Malawi's Re-Run Election is Lesson for African Opposition

Author: Fergus Kell

In: Chatham House, 2021

Kell stresses the role of the constitutional court and notes the role also played by the high court in thwarting an attempt by President Mutharika just before the re-run June 2020 election to force the chief justice to retire. But he also notes the importance of public pressure and the judiciary have worked together before to uphold the constitution and prevent a president from abolish term limits on his tenure.

See also: Moffat, Craig, 'Malawi Elections Provide a Global Lesson in Democracy', Mail and Guardian (South Africa), 23 November 2020, pp.3.

Moffat celebrates the securing of democracy in Malawi, notes key factors which led to the successful election of the opposition in the June 2020 re-run election, and comments also on the difficult context of Covid-19 and the absence of external observers to monitor the conduct of the poll.

See also: 'Lessons from Malawi's Fresh Presidential Elections of 23 June 2020', International IDEA, 25 November 2020, pp. 23.

Conference Report and Webinar in August 2020, when Malawi's Electoral Commission share their experiences with other electoral commissions in the Southern African Development Community (SADF).

Available online at:

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2020/07/malawis-re-run-election-lesson-african-opposition

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Fergus Kell

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Volume One -> E. Resisting Oppressive, Dictatorial, Military or Authoritarian Rule -> E. I. Africa - Sub-Saharan -> E. I.2. Resisting Repressive and Authoritarian Regimes -> E. I.2.3. Third Wave of Protests: 2011 - 2021 -> E. I.2.3.a. Malawi, 2019-20

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