Abstract

This paper examines the underlying factors for the recent emergence of statehood claims from Mzimba district of Malawi which were sparked by the government land reform exercise. In the 2016 sitting of Malawi parliament, ten land bills were passed by Parliament but attracted national wide resistance. However, the protest from Mzimba district of Malawi was unique. Chiefs from the district claimed that based on the 1904 agreement between British colonialists and Mzimba leaders, Mzimba is not part of Malawi but merely a development partner. The findings of this paper are based on interviews with Malawian government officials, political leaders, chiefs and civil society organisations leaders and as well as other stakeholders. An interesting puzzle unravelled by findings from this paper is that although the tone from Mzimba had been agitation for statehood there has been no indication for secession. The Mzimba case has unique characteristics of ‘defiance within compliance’.

Original language	en
Pages (from-to)	314-329
Volume	83
Issue number	4
Publication status	Published - 2024