Academic dons dissect Malawi election, rights at political science conference

The  Political Science Association Conference is this Thursday  holding a conference at Annies Lodge in academic city of Zomba where the ghost of academic freedom battle will be hovering as University of Malawi eminent scholars meet to discuss Malawi elections, human rights and constitutionalism.

Professor Blessings Chisinga of academic freedom fame set to dissect Malawi election

The organizers of the conference, has assembled a team of eminent speakers to make presentations and among the presenters will be Professor Blessings Chisinga, him who triggered a protracted academic freedom battle at Chancellor College during the twilight of late President Bingu wa Mutharika tenure in 2011.

He will spark the debate with a presentation titled ‘freedom of assembly, political obligation and safeguards against erosion/reversal of human rights in Malawi.”

Then a team of sophisticated   minds comprising of Dr Bonafance Dulani, Professor Happy Kayuni and Joseph Chunga will jointly present a paper titled ‘Public opinion polls and their relevance in Malawian politics.”

From a media perspective will be a media trainer at Chancellor College, Jimmy Kainja, who will present on “the role of social media, citizen journalism on 2019 electoral processes in Malawi”.

Thereafter, Dr Henry Chingaipe will tackle the federation question in his presentation titled “underlying issues in the call for federalism in Malawi.”

Then the legendary Professor of Law, Edge Kanyongolo, will cap it all with his presentation titled ‘revisiting Malawi’s electoral laws/processes and electoral justice.”

As if this is not enough, the conference has also assembled a team of discussants which will be sparking the debate after each presentation. They are Dr Mustapha Hussein, governance expert Makhumbo Munthali, Professor Chijere Chirwa, lawmaker Yeremiah Chihana and representatives from media watchdog Misa-Malawi.

In an interview with  Nyasa Times, General Secretary Political Science Association, Ernest Thindwa—himself a renown political analyst in the country— said the conference will be day long, starting at 8:00 and will wind up at 5:00pm.

Thindwa said the conference is open to members of the public.

According to him, the Political Science Association noted that the democratic record in Malawi has been tortuous since the re-introduction of multiparty elections in 1994. Since 1994 elections, they say there seems to be no satisfaction with our democracy.

The association is buttressing the above point by quoting afrobarometer survey results of 2017 which revealed that 56% of Malawians say that the country is ‘not a democracy’ or ‘a democracy with major problems’.

The Political Science association then poses the following questions: “What are Malawi’s democracy consolidation prospects in the near future amidst heavily contested 2019 elections coupled with demonstrations and legal tussles? What are the key issues that need to be addressed if we have to successfully steer ourselves out of this political situation?”

The association says these are some of the questions that this conference aptly entitled ‘Elections, Human Rights and Constitutionalism “will try to address.”

Nyasa Times will bring you the theatrics and blow-by-blow coverage of the conference.

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Malungo mafumu
Malungo mafumu
4 years ago

Useless guys.An ordinary person in the street can give a better analysis of political issues in Malawi than these guys. Instead, of conducting serious research, they are buzy giving biased political comments to biased radios and newspapers. That is why they have turned the university of Malawi into a glorified secondary school. Shame on them.

Patrick Phiri
Patrick Phiri
4 years ago

Prof. Chijere Chirwa – did I hear wrongly that he was no more?

Ndendeuli
Ndendeuli
4 years ago

Stupid talk show hosts!

Livingstonia Synod
Livingstonia Synod
4 years ago

It seems like CHANCO staff meeting to me. Other than that, only Chinsinga and to some extent, Kanyongolo, come close to qualifying as political analysts with some small chunks of objectivity but no deeper and critical analysis of issues to separate them from a regular man on the streets.

Wakummawa
Wakummawa
4 years ago

Bonface Dulani is just a Pompous guy.Happy Kayuni is another selfish guy.Prof B Chinsinga is the only briliant guy here.He is a complete political anayst.Osati Dulani matama basi.

Munthu Muwemi
4 years ago

These idiots have nothing to offer. They just want to pocket allowances. We are busy and we can’t waste out precious time listening to your nonsense. To hell Mother Fuckers!

Agenda Setting Theory
Agenda Setting Theory
4 years ago
Reply to  Munthu Muwemi

Nkhani yake iti? The most painful thing in life is to be an idiot and not to know that you are one but think that others are.

Kent Y.G. Mphepo
Kent Y.G. Mphepo
4 years ago

This is great. Why did you delay this conference? I will definately attend. Thanks.
Blantyre.

mtcherengi
mtcherengi
4 years ago

Do you mean a staff meeting?

John
John
4 years ago

Team, Prof Chinsinga is out of Malawi

Analyst
Analyst
4 years ago

Aaa zitsiru za theory basi. Nobody ever practised politics in their group. They have never invented anything kumangoledzera basi.

Wilson Nkwanda
Wilson Nkwanda
4 years ago
Reply to  Analyst

Analyst, so you mean Hon Chihana has practised no politics in Malawi? He is an MP. Who are those who practiced politics in Malawi? In as far as Iam concerned, Prof Chinsinga, Prof Mustafa Kennedy Hussein, Prof B Dulani, etc, these are our brains at CHANCO and we respect these men so much. For democracy to flourish, we need governance institutions that are too strong. Institutions like: Ombudsman, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Auditor General’s Department, Financial Intelligence Authority, among others. Otherwise, Malawians cannot enjoy fruits of democracy all systems are weak. Now, the academia must join the race in enlightening areas that… Read more »

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