Malawi Archives | Africa Research Institute

Duty of Care: Constitutional and law reform, in Malawi

Yovanka ARI — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:13:39 +0000

As chief law reform officer at the Malawi Law Commission, Dr Janet Chikaya-Banda oversaw a two-year constitutional review programme in 2004-6. In her timely account, she explains the importance of continuous, systematic law reform in young democracies and the role that it can play in upholding the credibility and effectiveness of the judiciary. She highlights impediments to the pursuit of democratic ideals articulated in the Malawi Constitution, the consequences of weak institutional commitment to law reform, and the vulnerability of the law in the face of a very powerful presidency. In her foremost recommendation, Dr Chikaya-Banda calls on the new government in Malawi to “move things on” by implementing – or at least debating openly – the recommendations of the constitutional review.

Author – Dr Janet Chikaya-Banda

Listen to the ‘Duty of Care’ launch event in Lilongwe with distinguished MPs, lawyers, diplomats and journalists

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Voices of disquiet on the Malawian airwaves – Harri Englund

Yovanka ARI — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:51:50 +0000

Human Rights NGOs are considered vanguards in the struggle against injustice and authoritarianism in Africa. But their narrow focus on civil and political rights neglects widely held economic grievances. In Malawi, an audience-driven radio programme –Nkhani Zam’maboma or “News from Districts” – has captivated the nation by exposing everyday injustices experienced by Malawians. Grievances are articulated through local idioms and proverbs that have little in common with the individual freedoms espoused by human rights activists. Never before has it been possible for Malawians to share experiences of injustice so publicly.

Author – Dr Harri Englund

Listen to the podcast of “Voices of disquiet on the Malawian airwaves”

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Making fertiliser subsidies work in Malawi

Yovanka ARI — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 17:44:46 +0000

This briefing note highlights the role of fertiliser subsidies in Malawi, the world’s fifth poorest country. Malawi has suffered recurrent poor harvests, with disastrous consequences for food security since the early 1990s. Yields have improved significantly in the past two years, helped by a government subsidy scheme that has improved access to fertiliser by smallholder farmers.

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