Letter To The President Demanding Referendum On The Adoption Of Federalism

Date: January 3, 2023
Letter Number: 09212
For Immediate Response

H.E Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
President
Republic of Malawi
Kamuza Palace
Area 44, Lilongwe
Malawi

Cc: Rt. Honorable Chief Justice of the Republic of Malawi
Cc: Rt. Honorable Speaker of National Assembly
Cc: Honorable Chairperson of Malawi Electoral Commission
Cc: All Leaders of Political Parties and Organizations
Cc: All Leaders of CSOs

Dear Sir,

CITIZENS’ DEMAND FOR A REFERENDUM ON THE ADOPTION OF FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERANCE IN MALAWI

As you are aware, the Article 12 (i) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi provides for the sovereignty of the people of Malawi and states that all legal and political authority of the State derives from the people of Malawi and shall be exercised in accordance with this Constitution solely to serve and protect their interests. Article 12 (v) states that as all persons have equal status before the law, the only justifiable limitations to lawful rights are those necessary to ensure peaceful human interaction in an open and democratic society.

Section 89 (i) of the constitution gives power to the president to proclaim referenda and plebiscites in accordance with the Constitution or an Act of Parliament.

Your Excellency, we’re sure you have been following the ongoing national debate which has seen millions of Malawians go in favour of system change as a solution to the many challenges Malawi face with: millions of Malawians living in abject poverty. Ineffective administration, the infrastructure framework is in a terrible state, state organized corruption, nepotism, tribalism, inequitable distribution of national resources, and abuse of state powers among others. This notwithstanding, the long exercise of the unitary model of state structure and parliamentary model of ruling, both proved ineffective.

Your excellency, you may recall that since we adopted multiparty democracy we have been moving many steps backward in terms of development which can’t be blamed on people’s failure but system. Malawians are honest people; they can’t be blamed to have put wrong people in the driving seat all along as they did with you. Each government that came into power since 1994 has been famous for corruption which led to state capture including your government sir.

In order to ensure that the people of Malawi do not continue to be betrayed by the few greedy politicians (MPs) who represent their own interest, we have now started the process of correcting signatures from as many ordinary Malawians home and aboard who are demanding a referendum on this issue in line with the provisions cited. We shall seek to work with religious leaders, political parties, political leaders, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, community based organizations, diaspora community and all patriotic citizens, who mean well for Malawi to ensure the voice of all people is heard loud and clear.

Through the referendum, the people shall demand system change as the immediate solution from unitary to federal government in order to spur economic growth and stamp out poverty countrywide. In fact, change of system will ensure better service delivery and limitation of powers. This is such a pivotal issue on which every Malawian must be heard. A referendum will give opportunity to the common person at all levels, and in all corners if the country to choose our future – in short, to exercise our right of self-determination.

The purpose of this letter is to request you as per law to immediately call for a national referendum. However, if that is not yet possible, we shall take a radical approach to ensure that progress is made towards a referendum.

“The Problem in politics arises not because people are ambitious, since one should be ambitious. But when politicians selfishly want things, when there is disregard for the country and for other people, or for what is reasonable and especially when they use their political position for personal gain, then it is not only unreasonable but dangerous for the country”. (Quett Masire)

Together we have failed Malawi, but it takes just a right turn at any given second for a vehicle in the middle of nowhere to find its bearing. History will repeat itself, God bless us all!

Hoping for a positive response.