYI AYI
MKAMATUKWANA ZIKUONETSERATU KUTI NDINU OPANDA NZERU.
LETS TALK AS MATURED PEOPLE NOT KIDS,AND SOME ISSUES DO INVOLVE
THE NATION IT NEED PEOPLE OF HIGH CALIBER TO COMMENT NOT
KU NGO KHUTA MBATATA NAYAMBA KULEMBA KUTI TIZIWE ZOTI NANUNSO
MNAPONDAKO KU SUKULU.
IF YOU DONT AGREE WITH PEOPLE FROM NORTH THEN “LET US DIVIDE
THIS NATION INTO 2 COUNTRY’S” BEFORE BLOOD STARTS FLOWING.
People of North are ready to run their own country.So if you
continue kutukwana we are ready to change our mind set.
Lets talk politics we have had MP erected in the southern region from north the likes of Billy KAUNDA but we have never seen an MP from south or central being erected in the north. Who is tribalistic here.
Dear COUNTRYMEN,
I know that my views have pleased some BUT angered some people too. Let me say once again that I have no intention to anger any section of the country. My only concern is that we Malawians always fail to say the truth to one another and we have allowed lies to become “the truth” about our country. The truth of the matter is we people belong to one family. We are one people. We have one destiny and we waste time hiding behind pseudo names, kutukwanana simply because we are from different tribes or we speak different mother tongues or are called Northerners, Centrallers, Southerners.
My point in my last posting was that as a country, we need to bury our hatchets, forgive one another and start focusing on development and argue out of love and not hatred. While I have a problem with the formation of the Northern Region Caucus, my view is that the purpose must not become a platform from which to vent anger or to arouse people’s anger against people from other regions. Those who lead it must, therefore, be careful not to give people from other regions the impression that the caucus is a “nationalist” forum with ulterior motives. This will make the rest of the country suspicious and antagonistic because this can also work against the Northern Region in one way or another. Northerners need to appreciate that the claims that some individuals make on behalf of the rest are not good and I am speaking this in love for my country because I know that we all belong to one country called Malawi.
I, of one, fail to understand some historical claims that some Malawians are making on this forum in trying to justify that the claim it was people from one region who fought for independence for this country while the rest were just watching. They buttress this claim by telling us that MCP “was formed by Orton Chirwa”. Well, I always disagree with this notion because, although I know that Northerners played a critical role, the truth is that all people of Malawi worked together to free this country from colonialism. I don’t want to repeat the names of people from other regions who I know also played a critical role in the 40s, 50s, 60s. What I know is that plans had already been made by Nyasaland African Congress leaders that when independence was won, “Nyasaland” would be renamed “Malawi” after the “Maravi” Empire (a Portuguese corruption of the word “Malawi” a Chichewa (or Chinyanja?) word for “Flames of Fire” by the time the State of Emergency came. The Maravi empire overlapped with the neighboring Nkhamanga Kingdom and straddled three modern-day countries West of Lake Nyasa: Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and parts of Tanzania and Zimbabwe as some historians claim (those who care should read Dr. Banda’s speech of 1967 over Lake Malawi – whose copy I have – in which he made claims of Malawi boundaries to be beyond Mbeya, Songea in Tanzania!). I repeat, plans were already under way that Nyasaland African Congress would be renamed Malawi Congress Party, to suit the new name of “Malawi” by time NAC members were incarcerated at Gweru, Kanjedza, etc in 1959.
When the State of Emergency occurred on 3rd March, 1959, and the majority of senior congress officials, including Dr. Banda, were imprisoned and their party was banned, the few that remained outside prison, including Orton Chirwa, ganged up and renamed the party “Malawi Congress Party” in the spirit of protest and in solidarity with their imprisoned colleagues. Proof to this fact is that MCP did not have a) new membership registry b) new party structures c) new assets d) new leadership structure. It inherited Nyasaland African Congress assets, structures, etc.
This, however, is not to say that Orton Chirwa was not instrumental in the whole exercise. That would be dead wrong! Being an excellent and experienced lawyer, he enjoyed respect from the White Regime. And, being a firebrand political front runner that he was in Nyasaland, he was a perfect individual to lead the process of reorganizing and sustaining the spirit of the banned NAC at the time the majority of its leaders were in custody. It is, however, historically wrong to create the impression that MCP was his personal party or that it became a totally different political party in Nyasaland. I know that some books have perpetrated this view but we all know that THE FACT THAT SOMETHING APPEARS IN A BOOK DOES NOT MAKE IT INFALLIBLY CORRECT. As a legal brain out of prison, for sure, he registered the party. Even today, you need a lawyer to register a new party. Besides, let us not forget that Dr. Banda was “made” PRESIDENT GENERAL of NAC on his arrival on July 6th, 1958 but he was “elected” PRESIDENT in October, 1960, seven (7) months after being released from Gweru Prison on “Fools Day” 1st April, 1960. Now, history does not tell us that the party that made Dr. Banda “President General” in July 1958 is different from the one that elected him “President” in October, 1960! The reason is simple – he just continued with his presidency but in a party that had assumed a new name of “Malawi” Congress Party which was first founded by James Fredrick Sangala of Ndirande-Makata in Blantyre. I will appreciate a constructive argument on this fact.
But, like I have said before, over the years, this party has demonstrated that it does not belong to any region in Malawi because, all regions have had a turn in leading it: Levi Ziriro Mumba, TDT Banda (North); Charles Matinga, James Sangala, Gwanda Chakwamba (South); James Chinyama, Kamuzu Banda, John Tembo and Lazarus Chakwera (Center). My “personal” view is that after Chakwera, a Northerner, Richard Msowoya, is “LIKELY” going to be the next MCP (formerly NAC) president if the two continue working together like they have displayed in the past three years. My only hope is that those from the Central Region in MCP will desist from regarding MCP as a “Central Region party” because, historically this party has always been a national party. They always need to create room that people from other regions feel that they too have a chance to hold influential positions, including the presidency in this party. This is why I always stand in owe when I see Chakwera and Msowoya working together amicably despite many perception challenges that MCP has faced in the past 20 years. I always feel that, in the multiparty era, the first State President from the North will come through the MCP and this will not be the first time in the party’s long history. Watch this space.
You see, COUNTRYMEN, there have been circumstances when leaders have forgotten this important fact and have treated MCP as regional party. This is wrong, because, if truth be told, MCP is historically a national party – started by Sangala (a Yao (Mang’anja?), saved in a troubled year (1959) by Orton Chirwa (a Tonga?) but run the longest by Dr. Banda (a Chewa). It has never been a tribal or family party and this feature must be guarded by MCP’s rank and file at all costs. I will, personally, be the happiest person when Msowoya or any other person from the North or South takes over leadership in MCP. Just like I will be happy if Kamlepo Kalua or Dada Mwnefumbo can take over from Joyce Banda or Mtaba taking over from Peter Mutharika. But alas! Can that happen??? But if it happens, on that day, Malawi politics will have matured. Like, our parents did it in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960, we can begin to look at people’s content of character and not the language they speak. The earlier we started doing this the better!
By the way, MCP, has controversially run on four principles: Unity, Loyalty, Obedience and Discipline. Whether these are still important, history alone will tell surfice to say that in the years when “DISCIPLINE” was regarded “USELESS” Malawians have suffered from the worst plunder of financial resources in the name of housegate, cashgate, tractorgate, maizegate, landgate and many other “gates” in between. And, I personally, watch as history unfolds in front of us. No hatred intended. These are just my humble views. Let’s keep debating. This is our country. Good evening.
Sorry, I will not write again. I will focus on other things. At least I have spoken my mind in these few days. I ask others to speak their’s too. Let’s keep debating. It’s our birthright! People can call me though. On 0888435629. I have had very interesting phone calls so far. I love to talk about Malawi – my beloved country! Let’s stop kutukwanana by share knowledge.
Cheers,
Kent Y.G. Mphepo – Blantyre.
Kent Y.G Mphepo:
Having other things to do (we all do) is not a valid reason for not writing again here.
You seem to be passionate about the subject matter you write about; and you also seem better informed on historical matters, mostly, and readers get tickled by some of your facts and observations.
Apparently you are a patriot, even though not necessarily more than most of us. But it is easy to detect BIAS in favor of MCP, in your opinions. The computer screen cannot hide your good wishes for MCP. Perhaps you should declare your affiliations to the Party, at the outset, so that people do NOT think you are an independent observer.
You seem to admit only to petty political improprieties, mainly, of your man (no disrespect for you here), Kamuzu, and his regime; and ignore many of the major blunders, especially on human
rights. Including many of the extra-judicial killings: ordered while his intellect was not compromised. And “your” Party, MCP, does NOT seem to understand this is the main reason it is not favored in many parts of the country. Including the North, with or without Msowoya.
Even if you are not a policy wonk, perhaps you could influence the current leadership of “your” Party to do something to own up to those past atrocities, rather than just sweeping them under the rug, so to speak. If the Party will listen to you, and can act accordingly, then Malawians will believe that today’s MCP is really different from the old one. Otherwise the hiatus will be a long one, because most Malawians, including kids, now know, even through oral history, the appalling human rights record of MCP.
Please continue writing. Last time I checked this was still a free country – unlike during Kamuzu’s era.
Kent’s line of thinking is quit appetizing. Let us accept that we are all by nature tribalistic. Operating from this premise will make a good footing for those entrusted with power to come up with fair policies that will serve the interests of all tribes in the country under one Malawi. The greatest tragedy lies in the fact that those who accuse others of being tribalistic are often times not free from the vice. We need more research in this area. SO HELP US GOD!
People can pour ideas, just checking the flow of reasoning within the comments, you can read between the lines.
zinalakwika poyambirira kwenikweni.Ife akumpoto bwezi tili gawo la Tanzania.Ndipo we support Tanzania on Lake issue,let them have the Lake!
Murara uyu wakukhumba unduna. Remember he was once Minister of Agriculture and used subsidy coupons as a political tool. Let him and his fellow tribesmen from kuthengere get lost. I come from the same thengere but well assimilated into Malawi. I chose to abandon Nyika Banana Republic thengere thinking.
So MANEB has been failing on its duties all along. It has been allowing northern managers and ministers to be selecting their wards into secondaries and universities nilly willy making us to believe that they were passing exams on merit. MANEB why the hypocricy? why were you policing only pupils from the south and central? What were exams for? Poor Maneb. You allowed dull tumbukas to dominate education by trick. Nyansi MANEB. And comrades, take care of tumbuka examiners. They leak exams to their fellow hinyas…….. Shame to maneb.
FINALLY:
Apologies. Some of us are not frequent visitors to these chat rooms, hence these re-entries.
Apologies again for perceived generalizations in earlier posts. I have brothers and sisters in both central and southern regions who share my sentiments. Let us have a clean non-restrictive selection of our children to public universities.
******Congratulations Kent Mphepo for your analytical display of facts. You are a blessing to this country and God continue to bless you. I have listened to you before, and you always inspire me.
In addition REMOVE the sticking Quota System. Let us compete on equal footing. Kaya ana anu akabera azamangidwa ndi a polisi.
You are taking away from the north the only thing God gave them and they can not forgive you for this!!!.
Can someone with courage please take the QS away?????????????????????????????
A Chiphokosoooooooooooooooooooo.
Please note that the Bishops only raised various issues in form of a Pastoral Letter like they do many times. These are Men of God. Koma tikunena a ndale.
Kodi mwaiwala pamene timanena .
I agree with the MP on this item though I do not on others. TAKE A HARD LOOK AND OBSERVE A CHIPHOSOOOOO.
Let us call a spade a spade not a spoon. If you are old enough remember and tell the truth for ‘Truth shall set you free’.
BRAVO MWENIFUMBO!!!!!! Well written.It is high time one has to comeup openly to tell Malawians the truth.It is sad that the leaders just remain ambiguous and busy stealing public funds instead of facing the rising rhetorics of TRIBALISM which has shaken our country.First and foremost,MALAWI belongs to Malawians of the three regions regardless of ethnicity or tribal affiliations.It is no longer a secret,the leaders of the two regions encourage their supporters to carry on this dangerous move that nobody will triumph in the long run.Hastings Banda started this crooked political agenda to devide and rule the people of Malawi for 32 solid years.Thanks to the HATED NORTHERNERS who invited the rogue to come to Nyasaland while his own people,if he is a true Malawian,were busy dancing NYAU and others chasing MBEWA in the bush instead of going to school.You must thank Kanyama Chiume for bringing this rapscallion into our country.Furthermore,the struggle for independence was carried out by the Northerners VIZ: Yatuta Kaluli Chisiza,Dunduzu Kaluli Chisiza,Orton Ching’oli Chirwa,Rose Chiwambo the list goes on.The first President of the African Nyasaland Congress hereinafter,(ANC) was LEVY ZILILO MUMBA from Ekwendeni who led the Party from 1944-1949.It is therefore,very astonishing to see that our brothers and sisters have developed such hateful opinion on Northerners who have also lost their lives in the processes of the noble struggle for our land.However,not all Southerners are tribalistic,Masauko Chipembere originally hailed from the Likoma Islands,Attati Mphakati,Jomo Chikwakwa,George Michongwe,Augustine Bwanausi(the best mathematician Malawi had ever produced) who was killed in Zambia by Banda’s killer thugs,were real Malawians and to them,tribalism was an enemy.So brother and sisters from the SOUTH and CENTRAL MALAWI,MUST KNOW THAT tribalism will never develop our country,we shall remain the tail of Africa for the rest of our lives.Aleady we have seen this,after being led by 5 Presidents from the CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MALAWI,our country has been thrown into the lions’ mouth,the economy is rotten,joblessness is 99%,people are starving,corruption has reached its zenith,we have no medecines in the hospitals, power and water are not available to the common people,crime is the order of the day,your President is a fool so on and so forth.If you want to know about tribalism,ASK OUR BROTHERS FROM RWANDA.
Countrymen,
I write to comment on Hon. Mwenefumbo’s views about the Northern Region. Like I have always done, I don’t hide my identity on this or any other forum where I find myself on because I believe that honesty and truthfulness is what will build this country. As compatriots I feel that speaking truth to each other is very critical if at all our country will one day move forward. Let me start with a disclaimer that I am not a Northerner. I am a Centraller. But, I did part of my secondary school up North. I now live in the South. I always feel proud of these three facts because over years I have seen how my unique situation enables me to look at the issues of tribalism different from others and here are my views on the issues that my brother Frank is raising:
1. The North had an earlier opportunity of interacting with the Scottish missionaries (one being, Dr. Robert Laws) who were passionate about preparing Africans for national leadership. These Scottish missionaries set up high quality and a large number of schools (by population size) than missionaries in the South (Blantyre Mission) and Center (Dutch Reformed Church from South Africa). Unlike the Dutch Reformed Church who prepared Africans to read the Bible so that they can go to heaven or become good farmers so they can feed themselves, and the Blantyre Mission Scots who primarily came to introduce commerce in order to counteract slavery, Dr. Laws and his team believed in an education system that would prepare Africans to run government in future. It is these three different educational philosophies that have defined the development culture of the three regions in Malawi. North = Education & government; Centre = Preaching & Agriculture; South = Trade & Commerce. I, therefore, argue that none of the three regions has been neglected in the sense being portrayed here. The point is that the three regions are just blessed differently. Northerners dominate in white collar jobs particularly in government, NGOs and the private sector; Centrallers dominate in agriculture and they tend be good Bible teachers and preachers; Southerners are business people so vending is their life blood. Actually, economically (at household level) the South is the poorest region in Malawi and that’s why donors are pumping more resources in the South since it has the biggest burden of poverty in Malawi followed by the Centre. The Northern Region, on the other hand, is the richest followed by the Center. Until recently, infrastructurally, the South has had a lion’s share because of the high presence of the private sector but, ironically, the majority of people running those corporates are Northerners! Like I have said before, Mzimba district has produced more teachers than all districts combined, Nkhata Bay has produced more lawyers in Malawi than all districts combined and Rumphi has produced more medical doctors than all districts combined!! So, Hon. Mwenefumbo you and your team must take note of this. These are not signs of poor districts.
2. While it is true that Northerners dominated among those who fought for independence, Hon. Mwenefumbo must be careful not to create the impression that people from other regions were entirely absent. While it is true that the first native association (North Nyasa Native Association) was formed by one Simon Mhango in 1912, it is important to note that our history has such freedom fighters as John Chilembwe, James, Fredrick Sangala, Phillip Gomani, Chief Mwase, Hanock Phiri (of the African Methodist Mission at Mdabwi in Kasungu) Chief Tambala, Dr. Malikebu, J.K. Somanje (who later became Chief Lundu) were instrumental in agitating for freedom in this country. History books are replete with Rev. Charles Chinula (of Mombera Native Association), Levi Ziriro Mumba, etc working closely working with their counter parts in the Centre and South. The freedom for independence was a collective effort. Others may have been more noticeable because of their ability to speak to their superior level of education. But, Malawians (Nyasas) have always worked to together in time of people and war.
3. I also don’t agree with the impression that Northerners have not held and contested for national political positions in this country. Let’s not forget that Nyasaland African Congress (which was later collectively RENAMED Malawi Congress Party in 1959 (contrary to the notion that it was founded by Orton Chirwa) was formed by James Fredrick Sangala (a Southerner) (whose portraits is on the MK100 note) in 1943 but members elected Levi Mumba (Northerner from Mzimba) as its first President in 1944 and Charles Matinga (Southerner) was his Vice President. When Mumba died he was replaced by Matinga up to 1949 when Sangala took over as President. In 1950, James Chinyama from Ntcheu (Central Region) took over as President. Sangala took over again in 1953 up to 1956 when TDT Banda (from Nkhata Bay) took over up to 1957 or thereabouts. Dr. Kamuzu Banda (from the Center) became president of NAC in 1960 and at his retirement, in the spirit if regional integration, contrary to people’s expectation that he would pass the presidency to John Tembo, he decided to pass on the mantle to Gwanda Chakwamba (Southern Region). Tembo passed it on to Chakwera (fellow Centraller majorly due to poor representation of people from other regions) and I have no doubt that, should Northerners remain patient and active in MCP, the current Speaker of Parliament, Right Hon. Richard Msowoya, may become the next President of MCP. From what I have seen so far, Chakwera is working well with Northerners and MCP is currently undergoing a major transformation and Northerners seem have a brighter future in MCP than in any other party (including AFORD) in Malawi. So, looking at this historical account, it is dead wrong for Hon. Mwenefumbo to claim that Northerners have never held or contest for senior political positions in Malawi politics. The only problem I see now is a group of young people from the North who are working without a sense of history. History, history, history!
3. Dr. Banda and Northerners: Let’s not forget that in 1989 Dr. Banda was very old and historical accounts show that he really may have not been running government on his own. I am sure that lot of decisions were being made behind his back. About teachers who were sent back to the Northern Region: In case people don’t know, this incident was a mere reaction to a nasty incident that happened at Kamuzu Academy. It is said that Dr. Donton Mkandawire, who worked at MANEB but Chaired Kamuzu Academy Board (after Aaron Gadama died), offended Dr. Banda through Kamuzu Academy selection and he ran away to Botswana. He apparently selected too many Form One students from his Karonga district to Kamuzu Academy at the expense of other districts over a period of 4 years or more. Out of anger Dr. Banda, through influence of his ministers, at the time when he was old, made an emotional decision which hurt many Northerners in the long run. This is a decision that I personally regret although I was only a Standard 8 boy when this happened but I followed the incident closely, since, for some reason, I was close to where things were happening. So, yes, Dr. Banda chased all teachers from the North to their home districts. But, people must not discuss this matter out of context. Dr. Banda was offended by a Northerner and, if he participated in the decision, may have acted in anger and frustration. But it was wrong for him or whoever made that unfortunate decision, to generalize the problem. He needed to have dealt with Dr. Mkandawire as an individual. As they say that all bad laws come from someone’s behavior, the quota system started with that incident. It was from that moment that people from other regions began to ask questions on how selection was being handled by MANEB. But, what we, Malawians, need to do now is to soberly look at the merits and demerits of the quota system and find a formula that should neither discriminate one region nor favour only one region. Let’s not be emotional about it. Let’s remember that before the Cabinet Crisis in 1964, Dr. Banda’s Cabinet had Aleke Banda, Yatuta Chisiza, Orton Chirwa, Rose Chibambo, while the Center only had John Msonthi and John Tembo and when one looks at the people who held senior positions in government during Dr. Banda time, I doubt if it is fair that Northerners suffered during his time. We know of course, that some individuals, particularly those who were connected to the so-called dissidents, suffered. But, if you looked at the list of people who were in embassies or holding senior positions in companies, institutions and government, it is unhistorical to claim that the North was not being counted unless Mr. Mwenefumbo has real empirical facts and figures to show us on this forum!
4. Did Chihana or Muluzi or Catholic Bishops free Malawians from the one party system? Was Dr. Banda and his Mcp defeated by UDF/AFORD? This notion is historically wrong and unfounded. To begin with, one party system of government was not only in Malawi at that time. All countries in Africa and the Third World in general were under one party system from way back 1960s. One Party system was the creation of the Cold War (the rivalry between the West under NATO, led by the USA and the East under the Warsaw Pact let by USSR. When USSR collapsed in 1989-90 under Gorberchov it meant that America and Britain were victorious and they wanted democracy to spread to the entire Third World including Africa and Malawi in particular. So, actions by Chakufwa Chihana, Muluzi, Catholic Bishops were the creation of Western countries who wanted Malawi to go back to multi-party democracy as it had been during the first general elections in 1961 when MCP, Federal Party, Chester Katsonga’s (father to the current Katsonga brothers) Christian Democratic Party (with Support from the Catholic Church), etc competed and MCP won hands down. Western countries defeated MCP by a) providing intelligence that dismanttled the MYP; b) withdrawing aid c) creating the platform of so-called “dissidents” such as Kanyama, Chihana, Muluzi, Kamlepo, etc. to raise their voices against Dr. Banda and MCP. So, I find Hon. Mwenefumbo’s arguments wrong. You see, history is important as we make arguments today. I repeat, Dr. Banda was defeated by Western powers and not Chihana or Muluzi or Catholic Bishops. By the way, we can discuss the Catholic Bishop’s letter separately because it has its own stories connected to Kenyan Bishops.
5. Threat that Malawi may explode like Rwanda: Being someone who has lived in the North and someone who has read widely about the Rwandan situation, I feel that equating the challenges that Malawi is facing with the pre-1994 Rwandan situation is nothing but failure to understand root causes of political challenges in the two countries. I feel that this claim is but sensational and not founded on historical/political facts on the ground. Let me say without fear of contradiction, that Hon. Mwenefumbo is just trying to create a storm in a cup of tea because I don’t think that an average Northerner shares that opinion or that the North is in that mold right now. I also find the statements out of context. Yes, Northerners may have genuine grievances but to insinuate that they may be contemplating violence I find it an incorrect conclusion. If anything I know that there are politicians who may have personal ambitions and may just want to create an impression that people are too angry to be part of Malawi. HISTORY AND CONTEMPORARY POLITICS OF MALAWI CANNOT SUPPORT THIS NOTION. True leaders must always seek to raise genuine concerns and seek solutions in a spirit of integration, love and patriotism. Threats will only beget threats or contempt from people from other regions. I disagree with you honorable.
In conclusion, I agree that Northerners, just like my own districts of Ntchisi, Dowa and Kasungu, have some issues that government must find solutions for. Land challenges for instance. But, it is totally wrong for people to inflame people’s anger just to vent personal anger. Let me invite honorable Mwenefumbo to a heart to heart discussion on these matters either in person or by phone. I am on 0888435629.
Like I have always said, most of my personal friends are Northerners and I have always regarded them as my real brothers and sisters. But, I sometimes get surprised by some individuals who tend to see trouble where there is none. I always feel that arguments must be based on empirical facts and not on sweeping statements. I rest my case.
Kent Y.G. Mphepo – Blantyre.
You are the voice of reason. The only way you can appreciate other tribes is when you stay with them and enjoy their good will. I always say every tribe has elements of intra-tribe kuzikonda in them. I believe in one Malawi. We are too divided to develop as an entity, north, center or south. Can we try to identify the root causes of our divisions??? Just the numerous emotional comments in this article show we are pulling in different directions. I cry for my beloved Malawi. Am waiting for a day when you do something exceptional and you receive praise as a Malawian not a particular tribe. Lets wake up and move together as Malawians. Only then can we develop otherwise I see the tower of babel.
Mr Mphepo, while your lengthy comment makes interesting reading, it seems you either know very little about the subject or your arguments are backed by wrong history books. I know you claim to be a relation of the late Kamuzu Banda and as such your analysis will be biased towards the late dictator, Malawi Congress Party and the Central Region.
To begin with, just like the MCP regime in your desperate attempt to take away credit from Orton Chirwa for forming the Malawi Congress Party you argue that the Nyasaland African Congress was collectively renamed Malawi Congress Party. Quite interesting. Where is your source? I remember in my secondary school days Tindall’s “ A history of Central Africa “ had the page which states that the Malawi Congress Party was formed by Orton Chirwa removed. Reason. Nobody should be credited with forming the MCP except the Life President Ngwazi Dr H Kamuzu Banda. Remember, “Zonse zimene nza Kamuzu Banda”, went the lyrics of the most popular song of the day.
Orton Chirwa formed the MCP when Ngwazi and a few others were in jail. Nyasaland African Congress (NAC) was banned at that time. Tell me, in your reasoning was renaming NAC MCP going to unban it? Obviously no. Is it possible to validate a banned entity simply by renaming it? To put simply, was NAC going to be allowed to continue doing its activities simply because it has been renamed? The answer is a big No. Simply renaming something does not change what it is. When Cochrane Dyet was expelled from Malawi during the Bingu regime, would changing his name to say, James Phiri going to change his status as a persona non grata? No chance. MCP was formed as a new party albeit with almost all former members of the banned party and not merely a change of name of the banned NAC.
If indeed NAC was renamed MCP, then having Orton Chirwa as its leader would have been considered a coup. I know you and some people from the Central Region find it hard to accept that your mighty MCP was formed by a Northerner. No matter how hard you try, you cannot change history.
In your attempt to justify the deportation of teachers from the North you claim the reason was Donton Mkandawire who at the time was chairman of KA selecting more students from his district Karonga to Kamuzu Academy. Really? To begin with, Donton was not from Karonga but Mzimba. Secondly, selection to Kamuzu Academy was two students per district and I wonder how possible it was for Donton to select more from Karonga. There are some like-minded people like you who go as far as saying Donton used his position at Maneb as the Executive Director to give exams to students from the North in advance for them to do better than their counterparts in the Centre and the South. The reason Malawians will never excel is we waste time trying to find excuses for our failures even if there is none. Tell me, how long was Donton at Maneb? If Donton was the reason students from the North excelled, how was their performance pre and post Donton Maneb directorship? What about that of the students from the Centre and South? My word of advice, don’t believe every garbage you hear.
Your argument that while Dr Laws was preparing Northerners for leadership, Nkhoma was teaching people of the Centre to read the bible to go to heaven and become farmers and Blantyre synod was busy teaching Southerners commerce is not true. Nkhoma came into the country as a result of an invitation by Dr Laws. It was too big an area for Livingstonia Synod to administer the North and Centre. The agreement was that Nkhoma should take over Central Region or South of the Dwangwa River. Dr Laws valued education too much that it is imaginable that he would invite someone to teach the natives only to read the bible and become farmers. If it was all about bible reading would Nkhoma have established reputable schools such as Robert Blake, William Murry etc. Missionaries aside, do not forget that the Central Region had the best school in Box 48, Dedza.
As for the Southern Region, Blantyre Mission (Church of Scotland) and the Livingstonia Mission (Free Church of Scotland) share the same origin, ideologies, values and they all came as a result of David Livingstone visit to Central Africa. They all had a mission to bring the 3 Cs (Civilization, Commerce and Christianity) of David Livingstone to Africa. They all established schools that taught all, and not limited to a particular area of interest as you would want us believe. HHI is one of the oldest school and has produced remarkable leaders. Find more about HHI, programmes taught etc.
Well said Kent in general and it is good you have invited the Honorable Mwenefumbo for a discussion. And very good Honorable for voicing your concerns openly. Kent, on your point 4 I thought I was the only person that believed that democracy in Malawi was brought by Western Powers and not ourselves or those leaders. If you do more research you may discover, as well, that the Masons too had a part. And by the way, like most countries, Malawi is controlled by Masons in all sectors of the economy and society!
Kent Y.G. Mphepo:
Your essay seems to be credible. In the absence of challenges from Mwenifumbo himself, or others like Kalua, that most vocal MP, then your view or explanations should, prevail, majorly.
If the main issue at hand is nepotism, if Donton Mkandawire grossly (and criminally) interfered with the selection of students to Kamuzu Academy, the way you have described it, he must be defined as one of the worst corrupt education administrators in this country. It must also be stated that his record of similar corruption is “archived” for the duration of his tenure as head of a MANED, in Zomba, in the seventies and eighties. (And Kanyama Chiume, when he was minister of education, he too seems to have almost “perfected” the art of preferential selection of Northern kids to, especially, the “national” secondary schools) This kind of corruption is no less serious than big money theft, like CASHGATE. It effectively, set many non-northerners on the path to be hewers of wood and drawers of water, by design. Thus, your explanations seem to buttress, rather than suppress, the prevailing proposition that Northern Malawians have had an unfair advantages of others since Independence. And that advantage is clearly NOT due to natural intelligence, as most Northerners claim. Myth exposed, and theory debunked – most Malawians did NOT believe, even for a second, to this superior intelligence.
I am of the stern opinion that people should not be pigeonholed by race, tribe, region or district. To go beyond how you think Northerners became good at academics, Centralers at farming and Southerners at business is to live in the past. And that perpetuates tribalist stereotypes: like for the Yao, fishing and tailoring are their forte. Times have changed to the effect that every tribe or even district now can take pride in having very successful farmers, learned men and women, skilled individuals, business persons or what have you. The world of possibilities is wide open; and younger generations have opportunities to pursue projects us older folks could not even dream of. The times are still (a) changing. A good thing, to be sure.
Finally, Kamuzu should not be excused or given the benefit of the doubt for some of his worst acts, on the basis that he did them in his dotage. While crediting him with some good things he did in same dotage. So, he has to own the expulsion of the teachers to their home region, even if he was not the originator of the idea. That was one of the darkest chapters in human rights abuses in our history. No glossing over it.
This is a good observation from the honourable MP.
Malawi need people who speak facts. Other examples of patriotic Malawian who are speaking facts for our country to change are the Vice President Chilima and Kamlepo.
Northern Malawi haters, you are just very stupid. Stupidity of highest order.
In northern region, we do not have names like Chambo. I am was born in the north and grown in
the north and I know all names from the north. Chambo might be from the south or central
region. He just cheated you.
But still more look at the national indicators and ask yourself questions. Don’t say northerners
ndi anthu odzikonda. May be that is your thinking or else imakhala ili nsanje.
Ngati ku north kulibe dzina loti Chambo ndiye kuzikonda timanenako. Ana athu kuno ali ndi maina monga Chirwa, Kalua etc. Ngati mukufuna battle let’s go. Ndipo muchokenso kuno, mwamva? Ngati deportation ya aphunzitsi munalira nayo nanga federation mukufunayo? Ifetu sitizalola kuti muzakhale kuno. Muzapita ku thengere kwanuko komanso titakuphaphalitsani ndi makofi. Muzingo dyerera nawo basi nkumatukula kuno mwamva?
Independence or federalism.
can put the whole issue to rest.
Atumbuka ndinu odzikonda thats why mumafuna dziko lanulanu ku mpoto, komanso mumachoka kumpoto kwanuko kudzakhazikika kuno koma mukafa mumafuna kukaikidwa kwanuko why? Bwanji ife a chewa kutinena a chewa sitidandaula? Mulindvuto a tumbuka.
Akambuku or Achewa muli ndi mudzi koti akakuyikeni? Bola mukhale monga ife ASena
We saw the same thing when Chambo encroached into Chiwayas constituency, no one backed Chambo except Kamlepo Kalua. Mind you Chambo is a northerner. He only contested his seat in Makanjira. If you want to see how egocentric these Timbuktu are just ask your self if a southerner or one from central region can win an election in the North. Yet we in the south have voted these Tumbukas into positions
You are very right my friend.Wina uyu wa ku Ndirande uyu mumati ndani paja?
Well, I do not know what is happening in the country. I do agree with Hon. Mwenifumbo that in
Malawi, we, people from the North of this country are not taken as Malawians. Where are we?
Really, tribalism will not take us anywhere. Indeed, Quota System was introduced with an aim of
baring students from the North from entering public universities. I believe a study should be
conducted to establish why learners from the north perform so well as compared from the other
two regions. I believe one of the reasons is that cultures are different. In the north, there is
patrilineal while in the other two regions they believe in matrimonial type of culture.
If you feel that people from the North are not Malawians ask Tanzania or Zambia to take over
because we do not want to be refugees in our own country. Afer all, Tanzania has already
taken the northern part of Lake Malawi. This is why our country will never,
never, never excel because of these tribalistic tendencies. Recruitment on crucial positions is
based on where one is coming from and he/she fails to perform.
Similary, during Dr. Kamuzu Banda, under the influence of other politicians, he also introduced
the Quota System in order to bar people from the north entering University. Merit was
compromised. In 1989, he ordered that all teachers from the North should go back and teach in
the north because they were teaching Nyau, What a shame, there is Nyau in the North. This
resulted in deficiency in Mathematics and Science in the other two regions. The north was over
flooded with Science teachers and some were even deployed to DEC schools which was very
unusual those days. And some Maths and science teachers had to be retained in the two regions
in order to beef up the few teachers that were there. Some of these tribalistic decisions have long
negative impact on socioeconomic development of the country. May practice your so called
tribalism today, but you do not know what the future holds for you. We are all Malawians and we
need to live in harmony. We know that people from the northern region are hated so much by
two regions for no good reasons. Hatred is a sin before God. My closing remark is that with
tribalism at its peak this country will always remain poor. If you are an intelligent and impartial
Malawian, look at the socioeconomic indicators of the three regions, you will find that the north
beats the other two regions. If we are impartial enough let us find out the reason why the
north is beating the rest of the regions and replicate to the other two regions for development
and there are as Malawians.
Well, I do not know what is happening in the country. I do agree with Hon. Mwenifumbo that in
Malawi, we, people from the North of this country are not taken as Malawians. Where are we?
Really, tribalism will not take us anywhere. Indeed, Quota System was introduced with an aim of
baring students from the North from entering public universities. I believe a study should be
conducted to establish why learners from the north perform so well as compared from the other
two regions. I believe one of the reasons is that cultures are different. In the north, there is
patrilineal while in the other two regions they believe in matrimonial type of culture.
If you feel that people from the North are not Malawians ask Tanzania or Zambia to take over
because we do not want to be refugees in our own country. Afer all, Tanzania has already
taken the northern part of Lake Malawi. This is why our country will never,
never, never excel because of these tribalistic tendencies. Recruitment on crucial positions is
based on where one is coming from and he/she fails to perform.
Similary, during Dr. Kamuzu Banda, under the influence of other politicians, he also introduced
the Quota System in order to bar people from the north entering University. Merit was
compromised. In 1989, he ordered that all teachers from the North should go back and teach in
the north because they were teaching Nyau, What a shame, there is Nyau in the North. This
resulted in deficiency in Mathematics and Science in the other two regions. The north was over
flooded with Science teachers and some were even deployed to DEC schools which was very
unusual those days. And some Maths and science teachers had to be retained in the two regions
in order to beef up the few teachers that were there. Some of these tribalistic decisions have long
negative impact on socioeconomic development of the country. May practice your so called
tribalism today, but you do not know what the future holds for you. We are all Malawians and we
need to live in harmony. We know that people from the northern region are hated so much by
two regions for no good reasons. Hatred is a sin before God. My closing remark is that with
tribalism at its peak this country will always remain poor. If you are an intelligent and impartial
Malawian, look at the socioeconomic indicators of the three regions, you will find that the north
beats the other two regions. If we are impartial enough let us find out the reason why the
north is beating the rest of the regions and replicate to the other two regions for development
and there are as Malawians.
Me i don’t want even to work with you people from other regions Other than Northern Region. we done alot for Malawi unfortunately we are associated with people who have wrong issues with us. we need federalism system because we want certain powers that we can be able manage development of in the region. like me i don’t need federalism but what I need is our own country. even in federalism system we will fight for independent because I can see we won’t agree in economics policy. We are much better than all the regions in Malawi. I will Never talk one Malawi but Northern Region. mwenefumbo is very right to come publicly telling people like that.
Go and work in your region idiot
Signs of abject poverty.Are you all not ashamed that you are all Poor?North,Central,South,West, what is of serious concern to me is this poverty.Houses are mostly grass thatched,roads are too bad,90% of communities without portable water and electricity.
Hospitals are few everywhere and where available are very far in all regions i must admit but even without the required number of doctors and needed resources.Any Party in power (Kamuzu, Bakili,Bingu,Amai and Peter) favors people from their own home. I have come to believe that any tribe in power or authority is very tribalist. All parties are very tribalistic in nature and likewise all THOSE IN AUTHORITY, whether at work or at home.
But it is the level of unemployment that fuels tribalism.Jobs are very few and the only little chance available is quickly shared among kinsmen. Contracts are a few against many bidders, the only chance must be given to a friend or relation.
University spaces are limited and the chances must be prioritized among our people in the name of Quota system.
Cabinet positions are on high demand and what should be done, only my people should benefit more.The same is the situation in all Embassies and foreign positions.
Malawians, if we develop today, more jobs will be created-reducing chances of nepotism.People will stop complaining about quota system if we had many spaces in the University.THE BIGGEST SIGN OF POVERTY IS TRIBALISM.
Rwanda was very tribalistic before Paul Kagame. Today, the same country that was deep rooted in tribalism is entrenched with great signs of unity, peace,coexistence and remarkable development.
Stop this nonsense Malawi or remain poor forever
if we are having so many comments ….its shows there is some truths in the issues thus why people are commenting on it ……bravo menefumbo for coming out open…..you find in whatsapp and facebook tumbukas are called with different names and jokes just to mock them
I would like to agree with the observation made by Hon.Mwenefumbo,Often times we hear stories that despises the Tumbuka people.But for Mr.Mwenefumbo to claim that citizens from other regions accuse the Timbuka’ as being power Hungry,I think that is not correct because as of late such criticism have centered around the Lhomwe people.Malawi is one indeed hence there is no need for us to actually discriminate each other and divide ourselves along religious,traditional and Tribal lines.If we look beyond these lines we will find that we still share common history and heritage.
Atumbuka muli nyominyomi pambuyo pa MCP inakuzuzani heavy openly. Komanso Northern pipo kuzikonda inu, mukagwere anyani
its so pathetic to be discriminating ourselves we are all Malawians under one Malawi.God is love lets love each other.
Thanks very much Songo for telling the Nation the Truth
Mwenifumbo and political prostitutes like him, by jumping from AFORD to DPP then to PP and some back to DPP or back as independents have destroyed the very foundations of democracy that late Chihana successfully fought for.
Now this very same Mwenifumbo who as Deputy Minister enriched himself with fertiliser deals, is using the issue of tribalism.
Only hope for Malawi is to dump the post 1994 generation of politicians AND
For DONARS to fund and provide expertise for forensic audit of every single Asian and Malawian business with turnover of more then $10,000.
Kalempo and Enock Chihana should discard this baggage Mwenifumbo and other prostitues if they want to reflect the true voice of the north.
As a matter of fact Malawians in the north are sidelined,promises are huge bt nt fulfilld. Mombera university will be a tune to sing,teachers college promisd to be built in Rumphi is a campaign hopefuly,jst to mention a few. Mwenefumbo you are right
Mwenefumbo don’t deny facts. Northerners are selfish and very tribalistic. When a northerner is a senior manager at a company, NGO or Government agency you will see more more northerners than those of other regions. Often that has nothing to do with education. You would see cooks, messengers, cleaners and guards all from the north. A thorough study will prove this point.
The history of Malawi should be not distorted. Orton Chirwa, the Chisizas, Mhango, Chipembere and Chihana were all hungry for national leadership. When Chihana was coming he lied to the west that Malawians would elect him state president but alas Malawians knew his regionalistic practices. He proved that by launching a tribal/regional political party and started claiming national heroism. Some of these people staged armed struggle to over throw a democratic government others went on wild political campaign. Multiparty politics did not come with Chihana/ Bakili or Chirwa. That change was in many countries in Africa. It was TIME for Change. It is like climate change or the Arab Spring. One person can not claim to own it.
Truth truth!
I regret to say no its just something that people talk about there is no truth
Ask your selves as to why does everybody get worried with your behaviour?
Tumbukas are not only power hungry, they are also very tribalistic. Too much nepotism or racism by tumbukas, educated or not educated, religious or not, they are all too bad.
They once attempted to erase Chichewa language from our curricular koma ife a central ndi abale athu a south tinaima njiii! nthawi yomweyo mtumbuka kupinda mchila. Very bad people these are.
Go to companies or m’boma, when the head is wakwithu, every employee will be mtumbuka. You will hear them speaking in capital letters while in a meeting eish! They also shared all filling stations because at some point, bwanas at BP and Total etc were hinyas….Check for details….
Kubanso too much wa mpoto awa!
The bottom line is that we are all Malawians, regardless of what tribes we belong to. If Malawi is to be progressive economically and socially the first step is to think as a unit and focus all our efforts towards the well being of the our country.
When it comes to choosing leaders, the criteria of who should lead us should not be based on ones tribe rather the merit should be who is strategic and visionary enough to take the country from where it is to a desired state of prosperity for every Malawian. In my opinion, I do not have any problem of having a president from south, center or north as long as is meeting the criteria stated above. Its really a waste of time and resources putting someone in position who is blank, scope less, vision less and with no strategy at all to lead a country.
Thank you beloved fellow Malawians.
What a unifying statement from a Malawian. Malawi is too poor to afford divisions. In fact, these divisions are more pronounced by politicians than they are among ordinary people. I was in Mzuzu two weeks ago and what I saw was contrary to what I repeatedly read on Nyasa Times. Malawians live happily together irrespective of their tribes and that made me proud to have my roots in Malawi. If you go to the Mzuzu Main Market, you will realise that people only talk about tribes when they wish to make jokes with each other. Unfortunately, politicians and their few irrational counterparts have managed to build a feeling that Malawians are divided along tribal lines such that at times, you feel bad to be associated with Malawi when your countryman speaks bad of you simply because you are a Tumbuka or a Lhomwe. It will be of immense sense if the same politicians can now go out and preach the message of love to the people. I do not think that the Tumbukas are really as bad as some people would want to portray and similarly, the Lhomwes are not as selfish as some of us are being forced to believe. Besides, there is no enmity between people of different tribes in Malawi so it is only for those in power to correct.
Mwenefunmbo asks a very good question i.e. ‘What’s wrong with Atumbuka or North Malawi?’ But instead of soberly and impartially analyzing the answer to that question he goes ahead to do exactly why people from the other two regions think people from the north ‘ndiozikonda and ndookonderana’ It is not correct tio say people from the other regions view people from the north as ‘power hungry’ rather they see them as ‘egocentric and nepotistic’. Mwenefumbo, through his biased analysis and without realizing it, has just provided an answer to his own question.
To begin with Mwenefumbo has not attempted to look at or analyse as to what is it that makes other people look at them differently. All he has done is to demonize people (leaders) from the other regions as being tribalistic and good for nothing while at the same time he has shamelessly tried to glorify people from the north as saints that single handedly fought for the freedom and independence of this country. It does not occur to him that alongside people from the north there were several well-known people from the centre and south that fought for the same freedom. He can only recognise them as ‘others’ among those that invited Kamuzu to lead the fight against colonialism and these ‘others’ includes none other than but the freedom fighter GIANT Masauko Chipembere. To think Mwenefumbo can mention Chipemebere as ‘others’ in the fight against cpolonialism speaks volumes about his attitude and behaviour towards people from the other regions!!! . In a similar attempt to paint the people from the north as the only ones that wishes this country well and always fights for it, he goes on to say ““Even at the dawn of multiparty, it was Chakufwa Chihana who fought had for it. Again, for the good of this country. [Bakili] Muluzi hijacked but Chihana chose to work with government again to support it until his death” , really????????. To Mwenefumbo Muluzi hijacked the fight against Banda from Chihana and it is only Chihana (from the north) who started the fight and nobody else. It does not matter to him that the fight against Banda was started by the Catholic Bishops dominated by Bishops from the South and Centre., No!!!. He does not see that. And if Muluzi hijacked the process from Chihana, Mwenefumbo does not see the fact that Chihana also hijacked the same process from the Catholic Bishops. All he is interested in is blowing the trumpet for fellow northerners at the expense of those from the centre and the south. Let me tell you Mr Mwenefumbo, that is exactly ‘what is the problem with people from the north’. Until you stop this kind of behavior of only seeing ‘northern’ and NOT Malawi, people from the other regions will always look at you with suspicion as they have done over the years. Be impartial and look at things as Malawian and argue as a Malawian and NOT northerner, then may be, people from the other regions will start changing their attitude towards you. Your attempt to demonise people from the cenytre and south has only succeded in exposing the very same reasons people from the other regions dislike you.
I really like this.
Chphokoso you just nailed it, indeed if you want to be a good responder you must be a good listener first, tumbukas they believe that they deserve better nationalities, even though we are in democratic country, that’s why you can see he even used a word hijacked, because as tumbuka he believes that chihana automatically qualified to be a president without any competitor.
Malawi is like a big tree which is being anchored by roots(the different tribes)without which it will dry up. Please stop the mentality of regionalism as it will bring something bad as rightly said by mwenefumbo. I like it frank.
Please Mwenefumbo don’t cry now. It’s what you tumbuka fellow Malawians are doing against alomwe which is very bad and satanic.
What This idiot Kamlepo is doing to Mutharika it’s day light tribalism.
Don’t defend yourself. You mention Kamuzu because he cannot defend himself.
If you were a grown up person that time you tumbuka s were too ttibalustic.
Don’t blame Kamuzu he did the right thing that’s why now our eyes are open and able to see that some tribes are important.Dont talk about Rwanda. Are tumbuka people like Hutus or Tutsis. Don’t go that far with your myopic and satanic mentality. No genocide will ever take place. Remember there is intermarriage. Women from the North like men from the south and North visevesa. Women from the North are also polite like other women and men from all regions
Let’s be one because Malawi is one country.Tribalusm is the work of the devil
Mr Mwenefumbo’s observation is quite correct. Everywhere you hear atumbuka wozikonda , atumbuka amatama and so on but if you challenge them to explain how they cant. This is sheer hatred based on fear of unknown. If at an organization you have two managers from the north and the other ten are from other districts what you hear atumbuka adzadzanapo pano. The tumbukas or northerners are Malawians like anybody else in this country they never applied asylum to be here. This is their land. They have their own culture which is different from others and that is not a sign of matama or kuzikonda. Its their way of thinking. If most northeners are progressing its because of the same culture and their way of upbringing their children. That should not be treated as matama just adjust your culture and adopt some elements of tumbuka cultures to suit your environment. Mtima womangonyozana ndi wambuli anthu osapita ku sukulu. We have no many pressing issues to think about in this country than wasting our energies on tribal rantings. I rest my case.
IWE USANAME APA.
Bakili did not hijack Chihana,Wambali’s Speech at kwacha ground in 2003 ndiyomwe inapangitsa kuti people from other regions a mutaye Chihana.ANATI CHIYANI WAMBALI? Achewa mwatipondeledza kwa nthawi yaitali sopano ya kwana nthawi yoti nafe tilamulire dzikoli.Was this not power hunger.Iam here in NORTH and IM LOMWE BY TRIBE BUT PEOPLE HERE(NORTHERNRS) CALL ME MCHEWA just because I SPEAK CHICHEWA ndiye munthu akati Atumbuka MUKUDANANAZO? ON THE ENTRANCE OF SAINT ANDREWS CCAP CHURCH (MZUZU) YOU ERRECETED A SIGN POST WITH THE MASSAGE ; SAY NO TO CHICHEWA AS A NATIONAL LANGUAGE. Here you’re pretending to love your country shameless fools.
What is wrong with saying NO to chichewa as a national language? were people consulted to make chichewa the national language?
Malawi does not hate any tribe. In fact, there is tolerance here. All tribes tolerate and co-exist peacefully and none of the tribes except one is ready to spark controversy. Why malawians jokingly call everybody from the north Atumbuka is because most notheners speak chitumbuka. Its the same way northeners call anybody not from the north as Achewa. Wakwathu syndrome amayikonda kwambiri ndi atumbuka. Other tribes just follow. If atumbuka stops wakwathu syndrome, other tribes will stop it too. So Hon Mwenefumbo, yambani mwachotsa chitsotso chomwe chili mmaso mwanu musananene za chitsotso cha amzanu.
Mostly northerners like segregation. They like themselves for themselves. This is very true I have lived with and among them and have clearly seen this.
Munaziyamba nokha the other tribes are just following. Wakhwithu syndrome has destroyed you
Our brothers from the north you have had overzealous, bootlicking and handclapping MPs. Just look at what MPs from the north talk when they associate themselves with government or when they are in the ruling parties. Its all praise and worship. The ruling elite take advantage of you and they will continue to do so. Jappie has just slapped you in the face by concluding that the region cannot produce a state president. This is typical shit coming from MPs from the north. Mzomera and Harry declared the north a home of DPP one time. My conclusion is that apart from a few principled MPs (Kamlepo stands out) in the north the majority of you are money thirst. You easily get swayed when money is dangled in front. So stop crying and get organized to represent the will of the people in the north.
Something is indeed terribly wrong. I hear you saying that Chihana could have been the President of this country but Muluzi hijacked. I agree that Chihana was so brave and the whole country really liked him. He could have been President but he had himself and his people who surrounded him to blame. The political field was not only for Chihana; it was for everybody and it is therefore wrong to blame Muluzi.
Iam of the view that we need to set a Truth and Reconciliation commission where tribes will be allowed to air their brutal views about one another. You will find out that no single tribe wishes well about the other.They will always declare that one is more educated than all,another one is more of breeding children than the rest and another one more of playing with dust in their cultural dances and so on in vicious circle. You wouldn’t expect a nation to be united with this profiling.
I think we can do better to love one another and become so united.
I cant agree more. The so called tumbukas (referring to people from the north) are taken as foreigners in their own land. Speaking any launguage from the north would invite all sorts of sarcasm and insults including amati kuzikonda. When someone speaks sena or Lhomwe nothing is strange. Any foolish joke (or something demeaning) would be seen as coming from the north. The so called tumbukas try to similate with so many cultures and languages but it is not appreciated. Why cant the so called chewas learn other languages? Who is selfish in this case?
The mediocrity must stop. We can all live along side in harmony even if we have different languages and cultures. It is how Malawi has been all along. Nobody is a foreigner in Malawi. We have intermarried in one way or the other, we have divorsed in one way or the other. even in our own individual cultures such challenges have emanated……
kwali tiyeni tikhalenge….
point brother
Well said Mwenefumbo, that is why the northern caucus is impoertant. I was suprized when people attacked those who belong to Northern caucus yet Peter Mutharika received a medal of honour from Black Caucus the USA.
Frank is right; actually very right. And if not soberly handled, the issue of tribalism in Malawi, especially against northerners, has potential to explode into tribal war. Everybody knows that it’s only northerners who can support and vote for a non-northerner; on the other hand, no non-northerner can support and vote for a northerner. Non-northerners will justify their hatred of northerners by such lame excuses as “amadzikonda”, etc. It is just pure hatred against north. The onus is on people that hate north; they can either change their mindset or continue their ways. We northerners have so much self-determination; we’ll respond accordingly at a time and place of our choice. If govt wants to change their mindset and embrace unity, they can do these two things:
1. Abolish the infamous, outlawed quota system. Let all Malawians compete on level ground to access national opportunities. If a student of 10 points from Chitipa cannot go to University, let a student of 10 points from Cholo not go to University also. In this way, we’ll all be Malawians without one tribe being favoured. Intelligence is not about tribes; it’s about hard work, and the quota system simply distorts this.
2.Embrace rotational presidency. Unlike intelligence, which is not based on tribes, voting for president in Malawi follows tribal overtones, especially non-northern voters. Lomwes will not vote for a Ngonde presidential aspirant, while a Ngonde voter can vote for a Lomwe president. Rotational presidency will correct this anomaly because people will be forced to vote for a president of another region. Also, there’s a tendency for presidents to fill most cabinet and senior govt posts with people from their tribes and give more developments to their places of origin. This is deplorable, but since it has proven impossible to eliminate, rotational presidency will solve the problem because each region will be given equal opportunity. You’ll see how not greedy northern presidents will be, unlike their non-northern counterparts. Just try it, and this will demonstrate that you’re not tribalists.
Thats coming Mr Mwenefumbo, be able to strongly express ursef and standup for ur people like the Kamlepos. In this way we the northerners can continueously fight for our rights and resources. If we want to stand on our own as the north why do they cling to us yet they are very greedy. But God is great one day a northerner will rule Malawi with the mandatory force from God where nobody is going to oppose. This is when u will agree that the north is a blessed region.
As one nation we needed to share the resources equally and according to merit. When will u develop a listening ear to hear peoples calls for their needs.
Mind u God is never too late nor too early in his actions he just set things in time. What these people need to know is that there are alot of issues that negatively affect us as northerners due to the way the affairs of the national cake is administered. You cant see the tears but ít drains inside our boddies.
Our dear God can never just look at this happening. U better act in time when u see a hazard. Thanks honourable Frank.
Even chewa people have been sidelined. You Tumbukas also stop hero worshipping yourself as the only intelligent people. Truth be told here that you northerners during Kamuzu Banda manipulated education system by one among many, kanyama chiume when he was a minister of education, favored only northerners for international scholarships. What a fuckiest thing. Secondly because of northern regions terrain, maneb could not supervise exams there and you cheated Alot making northern regions small brains to be seen as they are big brains and thus continued in the university corridors where you formed mzuzu corner as a network to cheat on exams- what a bombcrat. Stupid. Even in NGOs headed by Tumbukas, there is rampant nepotism. Myself u was denied a job coz I come from Ntcheu. Nyeroooooooh zanu.
In fact your synod, Livingstonia, is more realistic. Discipline that first before behaving as a cry baby.
And you only seeing commenting on Tumbukas alone, is also inherent tribalism in you-why not talk how other tribes are being marginalized by the current regime or your synod. Fu…..Ken. be fair and analytical in your outbursts.
Has always been my hope that Lwanda’s 1994 scenario should one day materialise in Malawi. It seems minds of those with tribalistic tendencies are void of what caused Lwanda genocide, or dont know meaning of genocide.
Its time that Malawi face such scenario to bring sense in the minds of next generation to learn dangers of tribalistic mentality. Perhaps we end such tendencies once and for all, atleast next generation be in peaciful co-existence.
Well said Mr Mwenefumbo,
Just to add onthese issues, it has been joke for us Tumbukas from independence day. These bachawa call us all the names but we keep quite. The best solution of us batumbuka is to be united first. We have our own problems of sell outs ( in Kamuzu days I would say bakapilikoni ) especially when they show tumbukas money. Once we’re united, bachawa will start respecting us and we can go ahead and have either a rotational or federal government.
Well spoken Hon Mwenifumbo. I think it will really be wrong to throw the baby with bath water. Indeed we have had northerners who have fought in so many ways for nation good. However, it will equally be good to point some of the tribalistic tendencies exhibited by the “Tumbukas.” I know there are so many tribes in the north Malawi but frankly speaking all the tribes in the north are politically Tumbukas. No wonder even at functions like installation of Chief Mbelwa, for instance, despite being a Ngoni king the lingua franca is Tumbuka and not any other language. In fact some languages are openly banned in the north.
Secondly, indeed during the MCP(one party) regime, as you have touted people from the north are claimed to have suffered the most. I will cite the declaration where teachers from the north were chased from the other regions. While that might be true, it is also good to examine why that decision was made. Truth be told there were teachers from the north whose conduct were, not to mince words, toxically tribalistic.
If you don’t see the tribalistic tendencies by northerners, I urge you to do some inform checks in organizations/institutions where a boss is from the north and see the alarming level of nepotism.
Hon Mwenifumbo, I will also draw your attention to elected positions in Malawi. I bet someone from the north can be elected as member of parliament or councillor in Blantyre, Lilongwe even Zomba cities. But I challenge you no amount of good reputation can make one from south or centre elected in Mzuzu city.
Let us, therefore, not be defensive on issues that even the naked eye can see.
After everything is said, we really need to strive for one Malawi.
I am from the North, and I like to speak Tumbuka anywhere I am, and to you That is nepotism, because you expect Northerners to speak Chewa.
You really are a fool, Elections are not done in a group, and those that win do not get 100%, in most cases they win with 35%, so if anyone from south or centre stood, there will be people who will vote for them. Are you saying the people that vote for them are from the south?
If we can put up deliberate measures to curb this practice, may be we can start moving in the right direction.
MUSAKANE LERO – Tumbukas are power hungry people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, the northerners are power hungry – now you are coming back to your senses. Panopa zakukanikani ndiye mukufuna muyambe kudzikonza khalidwe otherwise you are power hungry people and tribalistic. Munafika pomukwana Kamuzu ndipo anakuthamangitsani from wherever you were back to your original region coz of your tribalistic tendencies.
Mudziwanso simunati
BUT WHY DO YOU “of course people like Chipembere after mentioning your northners
Because of the same attitudes. CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE.
KUNYADA KWACHULUKA. How many northners live in the South, East, Central
happily? What about if it was the reverse? LIVINGSTONIA Synod a case in point.
We stay with them and we know how they talk!
Wanena Mwana Wakwithu, Wakujitemwa Chomene Wa Petele Awa, Speak For Us Plz, Timakugomera Tugeza With Werani Chilenga, Kamlepo And Mlekanjala Not Twa Japie Yayie Wapelemende Wawaka!
this is exactly what mwenefumbo is talking about you at your comment you describe mhango as useless simply because he is siding with the dpp . how i wish mwenefumbo would pass on the message to management of NGOs like banja la mtsogolo, COMCIP, YONECO, and may others who rarely employ people from the north and few from the south and center. it further disheartening to see livingstonia synod church and society employing only people from the north. it is easier said than done if i were in church i would say these are the last days mtundu ndi mtundu kuwuukilana
Rightly observed and said by Mwenefumbo…. However, whatever the Hon MP has said is the same from the other side to the Southerners. People from the north will blatantly say that Alhomwe are bad!!! We need to cease fire…otherwise we will perish or we will make another bad story.. a fatal one for that matter. Unity is required at all cost… It should start with the Political Leaders and CSO Leaders.
When did the Alhomwe gain prominence? This is what mwenefumbo is talking about, you are trying to turn the issue round and blame northerners. Were Alhomwe a known entity during Kamuzu?
If Northerners say Alhomwe are bad it is because Bingu said Quota system was there to curtail northerners at university, and that was bad.