Orkney MSP to visit Malawi

As part of the Scottish Parliament’s continuing links with Malawi, Orkney MSP Liam McArthur will undertake a four-day visit to the south-east African country beginning tomorrow, Tuesday.

The visit is part of a post-election seminar which the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is organising for the Members of the National Assembly of Malawi.

Alongside colleagues from Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) branches of Uganda, Kenya and Zambia, Mr McArthur will deliver a seminar for all members of the National Assembly on strengthening parliamentary democracy.

Sessions will explore with new and returning assembly members parliamentarians’ experiences of working with the media, engaging with constituents, and holding governments to account.

Mr McArthur will also visit Minga Academy which is twinned with Sanday Junior High. He was also twinned with the former constituency MP for that area and hopes to meet the new incumbent with a view to continuing links.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr McArthur said: “The ongoing relationship which this parliament has with colleagues in Malawi is something of which we can be rightly proud. We have worked closely with the National Assembly of Malawi over a number of years in order to contribute to parliamentary democracy and strengthen the institution of parliament by knowledge transfer and sharing good parliamentary practice.

“I am proud of the impact our work has had but there is still clearly more support we can give. I am looking forward to meeting with colleagues and discussing with them how parliamentary democracy can be developed.”