Democracy Project

DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL …MUKA VOTA! …Beyond the vote!

In 2007, Nanzikambe is initiating a national interactive communication, theatre & media initiative targeting the electorate, local & national leaders to:

• Increase public participation in democracy

• Increase informed public vigilance of leaders by citizens

• Develop understanding and challenge misconceptions about democracy and good governance

• Expose and challenge cultural/historical/behavioural barriers to the consolidation of  democracy at community and leadership levels

The project targets a wide beneficiary group - ordinary citizens in the rural and urban areas and, decision-makers in positions of power to effect change – at both local and national level.

WHY TACKLE THE STORY OF LEADERSHIP IN MALAWI?

Malawi has successfully moved from a repressive one-party state that existed for 30 years to a pluralistic political environment in the past decade. Its citizens developed a new constitution in 1994/5 that is largely fair and equitable, enshrines a bill of rights and cannot be whimsically amended.

However, Doctor Hastings Banda's regime left powerful legacies wholly detrimental to the consolidation of democracy. This, coupled with an underpinning social system that is deeply neopatrimonial, autocratic and exploitative means Malawi's Democracy is still extremely weak. It is a young, fledging democracy whose ideals of governance are far from entrenched in the psyche or behaviour of those who engage with the political process - from the country's leaders to its people at the grass roots.

It is imperative that the following fundamental problems are tackled:

(1)Bad governance and lack of trust

(2)Disempowerment of the people, & power |leadership secured through fear or money 

(3)Misconceptions of democracy

(4)'Big Man Syndrome' and extreme deference for Leadership

(5)Disillusionment and fatalism
(6)Inequitable access to human rights, justice and political rights.

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT AIM TO DO?

Provide rural communities with access to understanding about democracy, governance and rights through highly interactive, technically correct and educational field workshops and performances; and,

Equip communities and local community change-actors with empowering, dynamic facilitation skills and a theatre-based interactive civic-education model that will continue to address issues affecting democracy and equitable participation, and will continue to challenge the power structures that stifle these; and,

Raise cross-sectoral, national debate and conscious awareness of democracy-related issues and the meaning of power within the context of Malawi's democracy and leadership, in preparation for the 2009 general elections; and

Bring the views and experience of the people to the national leaders, in a framework that creates meaningful dialogue between government and key players in democracy building of differing opinion and political affiliation, in a safe, free and open environment.

HOW DOES THE PROJECT ACHIEVE THIS?

1. Interactive community workshops
2. Touring Forum Theatre Production at community and decision making levels
3. Interactive National Radio Broadcast
4. Documentary on National Television