Federalism key to Malawi 2063

First things first. The term ‘federal’ came from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘to unite’.

The federal system often exists where citizens are not ready to surrender all the powers to central authorities to sustain their sociopolitical development at grass root level.

This political and philosophical ideology describes how powers are shared in the State.

Simply put, it means a government where a country is composed of internally self-governing political divisions, but subject to authority from central government.

Each internal unit is responsible for its affairs under the supervisions of central authority. This government system fits well where there is sectional diversity of races, culture, languages, nationality, religions and geographical boundaries. This can also be found in Malawi.

Federalism is crucial in the implementation of Malawi 2063 long-term vision.

On agricultural productivity and commercialisation, the nation can implement this through provision of various territories where farmers will be well organised and well-trained agricultural extension workers deployed at decentralised State level to spearhead farming activities at grassroots.

Decentralised administration can easily revamp rundown agricultural centres such as Hora Training Centre in Mzimba, Makoka in Zomba, Bvumbwe in Thyolo and Baka in Karonga.

This can also facilitate easy monitoring and supervision of agricultural activities in the decentralised states

In terms of industrialization indicators, the government can adopt federal decentralised system that focus on developing regions to ensure that each territory has power to facilitate industrialisation of local towns.

Trading centres can easily be transformed into bigger towns with both political and administrative will at decentralised State level.

The country can easily create secondary cities with the federal system since every territory or decentralised State will have a budget to transform its main trading centres as opposed to centralised system.

This can effectively be implemented when the federal system is accepted by all Malawians of good will

Urbanisation is a crucial indicator of economic growth and development, according to Malawi 2063. This enhances job creation, proper land use and planning system.

In decentralised States, each semi-autonomous State will be responsible to create more urban centres which will facilitate revenue generation in long run

In terms of human capital development, a diversity of workers can be trained to suit the requirements of the decentralised State. The States will focus on the skills needed in their vital units and develop workers’ capacity to enhance productivity, efficiency and effectiveness.

There is a need to develop the capacity in general, but focusing on the need of territories. This has affected the previous arrangement in the country.

Such trainings may also enhance competition at decentralised level; hence, sustainable developments at the grassroots.

Indicators on public sector performance can be achieved when the federalism is adopted rather than at centralized arrangement.

In this case, the public sector will be organised and work competently like the private sector where human resources are well accountable to their customers.

Unless the public sector is organised into small units, their effectiveness, efficiency, quality service and productivity in a centralised system will always retard development.

In a decentralised State, there will be proper supervision, accountability, transparency and responsive public sector which every Malawian is looking for.

Malawians can also see patriotism from public servants; hence, efficiency, effective and productivity

Indicators on domestic revenue mobilisation, in federal decentralised system revenue generation can be easily mobilised to support the development agenda in the States.

Administrators will always look at the development needs in the catchment areas and mobilize resources to advance such developmental activities unlike centralised system of governance.

For this to happen, all Malawians of goodwill need to change their minds and appreciate that that federalism is not for dividing the country, but a platform for sustainable development. Mindset Change is key