PAS Society celebrates International Democracy Day

On 15th September, 2022, the Political and Administrative Studies (PAS) Society was part of a gathering that celebrated the International Democracy Commemoration Day at the T&D Lodge in Zomba. The theme of the event was “Democracy Beyond Elections”. Dressed in matching clothing celebrating the event, around 70 Public Administration and Political Science students from UNIMA were in attendance.
The event was sponsored by the European Union in conjunction with the Malawi Government through Parliament as well as the University of Malawi through the Political and Administrative Studies department. There were several other guests who attended the function, including the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Malawi, Rune Skinnebach, and the Speaker of the Malawi Parliament, Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara.
Representing the UNIMA VC, Associate Professor Mustapha Hussein observed that democracy is indeed beyond the ballot box. He asked for continued partnership of EU, parliament and government with UNIMA.
Taking his turn to speak, the EU Ambassador to Malawi, Rune Skinnebach, pointed out that this was the first time for the EU to hold a democracy commemoration day in Malawi. He also observed that, in Malawi, the only time democracy is practiced is during elections. He therefore encouraged students to defend democracy at all costs, noting that it is also about everyday rights, safeguarding rights of minorities, freedom of the press, transparent and accountable government and respect for each other’s views. He ended with reminding students that the youth, especially university students, play an important role in fostering democracy. He recalled, in particular, events in the early 90s when university students in Malawi influenced the eradication of one-party rule in the country.
In her speech, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara, also stressed that the students and the youth in general have the responsibility of shaping Malawi’s democracy. She observed that students can help the nation to forge a home-grown democracy that is in line with Malawian values. She also invited the PAS Department to organise some time for students to interact with Members of Parliament in Lilongwe.
The PAS Society President, Mr Chikondi Matiki, expressed the students’ gratitude to be part of the function. “As Political and Administrative Studies scholars, this event has been very important to us as it has helped us to bridge the democracy theories we learn in class with what is actually happening on the ground from international, government, civil society and youth perspectives,” he said.
The event was spiced by two other events. One of these was a panel discussion on democracy. Speakers on the panel gave their views on democracy, drawing on their various experiences and perspectives. Panellists included Rt. Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara, who spoke on the role of the Parliament in democracy; Dr Augustine Magolowondo (Regional Director and Chief of Party, Democracy Works Foundation), who spoke on the role of CSOs in democracy; and Ms. Kohnemie M’meta, a student representative who commented on the role of the youth in democracy. Mr Fortune Nkungula served as the panel discussion moderator.
The gathering also watched a 45-minute documentary produced by renowned Malawian filmmaker, Shemu Joya. The documentary highlighted some events of political violence that happened after the 2019 elections, and prior to the 2020 Fresh Presidential Elections in Malawi.