Calls For Federal State Rages High

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Federal Movement (NFM) conducted an extraordinary virtual session on Sunday, January 15, 2023,  through its executive WhatsApp Forum which is aimed at forming a government system that will building a foundation for Malawi which has failed to develop despite 58 years of independence.

The calls for federal system of government rages high in the wake of continued reports of organized top level corruption championed by those in high position taking advantage of the current weak unitary system of government which provides room for routing of public resources .

During the meeting NFM’s National Chairperson, Dr. Stanley Chipeta, read the items contained in the new business agenda to be adopted by the Executive Committee and to be easily followed by the members that were present and ready to participate.

Malawians should freely decide on the type of government they want, considering a number of governance considerations which includes the growing population, federal government is ideal,” said Chipeta.

Speaking to Voice of America on Monday, head of the Malawi Federalism Institute (MFI), Lusungu Simba Mwakhwawa said unitary system of government has dragged development progress in Malawi providing room for routing of public resources hence demanding president Lazarus Chakwera to call for a national referendum.

“We are looking for a government model that will raise the living standards of the majority, the status quo has failed a majority of the citizenry and we are calling for a model that will lay a foundation for effective service delivery, accountability, and participatory,” Mwakhwawa said.

And it is against this background that, the Malawi Federalism Institute has petitioned president Lazarus Macarthy Chakwera, the Malawi Electoral Commission, Civil Society Organizations and other state institutions calling for a national referendum within two months which will decide the right government model and lay a foundation for equal distribution of the national cake.

Commenting on the demand, a governance commentator,   Moses Mkandawire has endorsed the idea, saying, it will reduce the scramble for power among politicians.

Mkandawire added that the system, once adopted, will enhance the equal distribution of resources in the country.

Meanwhile, President of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Enock Kamzengeni Chihana has also reignited calls for Malawi to adopt a Federal system of government saying it’s the only way to get equitable development across all the regions in the country.