As Malawians continue to add their voices to calls for federalism, it has emerged that President Peter Mutharika proposed federalism and proportional representation in the country, describing them as two possible ways of doing away with concerns of regional marginalisation. Addressing the National Constitutional Review Conference in Lilongwe, held from 28 to 31 March 2006 […]
United Democratic Front (UDF) leader in parliament, Lucius Banda, has spoken in support of adopt the federal system of governing the country in which each region will have its own administrative power and report to the central government. Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has been pushing for the federal system with support from politicians and stakeholders […]
Veteran politician and former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president John Tembo has strongly opposed proposals that northern region should secede from the country and be a standalone country describing such calls as “childish”. Member of Parliament for former President Joyce Banda’s party, the Peoples Party, Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira is leading the northern region in […]
Monsignor Boniface Tamani of the Catholic Church has spoken against calls for the country to adopt a new system of governance, saying such calls are divisive. Fr. Tamani’s remarks come as some sections of society are propagating for the adoption of federalism as a system of government which Malawi should adopt allegedly to ensure equitable distribution of […]
It is over 13 months since Malawi wake up to a story of a near fatal shooting of the then Budget Director in the Ministry of Finance, Paul Mphwiyo. It is this story that sparked revelations of systematic looting of government resources (cashgate). So far, there have been two convictions and over 70 arrests in […]
It seems like Federalism has finally captured the imagination of our public intellectuals – which comprise mostly of those of us with the means to access media outlets of whatever kind. It truly has captured mine as well even though the hat of an intellectual is not one that I like to wear. Several weeks […]
Paramount Chief Kyungu of Karonga has demanded an apology from Nations Publications Limited (NPL) for being misquoted in one of the stories that appeared in its daily title, The Nation newspaper. Kyungu has also demanded retraction of an article which claims he has backtracked from his earlier comments on federalism. Some months ago Paramount Chief […]
What an amazing turnabout by the Livingstonia Synod and chiefs Kyungu and Chikulamanyembe on whether Malawi should introduce federalism or continue with the unitary system of government. The Livingstonia Synod recently declared “no” as it stood dead against calls for federalism widely being championed by leaders from the northern region. With President Peter Mutharika’s emissary […]
Malawi shared a European imposed federal system with Zambia and Zimbabwe ending in the early 1960’s – the so called ‘stupid federation’. In the post multiparty democracy, people like Denis Simphawaka Nkhwazi did propose a federal Malawi in the mid 1990s but never materialized. Historically and politically, not until the current call by Malawi Congress […]
It may not be pleasing to some people who believe that anyone who suggests anything politically innovative, such as secession and federalism, or anything politically backward, such as feudalism or Unitarianism, is against the duly elected minority government and presidency of Peter Arthur or Arthur Peter Mutharika and the Democratic People’s Party. It may not […]
Malawi President Peter Mutharika held talks Thursday with nine opposition leaders to discuss thorny issues affecting the country, including federalism. The meeting was held in camera but sources said the President and opposition leaders also discussed the issue of federalism. Mutharika is under pressure to call for a referendum after opposition parties, especially from northern […]
It is argued that there exists an antithesis for every thesis that exists in the world. It follows that the calls for a federal system has attracted a fair amount of assertions and counter-assertions. Arguments abound in scrutiny and trivialization of the emerging transformative alliances purveying a federal system in Malawi; I find myself overwhelmed […]
Paramount Chief Kyungu along with his counterpart Chikulamayembe have left President Arthur Peter Mutharika’s special adviser Symon Vuwa Kaunda egg-faced following their sudden change of heart to quash federalism as the two now say that they support the call for a federal state in Malawi. When Vuwa Kaunda, who is presidential adviser on unity and […]
Think-tank Forum for New Direction (Fond) has mobilised Malawi academics to a debate on federal system of government to be held on October 12 in Mzuzu. Among those lined up to the federalism debate includes Malawi’s internationally respected scholars Professor Thandeka Mkandawire, Prof Mphalive Msiska, Dr Victor Mugomezulu, Dr Bina Shawa and Dr Bofomo Nyirenda. Others are […]
The quasi-religious Public Affairs Committee (PAC) ) has welcomed President Peter Mutharika’s stand on calls for federal system of government, allowing the citizens to decide. Mutharika speaking during a news conference at Sanjika Palace, Blantyre on Monday said the citizenry will be given opportunity to decide if the country should adopt federal system of government. “I think Malawians have […]
Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia new moderator the Reverend Douglas Chipofya on Sunday took the federation issue to his congregants in his sermon at St Andrews Church in Mzuzu saying federalism proponents should not be intimidated as they are free to propose and debate the system in a democracy. Chipofya contrary […]
Malawi’s public affairs watchdog body, the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has thrown its weight on the calls for a referendum to solve the impasse on whether the country should move to a federation. PAC’s position comes immediately after the Malawi Government also said that if need be the country will go to a referendum to […]
Image experts advise that when you face a crisis, you must get ahead of the problem as fast as you can. You must try to be a step in front of the media which has the power to help fix the problem or make it worse. It is clear that advisers to President Peter Mutharika did not miss class the day the topic was […]