Chihana resurrects federalism debate

Mzimba North member of Parliament (MP) Yeremiah Chihana (Alliance for Democracy-Aford) yesterday moved a motion in Parliament for the adoption of a federal system of government to revive the debate.

In moving the motion, the legislator asked Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo to give an update on the possible adoption of a federal system of government to achieve meaningful development and to ensure that Malawi is not left behind in the region.

Chihana submitted: “Malawi’s neighbouring countries are using the federal system of government and a number of countries in Africa and other continents follow the federal system of government which has proved to be effective.”

He said the system is poised to respond quickly to the needs of Malawians as every part of the country will benefit and develop because the States will be making decisions on how to use any resources and investments to be made.

Chihana said the unitary system of government has failed to deliver tangible services to all parts of the country.

But in response, Mvalo wondered why Chihana brought the issue of a federal system of government as a matter of urgency when it was not a matter of urgent public importance.

He said: “How many people in this country fail to sleep because of the issue of federal system? How many people in this country fail to sleep because this issue affects their livelihood and lives? There are very few.

“Even my assessment here in the House shows that very few take it as an important issue. The issue may be important, but not for the majority.”

On the request for an update, Mvalo said there was nothing to update Parliament or the country on as his ministry had not done anything on the federal system for him to provide progress.

He said Chihana might have brought the issue in Parliament on the perception that the Northern Region was being sidelined in terms of development. However, he said that was no longer the case under the Tonse Alliance administration.

“Under President Lazarus Chakwera, resources are being distributed properly across the country,” said Mvalo.

MPs on the government side applauded Mvalo as he made his response.

But Rumphi East MP Kamlepo Kalua (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP) accused the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the lead partner in the governing Tonse Alliance, of hypocrisy, adding the government should not run away from the federal system now when the MCP pushed for the same while in opposition.

“Now that you are enjoying life and getting fat you are against the system. When you were in opposition you championed the matter,” he said.

Mulanje Bale MP Victor Musowa (DPP) said even if it was just two or three people advancing it, the issue of federal system should not be shot down.

He said the Speaker should guide on how the matter should be handled.

Musowa said: “Actually, 16 MPs from the government side approached me, saying they are supporting federal system and said we [opposition] should push for the federal system.”

The government and opposition sides could not agree on how to proceed on the matter as the opposition wanted the matter debated while the government side wanted to continue with other business.

Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara said she will provide guidance on how the matter should be handled.

The federalism motion was previously defeated in the same House when it was brought by Kalua who only got support from MCP when it was in opposition.

In 2006, former president Peter Mutharika, then a professor of international law at Washington University School of Law in the United States of America, proposed federalism as a solution to address the issue of national unity.

In his paper presented at the National Constitutional Review Conference in Lilongwe held from March 28 to 31 2006 titled ‘Towards a more manageable Constitution’, he observed that Nigeria successfully resolved problems that were created by its three regions at independence in 1960 by establishing what are now 36 States and one federal territory.

However, in August 2014, three months after becoming President, Mutharika urged political and religious leaders against calls for federalism, arguing it would divide the country.