Regionalism, tribalism tearing Malawi apart

Calls for secession, specifically for the Northern Region and federalism (preserve of the Central Region) are refusing to be silenced into submission.

At the heart of the secession demand is the claim, without factual basis I must say, by its advocates that the North has been sidelined and, therefore, has not developed for the past 50 years when Malawi has been an independent State.

On the other hand, calls for a federal State from the Central Region merely want devolution of powers that will see the region getting a fair share of the national cake unlike now when the perception is that the Southern Region is claiming a lion’s one.

Vuwa Kaunda with Rumphi chiefs asking them to comment against federalism
Vuwa Kaunda with Rumphi chiefs asking them to comment against federalism

My views on secession are clear. In this democratic dispensation citizens are fully entitled to free speech, including agitating for self-determination. What I do not agree with is the unabated cheating making rounds that the North wants to become independent because it has not developed.

The million dollar question is: Which region has and on what basis because statistics say something different? The North is actually doing better than the other regions in human development.

The ruling DPP government has largely remained mute as far as calls for secession and federalism are concerned apart from Vuwa Symon Kaunda shunting around the North feeding chiefs and making them say things against secession.

But DPP supporters in various forums though are forthright and the thrust of their argument is that calls for both secession and federalism are being made in bad faith, essentially by losers in the May 20 election.

They argue that at the moment, Peter Mutharika must be allowed to govern in peace since he won the elections fair and square using the available mechanism and instruments as stipulated in the Constitution.

But all this is besides the point of today’s discussion. Today I want to contend that as calls for secession, federalism and referenda to check people’s views on the same are getting louder, this country is being torn apart by regionalism and tribalism.

And while we are at it, everything is being looked at through the prism of the regionalism and tribalism, causing a paralysis in some cases.

Parliament is currently meeting in Lilongwe to debate the national budget and other important bills. But make no mistake, the first consideration the MPs are considering before they make their contribution is the region and tribe they are coming from.

There is no sense of decency or national consideration. A case in point is the cancer hospital that government wants to construct either in Lilongwe or Blantyre using a loan from some loan shark outside this country (yes, they are all loan sharks although they have some fancy names such as World Bank, IMF and you name them).

Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe told the Parliament that the hospital will be built in Blantyre and not in Lilongwe as earlier envisaged.

Professionals weighed in that this is a good decision because the hospital will take advantage of the specialist doctors available at the medical school to support the hospital’s cancer specialists.

To me this makes complete sense and it is to the benefit of the patient. Why some MPs from the Centre, where I come from by the way, and the North are opposing this, beats me completely. But I know it and it is because they are very bitter and they see things from the point of view of regionalism and tribalism.

My final view is this: We can squabble, quarrel and fight over this and that. As long as it is legal and within our rights, it is fine by me.

Yes, we can go to the hilltop and shout for secession and federalism. It is called free speech.

But as a country, we should just be careful on how we go about it, because we may discover that by the time we finish quarrelling and have settled our differences on secession and federalism, we, in fact, do not have a country to share in the first place.

Regionalism and tribalism are tearing this country apart.

  • The article appeared in My Diary column – Weekend Nation newspaper

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Bandasiime
Bandasiime
9 years ago

And yet tribalism is continuing at a very alarming rate under our noses! What are we doing about it other than making noise here? Let’s rise and rise and stop it. Malawi belongs to us all not a few individuals.

MKWAPU
9 years ago

MUONA TIGAWANA ZIKO ILI
WE CANT ALLOW A FEW PEOPLE TO E.NJOY WHILE THE LEST R IN POCERTY

mbwiye
9 years ago

mwatitopetsa atumbuka inu.bullshit

Central
Central
9 years ago

#43.1 Kanyimbi, College of Medicine as at now has two (2) campuses, one in Blantyre and the second one in Lilongwe close to Kamuzu College of Nursing/ Kamuzu Central Hospital. As we write it is operational!!

Zangazanga Ncqube
Zangazanga Ncqube
9 years ago

Mr Kasakula, have you ever been to the north? Point out one magnificent structure in the region? Don’t provoke our anger Mr Kasakula. From the time you were born Count out principal secretaries who have come from the north, high commissioners from the north who have been sent to countries such as Britain, USA, Japan, France, Germany, China, South Africa? You are also too regionalistic.

kavalo m k
kavalo m k
9 years ago

All this is because the democratic first citizens have been from the south and favour the region in gvnt positions and developments. They should consider the north.

Arthur G.M. Mtambo
9 years ago

FEDERISM GOVT TO MALAWI. MALAWIANS WILL REMAIN MALAWIANS FULL STOP.

NOOOOOOOOO SECESSION AND STANDALONE AT NORTH.

FCK
FCK
9 years ago

DZIKOLI NDI LATHU DZIKOLI NDI LATHU KOMA PITALA WAONONGA!!!! HELP MW SING THIS SONG PLEASE

Mjumacharo
Mjumacharo
9 years ago

Iwe Kasakula wajipulikira wekha. Malawi uyu usange ngwa ise tose then we must share all equally. Chichewa as a language has been promoted thus far on the ill-Kamauzu idealogy of nationalism but masiku ano munthu akalankhula chiTumbuka for example is labelled tribalistic, or regionalisitic nobody chose to be born from a particular tribe but we can make political choices that can unite us as a Malawi nation or since we have failed this far let us look at other options, federalism or secession.

Nyani wa ku Mwananyani
Nyani wa ku Mwananyani
9 years ago

Kasakula is not supporting DPP or APM, by inference, here. Do not be fooled: Kasakula will never “wear” blue. I have followed some of his diatribe on line; and it’s like he has a personal hatred for APM. I am, therefore , not a fan of Kasakula.
Notwithstanding, on the one issue of the cancer (research and treatment) center, he is right. You want that center to be close to the main COM campus, near QEH. Otherwise you will not find any oncologist to work there: Blantyre is where the best amenities are. And least harsh climate/weather.

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