By Cathy Maulidi:
Youth and Society (Yas) has warned that complacency poses a significant threat to the country’s constitutional democracy.
Speaking at the Malawi Civic Space Open Dialogue in Lilongwe Friday, Charles Kajoloweka, Yas Executive Director, cautioned that Malawi’s democracy is not immune to the challenges facing other democracies around the world.
“We must pay attention to the signals and warnings that our democracy is receiving from all walks of life,” Kajoloweka said. “We must not be like the Titanic ship, which sank not because of the iceberg, but because of complacency.”
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Kajoloweka said wise and decisive leadership is needed to prevent disasters on democracy.
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He called on stakeholders to work together to protect and promote civic space in Malawi, which he described as the bedrock of constitutional democracy.
In an interview, Minister of Information and government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu emphasized the need for collective action to protect Malawi’s democracy.
“We must not take our democracy for granted,” Kunkuyu said. “We must work together to ensure that our civic space remains open, accessible, and inclusive.”
According to Kunkuyu, government remains committed to protect and promote civic space, which is essential for the country’s democracy.
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“Civic space is the lifeblood of our democracies. It is the space where our rich traditions of community dialogue, collective decision-making, and social solidarity thrive,” Kunkuyu said.
However, Kunkuyu acknowledged that the country’s civic space faces challenges, particularly in the digital age and the cybersecurity concerns it brings.
Also speaking at the dialogue Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda hoped participants at this dialogue would follow through on their commitments to address the challenges facing Malawi’s civic space.
The Malawi Civic Space Open Dialogue brought together local and foreign delegates to discuss critical issues shaping the future of the nation and the continent.
