By Wendy Mkandawire
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, has challenged the Political Science Association (PSA) to bridge the gap between academia and ordinary citizens.
Mtalimanja made the remarks over the weekend during the opening ceremony of the Political Science Association conference in Salima.
She said political scientists have a critical role to play in promoting democracy, but warned that the profession risks becoming irrelevant if it remains confined to universities.
She stressed the need for the profession to flourish in communities and become meaningful to ordinary Malawians.
She further urged the Association to consider how it can make itself closer, more relevant, and accessible to the people of Malawi, without compromising democratic and governance values.
Meanwhile, President of the Political Science Association of Malawi, Henry Chingaipe, recently in an interview said, he was dismayed by some government officials who fail to differentiate between government services and politics, calling for a mindset change.
