Page 38 - SoMJ Vol 74 - No 1, 2021

28 The Society of Malaŵi Journal

MALAWI’S MUSLIMS IN THE ERA OF MULTI-PARTY
DEMOCRACY

David Bone

A Muslim President 1994-2004
Malawi’s Muslims were both involved in and affected by the results of
the major changes in the life of their nation brought about by the process which
secured multi-party democracy and put an end to the rigidly authoritarian rule of
Dr Banda. The call of the Catholic Bishops in May 1992 for an end to Government
corruption, incompetence and abuse of human rights was immediately supported
by the Muslim Association of Malawi.
They, along with representatives of most of the Christian denominations,
the business community, trade unions and the legal profession, established and
participated fully in the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) which was largely
instrumental in securing the referendum that in 1993 endorsed multi-party
democracy.
The major political parties that emerged to contest the election that followed were
based largely on regional affiliation. The United Democratic Front (UDF) which
had its stronghold in the Southern Region, where the Yao form a substantial
minority and the majority of Muslims are to be found, was led by Bakili Muluzi,
himself a Yao Muslim. During the election campaign, for the first time since the
colonial era, Islam was openly politicised. Some of Muluzi’s opponents tried to
use the fear of Muslim domination to dissuade the electorate from voting for his
party, but at the polls the UDF gained massive support from Muslims and non-
Muslims alike in the populous Southern Region. This ensured that they would
form the largest party in Parliament and that in 1994 Malawi would have a Muslim
President.
One change brought about by democratisation which had significance for
Muslims, as for all Malawians, was the removal of a culture of fear-induced
conformity that had characterised the Banda regime. This, along with the new
government’s policies which emphasised civil liberties and freedom of speech,
meant that all groups in society, including Muslims, were much freer to express
their identities, their ambitions and their claims. Certainly, in the new Malawi, and
with a Muslim president, Muslims and various indicators of Islamic influence
gained a higher profile. While Christians still dominated the government,
parliament, the civil service, the educational system, the legal establishment, the
diplomatic corps and the security services, an increased but not disproportionate
number of top posts came to be held by Muslims. Eid-ul Fitr was recognised as a
national holiday. Wearing the hijab became increasingly popular among both