Proposed Hypothesis Why We Need Federalism

A Response to Proposed Hypothesis Why We Need Federalism

By Brian Simpson- CRW News Journalist

From his recent LinkedIn post, Simba Proposed that: Federalism will respond to the demands of local leaders for their release from the costly, time-consuming, stifling, and demoralizing effects of excessive centralization and controls by the national government in the present unitary system.

The structures, processes, and responsibilities of the federation will challenge and energise the people and their state and local governments. Such further democratisation will encourage creativity, initiative and innovation, spur inter-state competition, and foster state and local self-reliance instead of continued dependency.

A federal system will greatly increase the capacity of the people and the government to deal with the country’s problems because the removal of the centralised structure that impose and sustain local dependence and stifle local initiative and resourcefulness will provide greater freedom and home rule. Therefore, they will be more interested in state and local governance because it is closer to them and will deal with under-development – local poverty, unemployment, injustice, inadequate social services and infrastructure, and low productivity.

In a federal structure that will consolidate the 28 districts of Malawi into 3 to 4, integrated and more efficient and viable regions called states, substantial, faster and equitable development for the whole country is more likely to be achieved.

By participating in meaningful and challenging politics and governance at the state and local levels that impact directly the lives of the constituents, the people will be more empowered than if they continued to be alienated from their weak local governments and spectators in the affairs of far away national government institutions in the nation’s capital. Moreover, the people’s liberty will be protected by the further dispersion of power in the government and the society.

By governing the nation through interdependence and interaction with the states as regional governments, using the national language and a global language (such as English), the federal government will be better able to achieve and sustain national unity and identity. At the same time the states will be able to nurture, protect and enhance their regional cultures institutions and also contribute to national cultural development. Together the federal government and the states will be able to develop and sustain the nation’s cultural diversity and social pluralism.

A federal system will also be better able to respond to the external threats to national security and the challenges of globalisation by strengthening the nation-state’s capacity to deal with its critical internal problems and development.

This political transformation is hoped to end the deeply rooted hatred among the people of Malawi, hence economic growth.

We hope you enjoyed the article, there will be more articles from Brian Simpson coming soon.