Magister Commercii - MCom / Malawi has a narrow export base comprised mainly of tobacco, tea and sugar as the main sources of foreign currency. Cut flowers were identified as one of the export products that could help wean the country's economy off its high dependency on tobacco leaf exports. The decreasing price of tobacco at the auction floors coupled with new anti smoking legislations worldwide has made alternative crops exports critical. The main objective of this research was to ascertain the state of the Malawian cut flower industry by; examining the developmental trajectory followed by the Malawian export cut flower industry over the last ten years; identifying the various factors inhibiting the growth of the Malawian export cut flower industry; recommending appropriate interventions and strategy to support vigorous growth of the sector in future. / South Africa

Magister Artium (Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science) - MA(SRES) / Athletes are at risk for HIV infection due to their celebrity status which enables them to associate with multiple concurrent sexual partnerships. Athletes with an HIV sero-positive status should be encouraged to disclose their HIV positive status to enable them access appropriate treatment, care and support. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of athletes living with HIV following disclosure of their sero-status. The study was conducted in Ndirande Township in the city of Blantyre, Malawi. Twelve purposively sampled athletes living with HIV, four males and eight females between the ages of 18 and 30 years, participated in this study. Data was collected using qualitative methods conducting semi-structured, face to face individual interviews and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. The consequence of disclosure model was used to explain the themes that emerged from the data. The results of the study indicated that all athletes disclosed their HIV seropositive status. The majority of the athletes disclosed their HIV positive status to spouses, family members, friends and health care providers in order to access support and treatment. However, athletes did not disclose to their clubs and sports institutions because there was no conducive environment. After disclosure of their status, most athletes had positive experiences that included increased psychosocial support and care from their social networks. Some athletes had negative experiences such as stigma and discrimination from teammates and distant relatives. While athletes living with HIV had support from families and community support groups, there was a lack of appropriate support systems in the sport institutions. In addition, athletes living with HIV had limited access to health care services. For athletes living with HIV to remain productive, there is need for further research and the establishment of appropriate support systems in different levels of the sport institutions.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / In line with neoclassical economic growth propositions that outward-orientation fosters economic growth, since independence from Britain in 1964 the Government of Malawi has placed international trade at the centre of its economic development agenda. In spite of this theoretical affirmation of the trade-growth relationship, some empirical studies that have been done both in the country and abroad show contrary results. This prompted this study to be undertaken with the aim of assessing the impact of exports and imports on economic growth in Malawi from 1970 to 2010.This study has used a neoclassic economic growth model containing gross domestic product, exports, imports, capital and labour force as variables of analysis. After collecting annual time series data on the variables for the period 1970 to 2010 from the World Bank online statistical data base, Ordinary Least Squares regression and several econometric tests were run on the model to ensure robust and accurate results. Statistical accuracy of the findings was further cemented by use of the 5 percent level of significance. Exports were found to have a positive and statistically significant effect on the country’s economic growth, while imports had a negative and insignificant influence. Similarly, capital and labour force showed a positive effect on economic growth even though the capital’s effect was statistically insignificant. Nevertheless, the study also strongly confirmed the presence of a long-run equilibrium among the variables. The above results strongly suggest that Malawi should continue with its export-led economic growth strategies such as the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) and the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS). However, if the two economic development plans are to bear fruit this study strongly urges Malawi to consider diversifying its economy away from primary export production and instead embark on value-addition. Furthermore, the country should not only reduce the importation of consumer goods in favour of capital goods, but also improve the quality of the labour force and capital formation, if Malawi is to realise its economic development and poverty alleviation aspirations.

Magister Legum - LLM / The aim of this study is to assess Malawi's legal framework on the protection of girls against child marriages linked to HCPs. The research is guided by the following objectives: 1. To highlight the international and regional legal framework in addressing traditional HCPs that can lead to child marriages; 2. To discuss different traditional practices that lead to child marriages in Malawi; 3. To analyse Malawi's legal framework and its compliance with international and regional standards for the protection of girls against child marriages; 4. To make suggestions for the available legal framework, if necessary, on how best to address the problem of child marriages in Malawi.

Doctor Legum - LLD / The international legal framework on money laundering encourages states to put in place effective systems for the identification, freezing, seizure and forfeiture of proceeds and instrumentalities of crime. While the international legal framework obligates countries to adopt conviction-based forfeiture (criminal forfeiture), it only encourages them to consider adopting non-conviction based asset forfeiture (civil forfeiture). This has led to a situation where countries, such as Malawi, adopt only criminal forfeiture and not civil forfeiture. This study analyses the efficiency of the existing Malawian criminal forfeiture regime in curbing and preventing the proliferation of underlying profit-generating crimes and money laundering. This thesis contends, in part, that some countries have not adopted civil forfeiture because there is no international obligation to do so. It argues that the fact that states are not obligated to adopt civil forfeiture by international legal frameworks and national arrangements undermines the deterrent aim of the anti-money laundering and asset forfeiture systems in combating economic crimes. Some justify the casual approach to civil forfeiture by arguing that its implementation harbours the danger of violating human rights and constitutional guarantees. This thesis, however, advocates for the adoption of civil forfeiture within the limits of John Locke’s social contract theory, which guides states on how they can pursue policies and implement laws without limiting the rights of their people arbitrarily.

The various independent chiefdoms that make up present day Malawi had a new constitution imposed over all of them by the British government without their consent. This new superimposed constitution was never really embraced by the various tribal groups. Its tenets were never internalised by the people and this lack of internalisation has continued to this day. The elite of the day decided which principles would govern the country. Successive elite groups in different periods of Malawi’s history have imposed their brand of constitutionalism on a hapless people. They have dutifully put in writing the constitutional principles without intending to apply them. Malawi is a nation that embraced constitutionalism with one reason only, that is, to gain acceptance from its peers in the international community. Throughout its history from pre-colonial times to the present, the general population has never been involved in framing the principles which govern and shape the destiny of the nation. A small group of people has always decided what the constitution should contain. The dominant man of the moment (the big man) and his political party decide what constitutionalism is to be. They govern the country through patronage. The president and a small group around him use state resources to promote their agenda often at the expense of the constitution they swore to uphold. The political leaders do not differentiate between resources of the state, the private sector and their ruling party and they often use them to peddle influence to promote their programs that are sometimes in violation of the constitution. When the president “donates” state resources to the poor communities, he tells them that he used his own money to buy the item he is donating, for example an ambulance, and nobody dares to contradict him. Only in financial matters has the nation demonstrated some marked commitment to the rule of law. The incentive for the government to comply with the law is much higher because about 80 percent of its capital budget is financed from external sources through donations, loans and grants from western nations. Government tends to take action against public officers who do not follow constitutionally laid down principles. Its commitment to the rule of law on social and political governance issues is not consistent. It appears to pick and choose which constitutional principles it will adhere to. In conclusion, it is difficult for Malawi to experience a government that adheres to the principles of constitutionalism because its widespread poverty helps entrench a system of patronage. This system has created a nation that tolerates serious abuses of its constitution. Transformative constitutionalism appears to offer the best hope for Malawi’s future. The nation needs a judiciary that is more innovative and bold in interpreting, upholding and enforcing its own constitutional tenets. Only then will the nation be on a sound footing to realise the benefits of constitutionalism for its people. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Jurisprudence / LLM / Unrestricted

There has been only limited scholarly analysis of Malawi’s foreign policy since its independence in 1964 with key texts focusing primarily on the early years of the new state. Perhaps due to its relatively small stature – economically, politically and militarily – in the region, very little attention has been paid to the factors informing Malawi’s apparently uncritical foreign policy response to the Zimbabwe crisis since it began in the late 1990s. This thesis addresses this deficit by locating its understanding of Malawi’s contemporary foreign policy towards Zimbabwe in the broader historical and contemporary context of bilateral relations between the two states and the multilateral forum of SADCC and SADC. It is argued that the Malawi’s long-standing quest for socio-economic development has forced it to manoeuvre a pragmatic but sometimes contentious foreign policy path. This was also evident until the end of the Cold War and the concomitant demise of apartheid in South Africa in the early 1990s. Malawi forged deliberate diplomatic and economic relations with the region’s white-ruled Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia) and South Africa in pursuit of its national economic interests while the majority of southern African states collectively sought the liberation of the region by facilitating the independence of Zimbabwe and countering South Africa’s apartheid and regional destabilization policies. In the contemporary era, there has been a convergence of foreign policy ambitions in the region and Malawi now coordinates its regional foreign policy within the framework of SADC, which itself prioritizes the attainment of socio-economic development. However, to understand Malawi’s response to the Zimbabwe crisis only in the context of SADC’s “quiet diplomacy” mediation efforts obscures important historically rooted socioeconomic and political factors that have informed relations between Malawi and Zimbabwe and which cannot, it is argued, be ignored if a holistic understanding of Malawi’s position is to be sought. This study argues that the nature of historical ties between Malawi and Zimbabwe and the role of Malawi’s leaders in driving its long-standing quest for socioeconomic development have not only informed its overall foreign policy behaviour in the region but underpin its contemporary relations with Zimbabwe.

This study assessed the implementation of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programmes for primary school teachers in Zomba Rural Education District in Malawi. The study arose from a concern that, despite the Government of Malawi putting in place structures to facilitate the implementation of CPD for primary school teachers, research has shown that teachers have not improved their classroom practice. As a result, there has been poor learner performance at all levels of the primary education system to the extent that learners scored the lowest in the 2005 international examinations for the Southern Africa Development Community. From the literature, it appears that no thorough and conclusive studies to look into the issues behind the implementation of CPD programmes in Malawi have been conducted. Hence the researcher was motivated to assess how the CPD programmes are implemented with the view to explore better ways of implementing CPD programmes for teachers that can result in teacher change. The study was placed within the post-positivism paradigm and used a mixed method research design that incorporated concurrent procedures in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data while qualitative data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, CPD observations and document analysis. A total of 798 teachers filled the questionnaires. This figure represented 47% of the total number of teachers in the district. The researcher conducted 34 focus group discussions with teachers from various schools. She also held interviews with 34 head teachers and CPD programme facilitators (12 Primary Education Advisors and 3 CPD facilitators from organizations). Other interviews were held with the District Education Manager, the Coordinating Primary Education Advisor, the Coordinator of the New Curriculum, and the Coordinator for the Department of Teacher Education and Development. Further, the researcher made 3 CPD observations. The study revealed weaknesses in the implementation of CPD programmes for teachers in the district. Generally the study noted that there was much emphasis on the transmissive model of CPD implementation, to the neglect of transitional and transformative models such that the personal, social and occupational aspects of professional learning were not holistically considered in the programme designs. Specifically, the duration of the programmes was found to be inadequate for meaningful assimilation of new knowledge and skills; the expertise of facilitators was sometimes questionable; and the use of the cascade mode left teachers unsure and with knowledge gaps. Further, the study noted that the monitoring and support mechanisms for the programmes were weak; the consultation processes for teacher inputs in the CPD programme designs were dismal; and the welfare of teachers at the CPD venues was poorly handled.. At school level the study revealed that the teaching and learning environment compounded the problem of teachers’ difficulty in implementing what they learnt from CPD training. Large classes, inadequate teachers, lack of teaching and learning resources, limited infrastructure, lack of accommodation for teachers, lack of support from colleagues and learner absenteeism were some of the factors hindering implementation of CPD programmes at school level. The study has put forth recommendations for the effective implementation of CPD programmes for teachers in the district. Furthermore, based on the findings of the study and an extensive literature search, the researcher has suggested an alternative model for CPD implementation that can result in teacher change. Overall there is need for collaborative effort among stakeholders in education to ensure effective delivery of CPDs and their subsequent translation into practice at classroom level.

This thesis investigates the nature of political marketing practice and identifies factors affecting adoption and utilisation of political marketing and professionalisation of campaigns in a Southern African context. It applies Sriramesh and Vercic (2009) framework to the study of political marketing in emerging international markets, Malawi and South Africa, two countries in Southern Afric Development Community (SADC). These countries share in common their geographical, cultural and democratic foci, but differ in terms of economic and media development.

Introduction: Medication use by women of childbearing age is common. During pregnancy, medications should be used cautiously because some are teratogenic and/or feto-toxic, especially during the first trimester. Few studies have assessed exposure to contraindicated medications in developing countries. Aims and objectives: The overall aim was to assess the risk of exposure to contra-indicated medicines in early pregnancy (less than 13 weeks gestation) in Malawi. Specific objectives were to (i) determine the proportion of women inadvertently prescribed contraindicated medicines in the first trimester of pregnancy in a general outpatient clinic; (ii) explore women's beliefs, views and practices concerning medication use during pregnancy; (iii) determine the prevalence of congenital abnormalities by review of records at community and central hospital sites; (iv) to make appropriate recommendations for policy and practice in Malawi relating to medication use in pregnancy. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used. Survey data were collected at an outpatient clinic at Mitundu Community Hospital (MCH) between 1st February 2010 and 30th July 2010 to determine the range of medicines taken by potentially pregnant women. A pregnancy test established the pregnancy rate in this group. These data were summarised using descriptive and inferential statistics, and the proportions of exposed women who were pregnant were estimated. To understand women's beliefs, views and practices, semi-structured interviews were held with 21 pregnant women at their first visit to an antenatal clinic at MCH. The main themes were identified by Framework analysis. Retrospective data were abstracted from birth registers at MCH and Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) to estimate the prevalence of congenital abnormalities. Results: Of 1103 women prescribed contraindicated medicines in the outpatient clinic, 272 were potentially pregnant. Of the 63 (23.2%) confirmed pregnant (95% CI 18.3%-28.6%), 20 knew or thought they were pregnant, 22 were not sure and 21 did not think they were pregnant. Only 153 (55.9%) were asked about pregnancy by a medical officer before prescription. 3.2% of all pregnant women (95% CI 2.5%-4.1%) attending the clinic were estimated to have been prescribed contraindicated medicines. Eight pregnant women also self-prescribed unsuitable modern medications. Women accepted as safe any medications prescribed in the clinic. They also accepted potions given by traditional birth attendants to counter witchcraft, which they believed caused pregnancy loss. They did not associate use of these medicines with congenital abnormalities, the prevalence of which (6.58/1000 births at MCH, 14.55/1000 births at KCH) was similar to international figures. Conclusion: The study highlights areas of concern for practice, policy and research relevant to maternal health care in Malawi. Clinicians need to reduce the rate of exposure to potentially harmful medicines by paying attention to the possibility of pregnancy in women of childbearing age. There is also a need to facilitate public awareness especially among women about dangers of taking medicines.