“We Will Re-distribute Land When You Vote Us into Power…” Electoral Politics and Peasant Struggles Amidst Unresolved Land Question in Southern Malawi

Justin Alinafe Mangulama

doi:10.7176/dcs/10-5-08

Abstract

The people of tea growing districts of Thyolo and Mulanje have been at constant loggerheads with estate owners for decades now. The borne of contention is that the tea estates own huge thatches of land and utilize less than 50% for plantation agriculture while the majority remain land-poor. The objective of the research was to understand the role of political parties in supporting or resisting land reform initiatives in Thyolo and Mulanje, Malawi. Political Parties in Malawi since 1994 have promised to redistribute land to peasants, but little action has been taken on the same. Using qualitative research approach, data was collected from peasants, local leaders, political parties and other secondary sources. Four main political party manifestos were studied: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Transformation Movement (UTM); and United Democratic Front UDF). The study finds out that political parties in Malawi uses the land struggle to woo votes from the electorates; promise them land redistribution and after they get into power the issue is forgotten. Party Manifestos from 1994 to 2019 have either included the issue in their blueprint, or omitted entirely. The study finds out that during the 2019 tripartite elections, no single party outlined what procedure it would use to free up land in the estate lands. This paper suggests that a successful reform in the area starts with political will within the ruling party, with governing institutions having a carefully mapped plan on how they would go about land reform; rather than mere propaganda on the matter. DOI: 10.7176/DCS/10-5-08 Publication date: May 31 st 2020

Highlights

Setting the Scene On 30th April 2019, opposition Party president Lazarus Chakwera for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) promised the people of Thyolo and Mulanje that once he and his party is voted into power, he will solve the outstanding problem of land shortage affecting thousands of people in Thyolo and Mulanje districts
These sentiments have been a song sung by many politicians who have gone to campaign in the area since Malawi adopted multiparty democracy in 1994
Political parties have gone to town to promise peasants in Thyolo and Mulanje that once voted into power they would solve the Malawian land question

Summary

Introduction

Setting the Scene On 30th April 2019, opposition Party president Lazarus Chakwera for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) promised the people of Thyolo and Mulanje that once he and his party is voted into power, he will solve the outstanding problem of land shortage affecting thousands of people in Thyolo and Mulanje districts. Peter Mutharika, brother to Bingu wa Mutharika was elected president from 2014 defeating incumbent Joyce Mtila Banda and her Peoples Party (PP) Almost all these governments had in one way or the other promised land redistribution to peasants in Thyolo and Mulanje. Political parties have gone to town to promise peasants in Thyolo and Mulanje that once voted into power they would solve the Malawian land question. Theoretical Background Being a liberal multiparty democratic country, political parties in Malawi draft manifestos to outline their intended policies they would wish to implement once successful in an election. These policies are presented to people to choose their leaders. Manifestos play as a yardstick on which electorates can hold leaders accountable when they acquire legal mandate to rule

Objectives

Findings

Conclusion