September 27, 2026
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja has challenged the Political Science Association (PSA) to take political science beyond academic circles and make its knowledge more accessible and relevant to ordinary Malawians.
Justice Mtalimanja made the call on Saturday, 26 September 2026 when she opened the 4th Biennial Conference of the Political Science Association of Malawi at Sunbird Livingstonia in Salima, held under the theme, “Malawi’s Democracy at the Crossroads? Maturing Institutions or a Tailspin into Uncertainty?”
The conference, organised in collaboration with the University of Malawi, Mzuzu University and the Catholic University of Malawi, coincides with the PSA’s 15th anniversary and comes 33 years after Malawi’s transition to multiparty democracy.
Justice Mtalimanja said the conference provided an important opportunity to reflect on Malawi’s democratic journey, the resilience of its institutions and emerging challenges to democratic governance.
She said Malawi had made important democratic gains, including peaceful political transitions, an active civil society, a vibrant media and an institutional framework founded on constitutionalism, fundamental rights and the rule of law.
However, she said regular elections alone do not fully define the maturity of a democracy.
“Democratic maturity must also be examined through the strength and resilience of institutions, respect for the rule of law, protection of fundamental freedoms, accountability of public officeholders, internal governance of political parties and meaningful citizen participation,” Justice Mtalimanja said.
The Chairperson called for deeper reflection on the 2025 General Election, including lessons from all phases. She said consolidating electoral gains was particularly important after an election, as weaknesses in systems, policies and institutions could undermine progress already made.
Justice Mtalimanja disclosed that MEC had undertaken a Post-2025 General Elections Review, which generated lessons and pointers to inform policy, legal and administrative reforms. She commended the PSA for participating in the review process and acknowledged its detailed submissions.
She further challenged political scientists to translate research and academic knowledge into practical contributions to Malawi’s democratic development.
“It must find its way into communities and become meaningful to ordinary citizens while not being used as a tool for propagating the views of political parties,” she said.
On the conference theme, Justice Mtalimanja urged participants to examine Malawi’s democratic trajectory through evidence, research and constructive dialogue, rather than complacency or pessimism.
She said institutional maturity was a continuing process requiring strong systems, adherence to legal boundaries, professional standards, accountability and resilience.
“The strength of a democratic society depends not only on its institutions but also on the ability of its citizens to understand, participate in and hold those institutions accountable,” she said.
Justice Mtalimanja congratulated the PSA on its 15th anniversary and expressed hope that the conference would generate research and practical recommendations that contribute to Malawi’s democratic development and stronger democratic, governance and watchdog institutions. Read the full speech: https://goo.su/NVi9lk