Book launch in Malawi

The book Women in Politics in Malawi is the main output of a three-year research programme jointly run by CMI and the Department for Political and Administrative Studies (PAS), at Chancellor College, University of Malawi.

The book makes history; for the first time is an entire book dedicated to women in politics in Malawi. A number of journal articles and reports have appeared before, in print, but now we have a much more comprehensive outline of women in parliament, in government, in local councils and in the political parties.

The book is co-edited by the Head of PAS, assistant professor Happy Kayuni, and CMI senior researcher Inge Amundsen. Although Mr Kayuni was not present at the event (he is currently in Norway!), the Guest of Honour, Honourable MP and Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Dr Jean A.N. Kalilani, as well as the Director of CMI, Dr Ottar Mæstad, made it into a high-profile event, together with the presence of about 100 people from the national media, NGOs, political parties, and academia.

The venue was at one of Lilongwe’s leading hotels, Hotel Capital. In addition to the usual speeches by the Guest of Honour, the editor, the university Chancellor, Principal and Dean, the CMI director and a Norwegian Embassy representative, the event was made high-profile and exceptional with traditional dance performances, comedians and prayers. In-between, there was even time to make short presentations of the individual chapters! And, as expected, the event ended with an outside group photo, and lunch.

Photo: Gervasio Manyungwa

On Tuesday 4^th October, the book was launched also at the University of Malawi in Zomba, for academics, staff, and students at the university.

The book will soon be available in bookstores in Malawi as well as online.