Members of Parliament (MPs) were Thursday engaged in a heated debate over a proposal that a federal system of government should be introduced in the country.
Rumphi East MP, Kamlepo Kalua, introduced the issue using Standing Order 14.
Kalua told the august House that it is important to ponder over the possibility of having this system of government to address challenges of inequality and poor governance.
“This is better for equity, development and accountability. There will be competition for development and skills in the states, alongside job creation [opportunities]. In each and every federal state, there will be education policies, forest and ways of developing the states,” he said.
Kalua said his proposal is to see equal distribution of resources, saying he does not associate the matter with issues of tribalism and regionalism.
“It is purely [for reasons of] national development. We can emulate examples for South Africa, Nigeria and the United States; they have federal states and the whole idea is to promote development and accountability. It has nothing to do with some of the sentiments that were raised today,” he said.
The proposal attracted mixed reactions from legislators from all benches.
Dowa East MP, Richard Chimwendo-Banda, said the proposal is coming because of discrimination in some places across the country.
“The national cake is not being distributed equally. We are seeing some parts benefitting a lot while other parts are suffering. This is why people have been tempted to think of adopting the federal system of government. Without the Constituency Development Fund, there would be nothing that can be pointed at,” he said.
Karonga Central MP, Frank Mwenefumbo, supported the proposal, arguing that the issue of federal system hinges on governance.
Mwenefumbo said the matter at hand needs to be looked into carefully and soberly to map the way forward.
“If you talk about the issue of corruption, nepotism, tribalism— they all emanate from the issue of governance. Federal system is the way to go. However, we need to graduate ourselves from the current system to federal system through the right ladders,” he said.
But legislator for Salima South, Uladi Mussa, said there are a number of factors to be taken into consideration before adopting a federal system of government,.
“The size of our country cannot contain this system. This only works where a country has a sound economy which can accommodate the costs of putting in place structures for the system. Any state demarcated has to have its own Parliament and budget, just to mention a few. Malawi is a small country,” he said.
Zomba Chisi MP, Mark Bottomani, also punched holes in the proposal, saying the system, which is running in some countries, emanated from conflicts experienced before.
“In Nigeria and Ethiopia, it’s on record. With our country, we have been blessed to have no tribal conflicts, ethnic clashes or civil war. We are a very peaceful country. This may not be the right time to bring this matter,” Bottomani said.
Parliament is yet to conclude discussions on the proposal.
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