Following the postponement of the 17th August demonstrations, there are plans for a widespread vigil throughout Malawi on the 21st September under the banner ‘Uniting to Resist Bad Economic and Democratic Governance – Another Malawi Is Possible.’

Legitimate protests, no matter where they take place, always carry a risk of violence: the Scotland Malawi Partnership hopes that all involved tomorrow show respect for each other's opinion and that the vigil passes off peacefully.

The FCO says: “These demonstrations may be widespread and could include large numbers. If these demonstrations take place, they could quickly become confrontational and potentially turn violent”. However, the overall level of the FCO advice has not changed; there are currently no FCO travel restrictions in place for Malawi.

The SMP recommends that members follow FCO advice and avoid rallies, demonstrations and public gatherings, remaining vigilant and keeping alert to local media.


MALAWI AT A CROSSROADS: THE ROLE OF PARTNERSHIP

The Scotland-Malawi Partnership held its AGM on 3rd September 2011. It aimed (a) to take account of the current situation in Malawi and (b) to explore the role of partnership in today’s context. 72 members were in attendance. Some had recently returned from visits to their partners in Malawi. All had been kept closely informed about the developing situation in Malawi (for details see SMP weekly briefings).

Strong consensus emerged on several points:
• There is unyielding commitment to remain in solidarity with the people of Malawi as they work through the current challenges. Tsoka la mnzako n’lakonso (your friend’s misfortune is yours too). Scots and Malawians have stood together often to meet challenging times and must not fail to do so today. Scotland is not a fair weather friend.
• The global economic climate has presented major challenges for many countries, including the UK. It is no surprise that the impressive economic growth which Malawi has achieved in recent years has been stalled, nor that this applies unwelcome pressures to businesses and to ordinary citizens.
• All our discussions are overshadowed by the fact that 20 unarmed Malawians were shot and killed by the police in the course of the 20/21 July demonstrations. It is greatly to the credit of Malawi that such incidents are rare in its history. This makes it all the more serious when they do occur and our thoughts go out to the families of those who were killed as well as to those who are recovering from their injuries.
• From all that we know of Malawians’ resourcefulness, patriotism, love of freedom and capacity to peacefully resolve differences, we are hopeful that solutions to the current difficulties will be generated in Malawi.
• We deeply regret that the Malawian side of the bilateral civil society partnership does not enjoy the same support and resources as the SMP has in Scotland. Without such support it is hard, perhaps impossible, for those sections of Malawian civil society which enjoy a close relationship with Scotland to speak with one voice and drive the partnership forwards. The Partnership, in both Scotland and Malawi, must continue its efforts to find support for an independent and Malawian coordinating body, in order to restore balance and reciprocity to the partnership.
• As partners we are deeply committed to the attainment of democracy and prosperity in Malawi. Just as civil society groups in Malawi recognise the need to work with the Government of Malawi to resolve disputes, the SMP is committed to keeping channels of communication open with all who are working for the good of the country. Using all means at our disposal we seek to allow these voices to be heard both by our membership and by the wider public in the UK and beyond.
• The SMP will continue to lobby the UK and Scottish Governments, and remain in active dialogue with representatives of the Government of Malawi, with a view to advocating the interests of Malawi’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens.
• Believing that what is happening between Scotland and Malawi represents a new model of international development based on people-to-people and community-to-community links, we look for innovative and constructive ways to bring partnership to bear in the current context.
• In a spirit of reciprocity we recognise that, in the UK, weaknesses in our economy and flaws in our democracy have recently been exposed and we look to Malawi as a partner from whom we can learn lessons and gain strength at this time.


Different views were expressed as to how “vocal” the Scotland Malawi Partnership should be in addressing matters of public concern in Malawi, particularly in relation to the democratic rights and responsibilities enshrined in the Malawi constitution. Some voices powerfully called for the Partnership to speak up in favour of the democratic rights and freedoms for which Malawians and Scots have long struggled together and to openly criticize recent actions which they felt had breached these rights. Others counselled that, since the current issues are best resolved within Malawi with the minimum of external interference, it would be premature, and potentially counter-productive, for a Scottish-based organisation to enter the debate. The Partnership’s Board is sensitive to both perspectives.


CONCLUSION

In acting upon the views expressed at its AGM, the Partnership must: recognise the diverse range of opinions within its membership; be led by its Malawian colleagues, partners and friends; remain aware of the limits of its influence, expertise, constitutional mandate and charitable purpose; be vigilant to the risk of being seen as a political actor in Malawi (though it has campaigned in the UK to keep aid flows open); and be sure that its actions make a constructive contribution to the challenges being faced by the most vulnerable.

The Partnership recognises efforts made by the Government of Malawi to listen and redress the most serious concerns expressed by a large number of civil society groupings throughout Malawi, through recent adjustments to the Cabinet, the devaluation of the Kwacha and the UN facilitated talks. It gives strong encouragement to the Government to allow the people of Malawi to freely, responsibly and safely exercise their constitutional rights of assembly and expression. Furthermore, as demonstrations continue, the Partnership encourages all actors -civic society, the Government, the media, the military and the police- to work constructively together for the maintenance of peace, order and a speedy resolution to the challenges which currently face Malawi.

The Partnership will continue to raise awareness, amongst its members and the public, of developments in Malawi. It will continue to give a voice, without fear or favour, to all sides of the dispute. It will continue to remain open to dialogue with the Government of Malawi, the Scottish and UK Governments, and civil society in Scotland and Malawi. It will extol legitimate democratic rights and responsibilities in Malawi and Scotland.

Going forward, the Partnership is keenly aware that the integrity of the partnership depends on the level of equality and reciprocity which it achieves. It is therefore committed to working energetically with Malawian counterparts to strengthen the organisation of the Partnership within Malawi as one firm contribution to the progress needed at this challenging moment.

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