South-North Partnership |
Print this page  |
On 10 and 11 April 2008, UCT's Department of Public Law hosted a two day multi-disciplinary workshop with about 20 participants from the fields of Public Law and Political Studies. The workshop was the first partnership activity to bring together representatives from our three partner institutions, the universities of Warwick, Dar Es Salaam and Cape Town. It also included academics from the Universities of Botswana and Malawi as well as a representative of the Netherlands Institute for Multi-party Democracy-NIMD.
The opening day of the workshop was dedicated to launching our collaborative research and included a mini-conference on Selected Topics in Accountability. About 50 people attended this successful public event. Amongst the audience were various practitioners including staff members from the research and committee sections of the South African Parliament. The second day of our workshop was reserved for capacity building and curriculum development. We discussed methodological issues in comparative research and shared ideas about the use of African material in both Political Studies and Constitutional Law.
The last workshop sessions were dedicated to discussing the way forward in the partnership and planning new partnership activities. It was agreed that UCT as the lead partner will host an International Conference entitled Sources of Accountability on the African Continent from 20 to 24 July 2009.
Workshop Programme
Day 1: 10 April 2008
| 09H00 - 09H30 | Welcome and Introduction
Word of welcome by Prof. Hugh Corder, Dean of the Law Faculty, followed by introduction of participants, partnership news and a short introduction to the workshop programme - Presenters: Prof. Christina Murray and Lia Nijzink, University of Cape Town |
| 09H30 - 10H30 | Collaborative Research
Accountable Governance and Constitutional Implementation in Developing Democracies in Africa: Framing the Analysis - Presenter: Prof. Peter Burnell, University of Warwick |
| 10H30 - 11H00 | Coffee Break |
| 11H00 - 12H00 | Curriculum Development
Report on Curriculum Day, followed by discussion on how to take this forward within the partnership - Presenters: Prof. Christina Murray, University of Cape Town and Prof. Jwani Mwaikusa, University of Dar Es Salaam |
Mini Conference - Open to all
| 13H00 - 14H30 | Key Issues of Accountability in Tanzannia - Chair: Prof. Peter Burnell, University of Warwick
Key Issues of Accountability in Tanzania - Presenter: Prof. Jwani Mwaikusa, University of Dar Es Salaam. Discussants: Dr. Fidelis E. Kanyongolo, University of Malawi and Prof. John McEldowney, University of Warwick Asymmetrical Federal Arrangements in Sub-Saharan Africa - Presenter: Prof. Christina Murray, University of Cape Town. Discussants: Prof. Sifune Mchome, University of Dar Es Salaam and Dr. John Akokpari, University of Cape Town |
| 14H30 - 15H00 | Tea Break |
| 15H00 - 17H00 | Parliaments as Institutions of Accountability - Chair: A/Prof. Danwood Chirwa, University of Cape Town
Accountability and the Public Accounts Committee: Lessons in Parliamentary Oversight - Presenter: Prof. John McEldowney, University of Warwick. Discussants: Prof. Christina Murray, University of Cape Town and Mr. Thomas Semu, University of Dar Es Salaam Democratic Civil-Coercive Relations: The Role of Parliaments in Overseeing the Armed Forces - Presenter: Prof. Annette Seegers, University of Cape Town. Discussants: Mr. Aifheli Tshivhase, University of Cape Town and Prof. Peter Burnell, University of Warwick |
| 17H00 | Light refreshments for conference participants |
Day 2: 11 April 2008
| 09H00 - 10H30 | Skills Development
Key Methodological Tools and Pitfalls in Comparative Research - Presenter: A/Prof. Renske Doorenspleet, University of Warwick Floor-Crossing and Constitutional Implementation in Malawi and South Africa: A Comparative Analysis - Presenter: Lia Nijzink, University of Cape Town. Discussants: Dr. Augustine Magolowondo, NIMD and A/Prof. Renske Doorenspleet, University of Warwick |
| 10H30 - 11H00 | Coffee Break |
| 11H00 - 12H30 | Curriculum Development
The Use of African Material in Constitutional Law and Comparative Politics - Presenters: Mr. Tererai Mafukidze, Southern African Legal Information Institute and Dr. Colin Darch, African Studies Library, University of Cape Town |
| 12H30 - 13H30 | Lunch - prepared by Afriquezeen |
| 13H30 - 15H00 | The Way Forward
Our Research Programme and Activities for 2008-2009, including discussion on how to extend our partnership and funding sources - Facilitator: Prof. Christina Murray. Invited participants: Prof. Charles Fombad, University of Botswana, Dr. Fidelis Kanyongolo, University of Malawi, Dr. Augustine Magolowondo, representative of the Dutch Institute for Multi-party Democracy - NIMD, representatives of UCT's Politics Department |
| 15H00 - 15H30 | Tea Break |
| 15H30 - 17H00 | The Way Forward - for core partners only
Internal Session on Planning and Funding Matters - Facilitators: Prof. Christina Murray and Lia Nijzink, University of Cape Town |
| 19H00 | Workshop dinner for participants |
Workshop Papers
The workshop saw academics from the three partner institutions, the universities of Warwick, Dar Es Salaam and Cape Town, present and discuss a total of 8 workshop papers dealing with various aspects of accountable governance in Africa. Most of these papers have been or will be submitted for publication.
Peter Burnell, September 2008, 'The Relationship of Accountable Governance and Constitutional Implementation, with Reference to Africa.' Journal of Politics and Law (Canadian Center of Science and Education) Volume 1, Nr.3.
John McEldowney, December 2008, 'Accountability and the Public Accounts Committee: Lessons in Parliamentary Oversight.' Botswana Law Journal, Volume 8.
Christina Murray (with Coel Kirkby), forthcoming 2009, 'Elusive Autonomy in Sub-Saharan Africa.' In: Marc Weller (ed.) Asymmetrical State Design as a Tool of Ethno-political Conflict Settlement, University of Pennsylvania Press.
Lia Nijzink, December 2008, 'Floor Crossing and Constitutional Implementation: Malawi and South Africa Compared.' Malawi Law Journal, Volume 2, Issue 2.
