In 1993 Malawi adopted a multiparty system of government and in 1995 a Constitution that covers the Bill of Rights and set institutions meant to provide checks and balances. The Constitution of the Republic of Malawi provides for separation of powers among the executive, legislature and judiciary. It also provides for bodies such as the Law Commission, the Ombudsman and Human Rights Commission to act as conduits which can be used to protect the interests of Malawians. Further, the Constitution obligates Government to provide a decent living to Malawians. In line with this, the Government has developed the MGDS which recognizes that social and economic progress depends on good governance and that functioning democracy ensures good governance. Likewise, development and implementation of people-oriented policies are dependent on the quality of democracy and governance.

 

Research is therefore required to assess whether, over time, the democracy that was envisaged when the Constitution was framed is functioning as expected. Research is also required to assess whether Government has put and implemented a development programme that meets the requirement of the Constitution. In particular, there is a need to assess how the quality of policies, programmes and economic and political governance can help explain the success or failure of Government. Such assessments can be conducted by experts in public policy and political science or indeed by Malawians themselves.

 

On the assessment by the people, the CSR will conduct credible public opinion surveys covering the functioning of democracy; performance of government and constitutional bodies; and the impact of these on individual, household and community livelihoods.Over time, the public opinion surveys will be expanded to cover such areas as the institutional structures and dynamics of democratic governance and social pluralism and differentiation. These will be supplemented by experts’ research on the relationship between communities, local government and Central Government to determine the extent and limits of civic participation and in particular ‘people’s power’; the moral dimension of good governance (including the control of corruption through systems for transparency and accountability); decision-making processes (including issues such as community participation and the involvement of women in politics); the cultural context of democracy, covering such behavioural issues as electoral participation, the conduct of political parties and attitudes towards human rights and decentralization.