A new peer reviewed publication by 25 leading Malawian academics exploring new directions for governance in the country will reach an international audience through an eight-part webinar series set to start this Wednesday.
A statement issued on Friday by the Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) and its sister network in Malawi, the Malawi Scotland Partnership (MaSP) indicates that the book, Beyond Impunity: New Directions for Governance in Malawi, follows a call from President Lazarus Chakwera for governance strengthening cooperation between Malawi and Scotland.
The work is, however, independent of government.
Reads the statement in part: “Between October 2021 and May 2022, the SMP and MaSP are co-hosting eight high-profile digital webinars exploring governance strengthening in Malawi. Chaired by associate professor Asiyatu Lorraine Chiweza, each webinar will feature one or more leading Malawian academic and governance expert, presenting their chapter(s) in this forthcoming publication.”
The launch on Zoom will take place on Wednesday October 27 from 13.30pm Malawi time, and will feature input from the book’s three co-editors—Kenneth Ross, Chiweza and Wapulumuka Mulwafu—and a Scottish response from Lord Jack McConnell.
In October 2020, Chakwera called for strengthened governance cooperation between Scotland and Malawi, saying: “We want to identify areas of improvement, especially in the area of strengthening our respective governance institutions through shared learning, technical support and infrastructural development.”
Meanwhile, SMP chief executive officer David Hope-Jones says they are delighted to be involved in the governance partnership between the two countries, and to help bring an international audience to the work of 25 of Malawi’s leading academics and thought leaders.
He said in the statement: “We applaud the ambition and drive of the Government of Malawi in its commitment to strengthening governance, at every level, across the country. Both Scotland and Malawi will benefit from the honest two-way sharing, learning and discussion in this series.
Hope-Jones said Scotland is happy to be open about its successes and failures in the area of governance, adding: “We look forward to going on this journey of mutual benefit with our friends in Malawi. The 160- year-old friendship between our two nations is underpinned by mutual respect, trust and understanding.”
The 400+ page book has been described by critics as arguably the most comprehensive, insightful and up to date publication on governance to date.
Vice-Chancellor of the United States International University-Africa Dr Paul Tiyambe Zeleza described the forthcoming publication as: “Comprehensive, compelling, accessible and timely …. the best book I have read recently on the country’s complex, contradictory, messy, and disappointing political and socioeconomic dispensation since the dawn of the era of multi-party democracy in 1994.”
On his part, University of Birmingham democracy professor Nic Cheeseman said: “The events of 2019/20 were momentous not just for democracy in Malawi but for the wider region. This impressive volume brings together critical insights that reveal why the presidential election was nullified, how key democratic institutions emerged stronger than before, and the challenges that still remain. It is essential reading for anyone working on Malawian politics or democratic consolidation more broadly.”
The book will be commercially available in Malawi later this year, with support from the SMP.
Those interested can join the digital webinars and take part in the discussion by booking online at www.scotland-malawipartnership.org.
