[Civsoc-mw] 'federation'

Wed May 24 11:15:45 CAT 2017

Your views Louis are very much the same as Kamuzu’s statements about Federation, and the reason why he fought against it. He did not want racialism imposed any wider than it already was, and wanted Nyasaland taken out of the agreement.

That said, the economics of the grouping can be evaluated separately, and can be in the current time where the politics are very different. (You’d have to think whether it would be good for Malawians to be united, in any form, with the present regimes in Zambia and Zimbabwe though, and that is something worthy of debate!) What sort of ‘federation’-like economic ‘union’ would benefit Mw, if thrown together with any of its larger neighbours? How would that help Mw, and how would the politics in the other countries influence Mw’s politics? A larger market for Mw’s goods and its labour? Investment from its neighbours? Etc. Or is the idea a non-starter from the beginning?

D

From: Civsoc-mw [mailto:civsoc-mw-bounces at sdnp.org.mw] On Behalf Of Louis Nthenda
Sent: 24 May 2017 01:32
To: civsoc-mw at sdnp.org.mw
Cc: nyasanet at listserv.icors.org
Subject: Re: [Civsoc-mw] Zimbabwe Situation e-briefing website

Most of us young blacks who experienced Federation first hand were not impressed. The white people in the saddle weren't making it any easier for us. Take the Federal Prime Minister Welensky, the train driver from Northern Rhodesia. He declared that the relation between black and white was one of horse and rider. I wasn't flattered to be thought of as the horse. 

I first went to Southern Rhodesia in February 1961: 7+ years after the federal set up. Greaterman's Dept Store still wouldn't allow me, an African, to enter to buy anything. Miscegenation Law was still on the books as was the Group Areas Act, etc. Cinemas, Hotels, etc were still segregated. This after 7 years.  When in 1963 I went to work on the Copperbelt, it was the first year the mining giant Anglo-American Corporation embarked on integration, with me and several Zambians as pioneers - not because of some enlightened Federal policy, but because Northern Rhodesia, like Malawi, was on the road to black self-government and secession. There was no change in Southern Rhodesia where blacks were expected to continue as horses. 

Perhaps some of you think it was fun living under the Southern Rhodesian version of apartheid.  Perhaps you would have found it fun. I didn't. Everyday I ventured out was a humiliation. I was able to put up with it because it was temporary and I didn't have to endure it for the rest of my life. 

LN

On Wed, May 24, 2017 at 5:43 AM, Louis Nthenda <louisnthenda at gmail.com <mailto:louisnthenda at gmail.com> > wrote:

Bwana a Ndalama,

I'm not sure that I understand your reason for getting a distinction for your essay. on Federation. You seem to be saying:

a) the essay was pro-federation 

b) you yourself were pro-federation 

c) the teacher who marked the essay was pro-federation 

I think these should have been irrelevant in evaluating your essay. 

I grew up during Federation days. And like most young people of my generation I was anti-Federation. If I had been you teacher then and had read your essay I would have given you a distinction only if :

a) you showed a clear understanding of the pro-federation case and stated it fairly and comprehensively 

b) you then showed a clear understanding of the anti-federation case and stated it fairly and comprehensively

c) you came up with a way of reconciling the two sides, imagining yourself for example as an arbitrator or you produced an original third way. It's this c) that would have propelled you into 1st class honours. Your actual position should have taken precedence. 

The essay is for training purposes in thinking as an intellectual activity.

Whether you you and I were actually pro-fed or anti-fed shouldn't feature in my assessment. If your teacher gave you a distinction just because you were on his side and you only gave the pro-federation side, then I'm afraid your distinction is suspect.

On Wed, May 24, 2017 at 4:20 AM, Ndalama, Lexon <Lexon.Ndalama at savethechildren.org <mailto:Lexon.Ndalama at savethechildren.org> > wrote:

I got a distinction mark with an essay in my first degree History of Central Africa  in CHANCO arguing for the Federation sometime in the 80s.
Lexon
Lexon Ndalama | Save The Children |Head of Sponsorship Programme, Zomba Office,
Private Bag 66, Zomba, Malawi
www.savethechildren.net <http://www.savethechildren.net> 
Telephone number: +255 (0) 1 527 271 Work Phone: +265 992962961 <tel:+265%20992%2096%2029%2061> 
Email: lexon.ndalama at savethechildren.org <mailto:lexon.ndalama at savethechildren.org> 

-----Original Message-----
From: Civsoc-mw [mailto:civsoc-mw-bounces@ <mailto:civsoc-mw-bounces@> sdnp.org.mw <http://sdnp.org.mw> ] On Behalf Of Tony Thontholani
Sent: 04 May 2017 09:30
To: civsoc-mw at sdnp.org.mw <mailto:civsoc-mw at sdnp.org.mw> ; nyasanet at listserv.icors.org <mailto:nyasanet at listserv.icors.org> 
Subject: Re: [Civsoc-mw] Zimbabwe Situation e-briefing website

Some of us think that federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland was a good idea.
We already have held meetings on this palpable fact.
Mugabe is a mere governor. So, is Peter and the man in Lusaka.
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