INTERVIEW: Christopher Mzomera Ngwira, federal system advocate
People’s Party (PP) provincial governor for the North and Member of Parliament for Mzimba Hora Christopher Mzomera Ngwira has been in the forefront advocating the establishment of the federal system of government in the country or secession to ensure fair distribution of the country’s resources. Our reporter Boniface Phiri caught up with him to explain the reasoning behind his proposal.
Q. You are advocating secession of the Northern Region. What’s wrong with the current status quo?
A. Secession is option B, but what we are advocating is a wise federation; not the stupid federation of the late Kamuzu Banda fame. We want to be given a chance, as northerners, to decide our own future with whatsoever can be put in the basket. We are pushing for this because we have realised that what gets into the national basket ends up in the plates of a few people.
Q. But aren’t you just fighting the new leader Peter Mutharika considering the aggressiveness of your tone?
A. We are not fighting the President. We are fighting the poverty that has been existent for the past 50 years. In fact, federation will also see him develop this nation beyond recognition. At the end of the day, the credit will go him.
Q. You have always claimed that the Northern Region is being denied development yet National Statistical Office figures of 2008 indicate that people of the Northern Region are better-off than those of the Centre and South; where is your justification?
A. That’s a complete and shameless lie. Can you wisely compare the poor infrastructure we have in the North to what the South and Centre have? If we were better-off, could we be trooping to the Central and Southern regions to look for jobs? These statistics are an insult to us.
Q. Why didn’t you advocate this when you were in the ruling DPP and PP?
A. If you remember quite well, when I was in the former DPP and PP, I used to say the same. I even told [the former president the late Bingu wa mutharika] on the face that unless he stops the quota system as the university selection criteria, he should forget about the Northern Region support. And I became his nemesis for this. When former president Joyce Banda rose to the State House, I told her the same, but she promised to attend to the issue once she wins the 2014 May elections because she was just completing Bingu’s term. This put me at a tight corner and being knowledgeable about how government works, I understood her very well.
Q. Are you fighting a lone battle or there are forces working behind you?
A. No, no, no. Since I joined politics I now belong to any church that believes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ— so nobody is pushing me.
Q.Government is countering your moves. Do you see yourself succeeding with this cause?
A. Many people have welcomed this and we know those in power today are trying to divide and stop us, but I can assure you that they won’t succeed. They can’t corrupt everyone. Remember only 36 percent of people in the country voted for this government and 64 percent didn’t want it.
Q. Have you thought of the name for the federal state and the position you would hold?
A. (Laughs) That will be determined by all the people in the North. I understand such issues require voting of some kind.
