On 13 November 2024, the Journal of Political Science and International Relations published the paper "Road to Malawi Defence Force International Peacekeeping and Other Expeditionary Deployments: Multiple Players with Multiple Interests." The paper was co-authored by John Stanley Chaika and NESA Center alumnus Thokozani Andrew Chazema.

Abstract:

Misconceptions about the powers and procedures to deploy the military have lingered in the public domain owing to the secretive nature of military operations albeit in many countries such procedures and powers are enshrined in the Constitution; a public document of the basic principles and laws of a nation or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and that guarantee certain rights to the people in it. Such misconceptions have not left out Malawi in her deployment of the Malawi Defence Forces. This paper seeks to explain the sources of power for the Malawi Defence Force deployments for international peacekeeping operations. The paper endeavours to enlighten many who posit that the Malawi Defence Force deployments do not go through democratic processes. Doctrinal analysis research methodology was employed to deep dive into documents such as the Constitution, the United Nations, the African Union, Southern Africa Development Community Charters and the Malawi Defence Force Act. The three-level analyses at macro, meso and macro domains and stakeholder holders’ analysis were considered. The three-level and stakeholder analyses were reinforced by the type of government that informs procedures and powers of the government in handling national instruments of power. The findings revealed that the powers to deploy the Malawi Defence Force for peacekeeping operations are drawn from the international and national instruments with the executive branch playing a crucial role in such deployments. The study recommends the operationalization of the National Security Policy and a review of the current deployment process flow to chart a hybrid process fusing the presidential and parliamentary processes as well as blending the objective and subjective civilian control of the defence forces.

Read the full paper.

About the Author

Thokozani Andrew Chazema is an adjunct lecturer at Mzuzu University, Department of Governance, Peace and Security Studies; an adjunct lecturer at Malawi Defence Force Command and Staff College affiliated to Malawi University of Science and Technology, Bingu School of Culture and Heritage, Defence and Strategic Studies Program; a PhD Candidate, Transformative Community Development, Mzuzu University. He is a 2023 alum of the NESA Center.

About the Publisher

The Journal of Political Science and International Relations provides a forum for sharing timely and up-to-date publication of scientific research and review articles. The journal publishes original research papers at the forefront of political science.

The views presented in this article are those of the speaker or author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its components.