The Case of Malawi
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MALAWI COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service
MALAWI COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 31 OCTOBER 2012 MALAWI 31 OCTOBER 2012 Contents Preface Useful news sources for further information Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.05 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 3. HISTORY ................................................................................................................. 3.01 Local government elections ................................................................................ 3.05 Foreign donor aid to Malawi suspended ............................................................ 3.07 Anti-government protests: July 2011 ................................................................. 3.10 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 2012) ......................................... 4.01 5. CONSTITUTION .......................................................................................................... 5.01 6. POLITICAL SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 6.01 Human Rights 7. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 7.01 8. SECURITY FORCES ................................................................................................... -
MALAWI Press Review February 2010
C F S C P FEBRUARY R 2010 E S News clippings S with analysis From the R Major newspapers E in Malawi V Compiled by the I Center for Social Concern (CFSC) E Box 40049 Lilongwe 4 Area 25 W Next to St. Francis Parish Tel: 01 715 632 www.cfscmalawi.org CFSC Press Review February 2010 LIST OF NEWSPAPERS REVIEWED Daily Times The Weekend Nation The Sunday Times Malawi News The Guardian Nation on Sunday The Nation CFSC Press Review February 2010 PREVIEW Members of Parliament in Malawi are never short of controversies. It all started with their proposal to have their allocation of fuel revised upwards. The Legislators would want to have 500 litres of fuel per month for each one of them. There are 193 members of the National Assembly. Their wish is somehow strange. According to some writers who made calculations 500 litres of fuel is just too much for the legislators. Some observers have noted that the fuel allocation increase will be like another salary raise for the MPs because they get money equivalent to the litres of fuel. If government approves their proposal it means each of the MPs will be going home with the cash and not the actual fuel. Only God knows if all this money is going to be used for its intended purpose. Already there have been reports of some legislators who desert their constituencies after winning their parliamentary seat. These members are seen in cities and have no time to visit the people who put them into power. -
Chapter 4 Making, Unmaking and Remaking Political Party Coalitions
POLITICAL PARTY COALITIONS IN MALAWI 111 4 MAKING, UNMAKING AND REMAKING POLITICAL PARTY COALITIONS IN MALAWI Explaining the Prevalence of Office-Seeking Behaviour DENIS KADIMA AND SAMSON LEMBANI INTRODUCTION The contemporary history of political alliances in Malawi dates back to the early 1990s when Malawian political and social groupings joined forces and succeeded in voting out the 30-year-old one-party regime of Kamuzu Banda in 1994. While a recent unpublished study by Lars Svåsand, Nixon Khembo and Lise Rakner (2004) gives an account of the reconfiguration of Malawi’s party system after the 2004 general elections, there is no chronological and comprehensive account of the main coalitions of political parties in the country, their accomplishments and setbacks and the lessons that can be drawn from their experience. This explains the need for this study as well as the unique contribution that it makes to the field of party coalition politics. The study deals only with alliances made up of political parties. For this reason, the pre-1994 election alliance of various political pressure groups, faith-based organisations and non-governmental organisations, which worked towards the effective introduction of a democratic multiparty system, is not given significant attention. The study devotes equal attention to the history of both governing and opposition coalitions in Malawi. Specifically, it examines the short-lived coalition between the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) after the 1994 general elections; the 1995 alliance between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and AFORD; the alliance forged between the MCP and AFORD prior to the 1999 general elections; the UDF- AFORD-NCD Coalition preceding the 2004 general elections and the 111 112 THE POLITICS OF PARTY COALITIONS IN AFRICA Mgwirizano coalition of 2004. -
Malawi at a Glance: 2000-01
COUNTRY REPORT Malawi At a glance: 2000-01 OVERVIEW President Bakili Muluzi is expected to remain in power over the forecast period. But the main political parties, will, to varying degrees, experience internal disarray. A clear split has emerged in the main opposition party, the MCP, though the postponement of the September local elections should allow it to tackle its internal differences before they are held. A new uranium mining project will help the mining sector to develop, but infrastructure will need upgrading to attract further mining investment. Falling world tobacco prices in 2000, along with lower domestic production, will reduce export revenue, and increase the trade deficit. The rail link between Malawi and the Mozambican port of Nacala is scheduled to open in September, promising savings in transport costs, but improved track and signalling equipment is required. Key changes from last month Political outlook • There has been a major split in the opposition MCP party. John Tembo and Gwanda Chakuamba were both elected as party leader at parallel conventions in their respective regional strongholds. Economic policy outlook • The 2000/01 budget promises to build on the government’s reform efforts. But fiscal stability remains heavily reliant on foreign grants. Economic forecast • The EIU’s economic forecast remains essentially unchanged. Real GDP growth will slow to 3.5% in 2000, because of reduced agricultural output owing to poor weather. The rate of inflation will average nearly 29% in 2000 and the exchange rate will slip to MK65:US$1 by end-2000. September 2000 The Economist Intelligence Unit 15 Regent St, London SW1Y 4LR United Kingdom The Economist Intelligence Unit The Economist Intelligence Unit is a specialist publisher serving companies establishing and managing operations across national borders. -
Government & Politics Corr
1 CONCEPTUAL AND CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND Augustine Titani Magolowondo INTRODUCTION This book is about Government and politics in Malawi. The diversity of issues that are discussed in the subsequent chapters bears testimony to the complexity of this subject matter. The aim of this first chapter is twofold. First, as you may have probably experienced in our daily discourse, the terms Government and politics are often confused with other key terms such as state and nation. As a starting point, this chapter clarifies these related concepts, which are inherently connected but yet conceptually distinct. Second, the discussion in this chapter aims at providing the context within which politics and Government in Malawi operate. In this regard, I look at both the political history and key socio-economic characteristics of Malawi. Finally, I discuss challenges facing Malawi’s politics and Government today. WHAT IS POLITICS? The concept of politics is as old as Government itself. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher (384–322 BC) argued that ‘man is by nature a political animal’. What was meant is that politics is not only inevitable but also essential to human activity. In other words, wherever there are human beings, politics is unavoidable. However, much as Aristotle’s maxim has become almost indisputable among the students of politics, there is no consensus on what exactly is to be understood by politics. To appreciate the conceptual complexity of politics, let us consider for instance the 2000 constitutional amendment to Section 65 of the Malawi Constitution (popularly called the ‘crossing of the floor’ provision). This amendment was to result in any member of Parliament (MP) losing his/her seat should he/she join 1 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN MALAWI any organisation whose objectives were deemed to be political in nature. -
Transition from a Personal Dictatorship in Malawi
The Transition from a Personal Dictatorship: Democratization and the Legacy of the Past in Malawi Please do not cite this pre-final version The final version was published as a book chapter in: Shadrack Wanjala Nasong’o, ed . The African Search for Stable Forms of Statehood: Essays in Political Criticism Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 2008, pp. 187-227. Stephen Brown Associate Professor School of Political Studies University of Ottawa [email protected] In the early 1990s, numerous African dictatorships relatively rapidly and rather unexpectedly liberalized politically. The degrees to which they democratized—and speed at which they did so—varied greatly. The new forms of governance also differed significantly from country to country, as do their prospects. To a certain extent, the variations can be ascribed to decisions of key players at specific moments in time, often in bargaining with other actors. Analyses of transitions based primarily on such voluntaristic factors, such as O’Donnell and Schmitter (1986), tend to minimize the effects of the past. Others, such as Bratton and van de Walle (1994), see clear patterns in how certain types of neopatrimonial regimes in Africa democratize, placing greater emphasis on institutional history. This chapter examines the democratization process in Malawi, using Bratton and van de Walle’s finding as a framework to analyze Malawi’s post- authoritarian governance and prospects for further democratization. Personal Dictatorship as Analytical Category Hastings Kamuzu Banda rule Malawi from independence in 1964 until 1994 through a highly arbitrary and personalized system. “Life President” Banda was the supreme authority; his word had the force of law and was ruthlessly enforced. -
Draft Outline of Report – Separation of Powers in a Constitutional
SEPARATION OF POWERS IN A CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY Discussions and Papers on Southern Africa Mount Soche Hotel Blanytre, Malawi January 28-31, 2003 Table of Contents Foreword: ............................................................................................... iii I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................... iv II. Framework of the Conference ..............................................................1 A. Country Examples.........................................................................4 B. Organization of the Meeting ...........................................................6 III. Proceedings ....................................................................................8 A. Opening ......................................................................................8 1. Keynote Address .....................................................................11 B. Plenary Sessions.........................................................................12 1. The Constitutional Perspective: Theoretical and Philosophical Background.....................................................................................12 2. The Malawian Perspective: Key Challenges Confronting the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of Government ...................13 3. The Regional Perspective: The Role of Judicial Review in Strengthening Constitutional Democracy and Promoting Economic Growth 16 4. The International Perspective: Judicial Independence – Best Practices, Regional -
Ai Vestigatio of the Political Factors Co Tributi G to Floor Crossi Gi the Malawi Atio Al Assembly
A IVESTIGATIO OF THE POLITICAL FACTORS COTRIBUTIG TO FLOOR CROSSIG I THE MALAWI ATIOAL ASSEMBLY: 2003 – 2009 by AE GRACE MAGAGA submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the subject AFRICA POLITICS at the UIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR C J APIER JUE 2011 DECLARATIO I declare that: An Investigation of the Political Factors Contributing to Floor Crossing in the Malawi National Assembly: 2003 – 2009, is my own work and that all the sources that I have used have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. _____________________________ _____________________ SIGNATURE DATE (Mrs. A G Maganga) Table of Contents Declaration … … … … … … … … … … i Abbreviation … … … … … … … … … … i Dedication … … … … … … … … … … iii Acknowledgement … … … … … … … … … iv Abstract … … … … … … … … … … v Key Terms … … … … … … … … … … v CHAPTER ONE … … … … … … … … … 1 1 GENERAL OVERVIEW … … … … … … … 1 1.1 Introduction … … … … … … … … … 1 1.2 The Malawi Electoral System … … … … … … … 2 1.3 Background to the Study … … … … … … … 4 1.4 Floor Crossing and the Different Malawi Constitutions … … … 6 1.4.1 Floor Crossing and the 1964 Constitution … … … … … 6 1.4.2 Floor Crossing and the 1966 Republican Constitution … … … 7 1.4.3 Floor Crossing and the 1994 Constitution … … … … … 12 1.5 The 2001 Amendment to Section 65 … … … … … … 13 1.5.1 Section 65 used as a Political Tool … … … … … … 14 1.6 Recall Mechanism and the Different Constitutions … … … … 16 1.6.1 Recall Mechanism in the 1964 Constitution -
Politics of Judicial Independence in Malawi
Politics of Judicial Independence in Malawi Freedom House Report prepared by Rachel Ellett, PhD Contents List of Acronyms 3 Acknowledgments 4 Executive Summary 5 Summary Assessment Table 8 Part I: Introduction 12 A Report Structure 12 B Methodology 12 C Background to the Study 13 D Politics and the Malawian Judiciary 1993-2013 16 Part II: Assessing Judicial Independence in Malawi 26 A Scope of Judicial Power 26 B Differentiation and Separation of Powers 29 C Internal Institutional Safeguards 36 D Transparency 48 E External Institutional Support 50 Part III: Analysis of Judicial Interference 55 A Manipulation of Personnel 56 B Institutional Assaults 56 C Personal Attacks on Judges 59 D Budget Manipulation Resources/Remuneration 62 E Attempted Co-option of Judges 63 Conclusion 64 Annex I: Summary of Existing Policy Reports on the Courts and Rule of law in Malawi 65 Endnotes 68 2 List of Acronyms AFORD Alliance for Democracy CILIC Civil Liberties Committee DPP Democratic Progressive Party HRCC Human Rights Consultative Committee MBC Malawi Broadcasting Corporation MCP Malawi Congress Party MEC Malawi Electoral Commission MLS Malawi Law Society PP People’s Party NDA National Democratic Alliance UDF United Democratic Front 3 Acknowledgments I would like to thank the many individuals who gave their time and consent to sit down for extensive one-on-one interviews in Johannesburg and Blantyre. These frank and detailed conversations generated significant insight and detailed and specific information, without which this report would be substantially diminished. Additionally I’d like to recognize the logistical and editorial support of the Freedom House Johannesburg and Washington DC offices and in particular the collegiality and support of Cathal Gilbert and Juliet Mureriwa. -
Working Paper Series Malawi Between Internal Factionalism and External Pressure. Coping with Critical Junctures Martin Ott
Working Paper Series of the Graduate Centre Humanities and Social Sciences of the Research Academy Leipzig No. 11 Martin Ott Malawi between internal factionalism and external pressure. Coping with critical junctures Leipzig 2013 Martin Ott: Malawi between internal factionalism and external pressure. Coping with critical junctures Working Paper Series of the Graduate Centre Humanities and Social Sciences of the Research Academy Leipzig, No. 11, Leipzig 2013. The Working Paper Series is edited by the Graduate Centre Humanities and Social Sciences. The Graduate Centre is part of the Research Academy Leipzig, a central institution of the University of Leipzig which concentrates on structured PhD-programmes crossing disciplinary boundaries. Currently the following units are part of the Graduate Centre: International PhD-programme “Transnationalisation and Regionalisation from the 18th Century to the Present” (Spokesperson: Matthias Middel / Stefan Troebst) Research Training Group “Critical Junctures of Globalisation” (Spokesperson: Ulf Engel) PhD-programme “Cultural Exchange Classical Studies’, historical and ethnological perspectives” (Spokesperson: Annegret Nippa / Charlotte Schubert) German-American PhD-programme “German as a Foreign Language / Transcultural German Studies” Distribution: (Spokesperson: Erwin Tschirner) Leipziger Universitätsverlag GmbH Oststr. 41 Research Training Group “Religious Nonconformism and Cultural 04317 Leipzig Dynamics” (Spokesperson: Hubert Seiwert) e-mail: [email protected] PhD-programme “Central-German -
Validation of Malawi Final Validation Report Cowatersogema Independent Validator 3Rd February 2019
Validation of Malawi Final Validation Report CowaterSogema Independent Validator 3rd February 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Government of Malawi committed to implementing the EITI on 17 June 2014, during the opening of the 45th session of Parliament by the President of Malawi, H.E. Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika. The President later appointed the Minister of Finance, Goodall Gondwe as the EITI Champion. The interim multi- stakeholder group (MSG), the EITI Task Force, was set up in November 2010, consisting of stakeholders from all constituencies. The MSG formally met for the first time on 18 March 2015, after several months of constituency elections. On 22 October 2015 the EITI Board accepted Malawi as an implementing country. By the commencement of Validation, Malawi EITI had published two reports covering fiscal years 2014-15 and 2015-16. On 25 October 2016, the Board agreed that Malawi’s Validation under the 2016 EITI Standard would commence on 1 September 2018. This report presents the findings and initial assessment of the International Secretariat’s data gathering and stakeholder consultations. The International Secretariat has followed the Validation Procedures and applied the Validation Guide in assessing Malawi’s progress with the EITI Standard. This validation report follows on from a quality assurance review of the International Secretariat’s initial assessment. While the assessment has not yet been reviewed by the MSG, the Secretariat’s preliminary assessment is that eight of the requirements of the EITI Standard have not been fully addressed in Malawi. Two of these are unmet with inadequate or no progress. The suggested corrective actions relate to industry engagement (#1.2), work plans (#1.5), license registers (#2.3), comprehensiveness (#4.1), data quality (#4.9), distribution of revenues (#5.1), mandatory social expenditures (#6.1), and documentation of outcomes and impact of implementation (#7.4). -
Malawi Orientation Manual
Full Name of Republic of Malawi Country Population Malawi is home to roughly 19 million people. 84% of the population lives in rural areas. The life expectancy is 61 years, and the median age is 16.4 years (one of the lowest median ages in the world). Roughly 50.7% (2014 est.) live below the international poverty line. Time Zone GMT +2 (7 hours ahead of EST in the winter, 6 hours ahead in summer) Capital Lilongwe Ethnic Groups The African peoples in Malawi are all of Bantu origin. The main ethnic groups ('tribes') are the Chewa, dominant in the central and southern parts of the country; the Yao, also found in the south; and the Tumbuka in the north. There are very small populations of Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Korean and Chinese), white Africans and European people living mainly in the cities. Major Languages The official language of Malawi is Chichewa and English. English is widely spoken, particularly in main towns. The different ethnic groups in Malawi each have their own language or dialect. Major Religions Most people in Malawi are Christian (82.6%), usually members of one of the Catholic or Protestant churches founded by missionaries in the late 19th century. There are Muslims populations primarily in the south and central region (13%), especially along Lake Malawi - a legacy of the Arab slave traders who operated in this area. Alongside the established religions, many Malawians also hold traditional animist beliefs (2%). President’s Name In 2014, Peter Mutharika of the DPP followed his older brother Bingu wa Mutharika’s footsteps to become the current Malawian president.