Humanism book launched in Malawi

A book on humanism and politics has been launched at the weekend at Mzuzu University (Mzuni) campus in northern Malawi.

The book which is titled, Humanism and Politics in Malawi: Short Essays, has been authored by Wonderful Mkhutche.

Mkhutche, a well-known political commentator in Malawi and a columnist of Reason and Critical Thinking in the Sunday Times, said he decided to write the book so as to add value to issues of humanism and politics in line with the development of Malawi as a country.

"The book contains short essays around the topics of humanism and also politics in the context of Malawi. So, there are issues to do with the existence of God, witchcraft, or even the necessity of prayer; is it necessary or not? So, all those have been discussed from the Malawian context.

"And we have also looked at politics. There are issues to do with governance. How can we govern best; looking at those issues from a humanistic view," Mkhutche explained.

Mkhutche added that the book will help develop the nation as it contains articles on politics in the context of good governance for the sake of human development.

On the launch of the book at Mzuni; and not in Blantyre or Lilongwe, where he stays, Mkhutche said he chose to launch the book at Mzuni because this is the institution that gave him the knowledge and skills of writing and so this was a payback to the same.

At the end of the launch, Mkhutche donated some copies of the book to the library and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies of the college.

Besides this book, Mkhutche also co-authored Billy Kaunda's autobiography titled, Hills and Valleys, which was launched in June this year.

He is currently working on another manuscript for Lucius Banda, titled The man, The Music and Politics which will be launched in January 2022.

He is currently the chairperson for Humanism Malawi, formally known as the Association of Circular Humanism which was once led by George Thindwa.