Abstract

This study assessed the influence of constituency service of Members of Parliament (MPs) on community development in the Blantyre rural east and Phalombe south constituencies. The study was informed by the observation that studies on constituency service have mainly focussed on the influence of community service on re-election into office. According to the knowledge of this study, there have been few studies conducted on the influence constituency service of male MPs compared to female MPs may have on community development in their respective constituencies. The study sought to further explore the influence MPs have had on community development through constituency service. While the literature has focussed on both substantive representation and constituency service, there is a gap in research in Malawi on constituency service, especially in relation to MP`s performance in community development. The study was guided by the Gender and Development approach, which states that women’s unequal access to legal, social, political, and economic institutions causes women’s oppression and is remedied by advocating for women’s equal participation in public spheres such as education, employment, and politics (Jones & Budig, 2008) as this has a big impact on development. Therefore, this allows people to assess women MPs’ influence on community development through constituency service. This study was largely qualitative in its analysis, and the general findings indicated that female MP`s have a substantial influence on development in their constituencies as compared to male MPs in the same constituencies.

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School	: School of Law, Economics and Government
Issued Date	: 2023

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