Civil rights activist, Rafiq Hajat, has urged government to make a swift move on the declaration of Mulanje and Thyolo districts as a sovereign state before the matter gets out of hand.
Hajat told The Daily Times on Monday that making a country within a country such as Malawi is not acceptable and government should quickly find ways of resolving the matter.
His comments come following an announcement made by the leader of People’s Land Organisation, Vincent Wandale, that Mulanje and Thyolo are now a sovereign state. Wandale told The Daily Times on Sunday that government has failed to help them reclaim local people’s land which is now owned by tea estate operators, hence a resolution to declare the two districts, a separate country.
“People in Mulanje and Thyolo are dying of hunger because they have no land to cultivate. This is a matter that needs government’s urgent attention. But according to our experience, government is not helping enough despite our plea to help the local people get their land back.
“The issue of course is open for debate. If someone feels that what we are advocating for is not noble, let us have a referendum as a country so that people from Thyolo and Mulanje can express their views,” said Wandale in a telephone interview.
However, Hajat feels the announcement that Wandale made is treasonous. The activist said Wandale and his colleagues do not understand what a sovereign state means because they will need to collect levy, build structures and have their own president which in Malawi is not realistic in the meantime.
“This issue makes me uncomfortable hence I urge government to resolve it urgently because it will create more confusion. We cannot have countries within a country. Malawi is not ready for that,” said Hajat.
Member of Parliament for Mulanje South, Bon Kalindo, said Mulanje has pulled out of the marriage with Thyolo on the matter. Kalindo who was an ally of Wandale in fighting people’s land rights has told The Daily Times that Wandale should declare Thyolo a sovereign state but he should not include Mulanje, saying the matter was discussed with the President Peter Mutharika hence it is wise to wait for him to make a proper move.
Meanwhile, Senior Chief Ngolongoliwa along with other traditional leaders have summoned Wandale for a meeting.
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