Programme
The conference was held from 23rd June, 1 pm to 26th June, 1 pm.
Topics covered included:
- The 2009 Elections under scrutiny: Process, results, lessons
- Malawi’s political landscape 2004-2009
- The management of the 2009 Elections: The role of MEC
- Technical and financial support of donors
- Statistical analysis of results
- Democratic primaries? The distribution of power between popular perception and central control
- The role of political parties
- The role of the media
- The role of civil society and faith communities Civic and voter education
- Civic and voter education
- Managing conflict during the Elections I: The role of the judiciary
- Managing conflict during the Elections II: The informal mechanisms
- The role of women
- Election observation reports and the role of international and domestic observers
- Malawi’s elections from a regional perspective (AU, regional comparison)
- Results without elections: The case of Local Government Elections
- ‘Politics of Chameleons’ revisited: The historical burden of political culture in Malawi
- Malawi’s political and economic prospects. A global perspective
Each panel included the presentation of the author and at least two discussants, who commented on the presentation and started the discussion period. Towards the end of a panel, room was given for questions and comments from the audience. Through this format, the topics under scrutiny were analyzed and commented on from a wide range of perspectives.
Lessons learned / recommendations from each panel were be documented and compiled during the course of the conference and presented at a final round table discussion and a press conference.