Malawi Democracy Founder’s Son Challenge President Mutharika On Federalism

By Henry Kijimwana Mhango

Malawi Democracy hero Thom Chakufwa Chihana’s son, Enoch has challenged that Malawi will go federal by 2019 despite the ruling Democratic Progressive Party- DPP’s resistance to adopt the system.

The development comes as most Malawians especially from the central and northern regions are demanding the country to adopt federal system of government to end what they believe as ‘high regionalism by most of the country’s Presidents who have been coming from the southern region.

The advocates for the system who include pressure groups from the north, Parliamentarians and development commenters also feel that federalism would bring development competition among the three regions, since the regions would be able to plan for the most needed developments in their areas unlike now when all the decisions are made by the central government.

Chihana who is a Parliamentarian for Rumphi central constituency in northern Malawi, and President of the Alliance for Democracy- Aford-, a party founded by his father Thom Chakufwa Chihana who brought multiparty democracy in the country, told Tumfweko that the current government should not make delay tack ticks to adopt the system because it would not be ruling the Malawi forever.

“Though they are showing resistance to adopt the system, I want to challenge that this government will not go beyond 2019,” says Chihana, adding “so they can make resistance now but the next government will adopt it as soon as it takes over because most Malawians are tired of the current (unitary) system since it is promoting regionalism and under development.”

President Peter Mutharika last year emphasized on the need for Malawians to debate the matter and call for a referendum, after several pressure groups and some local organizations sparked hot debate on the need for the country to adopt federal system of government.

The President’s sentiments gave hope to the advocates who felt Mutharika would create a fair play level ground for the debate, but many were shocked with the Presidential advisor on National Unity and Parliamentary Affairs, Vua Kaunda who had been visiting traditional leaders and some church leaders to seek their views on the matter instead of leaving the activity to neutral bodies.

It is alleged that during the meetings, the Presidential adviser was bribing the chiefs and church leaders to speak against the system through public radio; Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, which critics say is heavily controlled ruling parties.

However, Kaunda had been denying the allegations but claiming that his visits to the chiefs was just to pay cutesy call as one way of appreciating their contribution towards community development.

“They may bribe the chiefs but will not stop people from experiencing their views on the matter since we are in a democratic country, take it or not, Malawi will go federal by 2019,” He challenged.

Meanwhile, afford says will embark on massive community sensitization campaigns on the system across the northern region to enable people have adequate knowledge about federalism and make informed decisions on the matter.

“We shall start with the north and proceed to central and southern region,” Said Chihana, adding that “ we are happy that most of our colleagues (Parliamentarians) in the central are also eager for the system and this gives us hope that if we take it to parliament we will have more support.”

END.

Posted by Kunda on February 6, 2015. Filed under AFRICA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.