Malawi named ‘country of the year’ by The Economist of UK

Malawi is named “Country of the Year” by the British magazine The Economist or “reviving democracy in an authoritarian region”, citing the nullification of the 2019 presidential election results that were marred by irregularities.

Mary Chilima – wife to vice-president Saulos Chilima – during the mass protests against the ‘Tipp-Ex election’

Every year, the London-based influential publication which circulates in over 80 countries globally nominates the states that succeeded in making the greatest progress in the affairs of democracy for the title of Country of the Year.

The Economist notes that  Malawi handled very well democracy and the rule of law  highlighted by the nullification of the presidential election and peaceful shift of power.

The publication also hailed Malawians as people who stood for  democracy in the year 2020.

“The vote-count was rigged with correction fluid on the tally sheets. Foreign observers cynically approved it anyway. Malawians launched mass protests against the ‘Tipp-Ex election’. Malawian judges turned down suitcases of bribes and annulled it,” the Economist said  in its statement.

Malawi held a presidential election re-run in June and president Peter Mutharika was defeated  by Lazarus Chakwera who was backed by a Tonse Alliance of nine opposition parties.

The Economist says Freedom House’s report that democracy and respect for human rights regressed in 80 countries between the start of the pandemic and September but only improved in Malawi.

“Malawi is still poor, but its people are citizens, not subjects,” the publication adds.

The publication says Malawi beat countries such as  New Zealand, Taiwan, United States of America and Bolivia.

Recently, the London-based think-tank Chatham House also named  Malawi’s Constitutional Court judges as winners of a prestigious international award for overturning presidential elections for rigging.

The Chatham House Prize is annually awarded for “the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations.”

A University of Malawi law professor, Sunduzwayo Madise said the prize was “a recognition that despite challenges, the country’s democracy is maturing.”

The election of Chakwera – with significant support from his runningmate and  state vice-president Saulos Chilima – was also the first time in Africa that an election re-run has led to the defeat of an incumbent.

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President Chisokonezo
President Chisokonezo
3 years ago

Don’t insult Malawians with such. Replacing dpp with incompetent and arrogant mcp. We don’t need these incompetent governments

Mbayani
Mbayani
3 years ago

Za mkutu

Chingaipe
3 years ago

Where is the prize money tigawanatu ma Citizen ife

Ndata Boy
3 years ago

Thank you economist

mtete
mtete
3 years ago

I would say the Tonse Alliance Leadership should capitalise on this positive attribute about the country, this coming soon after we scored high on the legal profession. The appeal to the Presidency is to critically consider who qualifies for ministerial appointments by separating the grain from the chaff. We have seen how some have pursued personal agendas making it extremely difficult for the Alliance Leadership in terms of public perception. I have read elsewhere that we don’t need Azungu to clap hands for us. Maybe but good PRO is very important for a company just as it is for a… Read more »

Phyot Olera Kun Yini
3 years ago

Is UK aware that the nullification of 2019 elections was nothing but politically motivated by our corrupt judges? Is London aware that the re-run elections of 2020 were conducted without DPP monitors in the entire Central Region because they were chased and hacked and yet the votes were counted as valid? Is UK aware that the Re-run elections were worse than the 2019 elections. So why praise the erroneous decision by the corrupt Malawi judiciary? Malawi country of the year? Really? Why are you insulting us this much?

CESSPOOL
CESSPOOL
3 years ago

Are you just waking from a long DPP initiated slumber? Malawi is a pacesetter in legal science in this part of the globe. This tag of being democratically miles and miles ahead of all nations across the continent is a badge of the highest honour it demonstrates that Malawi is part of the twenty first century. Our goodbye to authoratorian rule in the 1990’s was half hearted we also thank Kamuzu for the schools of international class that produced sharp minds which helped our nation negotiate the election swamps to a point where we now can say Malawi is a… Read more »

CESSPOOL
CESSPOOL
3 years ago

WAS NOT HALF HEARTED

ERUTU
ERUTU
3 years ago

Inunso Alamu bwaanji kodi kusokoneza 👊🏿

Matt
Matt
3 years ago

We

MASTER NDOTA
3 years ago

proud to see foreign reporters praising our Govt. its a pity to see our own country men reporters always criticising and mudslinging our own leaders for no apparent valid reason.[just to please their secret financiers who are out of govt]. lets be positive and work hard and correctively to change our nation status. its everyones responsiblity

ERUTU
ERUTU
3 years ago
Reply to  MASTER NDOTA

True true Abwana 👊🏿

Tito
3 years ago
Reply to  MASTER NDOTA

Britain don’t like african countries to be independent, cos they benefited alot from colonialism

Wilkork
Wilkork
3 years ago

We don’t wait for the Azungu to clap hands for us, they don’t live with us here, what we need is progress on Our land, we are to develop our country ourselves, we need a vibrant economy that will create well established Businesses and employment

Nawizi
Nawizi
3 years ago
Reply to  Wilkork

My dear. Akananena our fellow African countries the same thing, Bwezi mukuti alemba bwino, koma chifukwa walemba ndimzungu ndiye zaipa. Please accept a compliment as a compliment. A Malawi tazolowela mayiko amene amangolemba zoipa about us. Kumatichula mayina amfiti ndizina zotelo. Tiyeni tisinthe maganizidwe athu, tisamasangalala kunyozedwa ndikukondwela kutukwanidwa ayi. ” LET’S CHANGE OUR MIND SET”

Kalulu Wadwala
Kalulu Wadwala
3 years ago

Azunguwa akamapanga ziganizo zawo aziuzidwanso kuti life ikubvuta. Covid has disrupted everything.

Maggie Makono
Maggie Makono
3 years ago
Reply to  Kalulu Wadwala

Ma Award onsewa ikupatsidwa Malawi, koma ma Cadet aDpp ndi UDF akuwamva? Mbuzi zawanthu, mbabva, atsinzina ntole, agang’anthi, akambulumbunde, osakonda dziko lawo, akagwere uko ndi azigogo awowo. Amangwetu ndi Matanyula onsewo adalephera kulamulira Malawi koma kuba, dzitsiru.

Segwe
Segwe
3 years ago
Reply to  Maggie Makono

Hehehe mudya ma award wo???

ERUTU
ERUTU
3 years ago
Reply to  Segwe

Bwaanjinso Alamu 🤣😂🦆

Mwini muzi
Mwini muzi
3 years ago
Reply to  Maggie Makono

The award was given to Malawians and not to political parties. All supporters of political parties are Malawians including those of UDF and DPP.

mtete
mtete
3 years ago
Reply to  Mwini muzi

Just that DPP did not challenge the election, it wanted to steal it. As for UDF, they stood by roadside hoping the courts would be declared winner after all.

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