MALAWI

Malawi has shown that it can serve as an example of a functioning democracy in Africa and a partner for Germany in defending a democratic, values-based world order. The country made history in 2020 when the May 2019 elections, which had been overshadowed by irregularities, were successfully disputed by the opposition. New, free and fair elections ordered by the court were held under Covid-19 conditions within 150 days. An alliance of opposition parties, the Tonse Alliance, won the elections with an absolute majority. Since then, new President Lazarus Chakwera has pursued the objective of suppressing widespread corruption and putting the country onto a successful economic footing.

At a multilateral level, Malawi advocates for regional, economic and political integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). During its presidency, Malawi set an example by adopting a declaration linking regional peace, security, the observance and protection of democratic standards and human rights.

In keeping with the course set by the new government, with its strong focus on international partnership, Malawi shows great openness to cooperation with partners such as Germany. Worthy of special mention is its clear commitment to democratic reforms, which continues almost two years after the change of government, particularly in the fundamental task of fighting corruption.

On account of the extensive undertaking represented by the domestic fight against corruption and dealing with urgent backlogs in social and economic development, expectations from cooperation with Germany will also include a major financial and development-related component. Even so, beyond an expectation of basic assistance, there is a clear interest in cooperation based on an appreciation of shared values and ideals with a view to bolstering the policies of the new government and the long-term credibility of the reform agenda.

Germany and Malawi have maintained diplomatic relations since Malawi became independent in 1964. In 1998, the German Society for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, GIZ) opened an office in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, establishing the long-standing development cooperation arrangement between Germany and Malawi, which currently focuses on healthcare, education, and development of the private sector in rural areas. This is based on the fact that Malawi is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, and is ranked 174th out of 189 (as at 2019) on the United Nations Human Development Index. The last diplomatic visit from Germany took place in 2019, by the then Development Minister Gerd Müller. That shows that Malawi is of only minimal significance in Germany’s foreign policy. Official cooperation has been limited thus far to traditional development cooperation.

A particular prerequisite for successful partnerships in terms of implementing and promoting a rule-based and values-based world order is a serious commitment to these values on both sides. Accordingly, Malawi is currently a quite rare example of a credible partner on the African continent. This therefore opens up the possibility for Germany to send a clear signal in this area, before values-based partnerships become rapidly overshadowed by harder economic or security-policy interests. 

Consolidating positive developments in Malawi also offers the potential to extend them into the immediate region and, in the context of SADC and in the special relationship that Malawi historically has with countries such as Zimbabwe, of stabilising a local player in the defence of democracy and human rights. A strong voice on the part of Malawi within the SADC on current and future questions of internal conflicts and peaceful solutions, and on questions of ensuring human rights and the principles of the rule of law, constitutes a major potential win in this context for global advocacy of a rule-based and values-based world order.

Malawi currently plays only a very minor role in Germany’s foreign policy, and the changes in the country since the change of government in 2019 have hardly been commented on to date. While this may be interpreted as caution, given the often quick and sobering retreats from initial democratic advances on the African continent, there is still a risk in ignoring the developing change of heart in the country in the medium term and waiting for the policy to become established. After all, a clear position on the positive democratic development in the country and associated offers of a more in-depth partnership can constitute important contributions toward successfully implementing and consolidating the current policy direction.

More in-depth cooperation and a new commitment by Germany to its relations with Malawi would be valuable steps both for the country’s domestic development and establishing its position as a beacon of democracy in the region, and also as an external sign of the sincerity of Germany’s appreciation of values-based partnerships.

Specifically, there needs to be an affirmation of the deeper partnership with Malawi at several levels. The relationship with Malawi could be given greater prominence in communicating German policy, particularly in an African context, in highlighting the basic democratic thinking shared by the two countries. In addition, such an acknowledgement must be accompanied by clear actions in the form of investment in projects, particularly to support the government’s reforming, anti-corruption policy, and also in programmes to deal with critical issues of education and healthcare in Malawian policy. Moreover, projects with impact that are focused on interaction – especially in terms of new political talents and institutional partnerships – between Malawi and Germany would be effective tools to anchor the value of the partnership in the consciousness of Germany’s population and bolster the public effectiveness of the relationship.

All in all, there is a need for clear communication and close observation of the extent to which partnerships and projects contribute to further democratic progress, in order to identify any potential setbacks at an early stage and adopt the appropriate policy positions.

Anna Hoffmann-Kwanga heads the KAS Office in Zimbabwe.