MPs in Northern Malawi team up to push for development

Some members of Parliament (MPs) in Northern Malawi have formed a grouping to push for fair share of the national cake, arguing that the region is sidelined in terms of development projects.

The grouping, called Northern Region MPs Caucus, has since come up with an interim leadership led by Rumphi East MP Kamlepo Kalua (People’s Party-PP) who is a fierce critic of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.

But Rumphi North MP Jappie Mhango, who is also DPP campaign director and Minister of Transport and Public Infrastructure, has ruled himself out of the grouping, saying: “I cannot join vinthu vyambula mahala [senseless things]”.

Kalua yesterday confirmed chairing the grouping, adding that by virtue of coming from the Northern Region, every MP is automatically a member of the caucus.

He said those legislators who feel they cannot be part of the group should come forward and let the electorate know that they do not want to push for developments in the region.

According to Kalua, the MPs will need to put aside their political differences and also bury past conflicts to speak with one voice.

He said the grouping wants to push for construction of roads, public universities, health facilities, secondary and primary schools, abolishment of quota system of selecting students to public institutions of higher learning and other social developments that have to benefit the region.

Said Kalua: “This [grouping] is not a new thing. The late Aleke Banda initiated this a long time ago [during the Parliament cycle of 2004 to 2009] and we are only continuing from where he left.”

He also distanced the group from the federalism fight, adding that members have started consulting stakeholders to inform them about its existence and get views on things to be prioritised. He added that the group would take a bottom up approach.

Interim organising secretary of the group, Mzimba Hora MP Christopher Mzomera Ngwira (PP), said people in the region are tired of being given a raw deal on development. He said government has done ground breaking ceremonies for a number of projects, but they are not taking shape.

“For instance, if you check the Mombera University, the President [Peter Mutharika] did the ground breaking ceremony about two years ago and there is no construction up to now. Why didn’t he wait until when they are sure that the project will start? It is a group fighting for the welfare of the people.”

Karonga Central MP Frank Mwenifumbo (independent), who is the group’s interim secretary general also confirmed formation of the caucus but could not comment on the matter, saying that Mzimba North legislator Agnes Nyalonje (PP) is the one entrusted with releasing information to the media. But Nyalonje did not pick up her phone when called for comment.

Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enoch Chihana, who is Rumphi Central MP, said he was 100 percent member of the caucus. He said the MPs have common issues that can better be fought for in a group.

On the other hand Mhango argued that the Northern Region has been given “more development projects” and saw no need for the forum.

He said: “Go to Nkhata Bay, the road is being worked on, there is also a market and depot under construction. We have rural growth centres in Chitipa and at Jenda [in Mzimba]. Chitipa now has a stadium. There is also a stadium in Karonga and Rumphi. The face of Mzuzu is changing, there are several projects taking place. In case of the Mombera University in Mzimba, designs are being worked on but water and electricity are already in place.”

Reacting to the development, Blessings Chinsinga, professor of political and administrative studies at Chancellor College—a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima), said the MPs have taken a right approach so long they do not lose direction. He said such caucuses also exist in other countries and leaders utilise them to push for development projects.

However, he said the grouping has to be on guard against external influences, warning such forces are a major threat to caucuses.

There are 33 MPs from the Northern Region in the 193-seat National Assembly. By breakdown, PP has the most legislators at 14 in the region followed by DPP with six and independents at 11. MCP has two, including Speaker Richard Msowoya, and Aford one. n