The attainment of a democratic
dispensation in Malawi meant that all people in Malawi
regardless of their status would contribute to the
development of the country through their elected
representatives who would carry out their will. However, the
elected representatives’ performance has ranged from stagnant
to impressive. Whilst some have consulted their constitutes
on crucial issues affecting their constituents both local and
national level many more have not done so. Many a
representative have abandoned the people soon after being
ushered into office effectively disconnecting themselves from
the people they are supposed to serve.
What’s more, rural people have not been accorded an
opportunity to speak out on issues of national concern
because most existing platforms have not paid particular
attention to their needs and challenges. As a consequence
this grotesque trend has sidelined a lot of people from
contributing to various debates on issues of national
importance. The trend also prevents the communities from
demanding accountability and transparency from their elected
representatives, the local government and the government at
large. Sadly, it is the rural people who bear the brunt of
the negatives consequences arising from such a situation.
At community level, the situation is further exacerbated by
the absence of organized community-level structures which can
act as platforms for the people to speak out collectively
thereby attracting attention from their representatives.
In a bid to create dialogue between the elected
representatives and the people they serve and also to accord
the rural people an opportunity to demand transparency and
accountability from the elected representatives the Young
Advocates for the Advancement of ICT-related Development
(Y.A.A.ICT-D) conceived the Parliament outside Parliament (PoP)
project. The PoP project had two components and these were:
Community Mobilization and the Weekly Issue-based Radio
Program. The community mobilization component involved the
creation of community level structures which acted as
platforms for the people and also facilitated capacity
building efforts. On the other hand, the Radio Program aimed
at identifying issues within the targeted communities, and
advocate for change. The program was also used as a medium
for establishing dialogue between elected representatives and
their people as each radio program consisted views from the
constituents and responses from their elected representatives
and other people who were concerned.
Partnerships
The project was implemented from October 2006- December 2010.
In the first year the project was funded by the US Embassy
through the Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) to the
tune of USD 18, 000. From 2007-2010 the project was supported
by the Humanist Institute for Cooperation with the Developing
Countries (Hivos), a Dutch Foundation with a regional office
in Harare, Zimbabwe. Hivos’ financial contribution towards
the project was Euros 85, 000.
The project also received invaluable in-kind support from the
National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE). NICE’s
support included the provision of Para-Civic Educators (PCEs)
and also venue for training workshops in Dowa, Kasungu and
Mchinji.
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