The Chief Justice of Malawi’s Supreme Court, Rizine Mzikamanda, will visit Minnesota later this month to headline a reception focused on the importance of the rule of law.
The April 17 event, hosted at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, is part of the Law & Democracy Initiative of Books For Africa, a St. Paul–based nonprofit founded in 1988 that, over nearly four decades, has grown into the world’s largest shipper of donated school textbooks to Africa. The reception will bring together legal leaders from Malawi and the United States for a discussion on democratic institutions and judicial independence.
“In recent years, we have focused more on sending our reference law libraries to African court systems,” said Lane Ayres, project director of the Law and Democracy Initiative at Books For Africa and a retired Hennepin County prosecutor. “Last year, we sent one to the Supreme Court of Malawi and received an appreciative note and photos from the Chief Justice. Since then, he has helped connect us with other African courts and will be joining our advisory board. While in Minnesota, he will also visit Thomson Reuters, our main partner in this program. Inviting Chief Justice Mzikamanda to meet with our partners and supporters strengthens our work both here and in Africa.”
While in Minnesota, Mzikamanda will spend nearly a week meeting with legal partners and program collaborators, including a visit to Thomson Reuters, and participating in other engagements focused on rule-of-law initiatives. Organizers say the April 17 reception hosted by Books For Africa will be the centerpiece of his visit.
Mzikamanda, who currently leads Malawi’s highest court, will serve as keynote speaker. He will be joined by Natalie Hudson, chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, and U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell.
The reception, scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m., centers on the theme “The Rule of Law,” a concept that has defined Malawi’s recent democratic trajectory. Mzikamanda was a member of the Supreme Court when it made international headlines in 2020 by nullifying the country’s presidential election over widespread irregularities—a rare judicial intervention seen as a major victory for democratic accountability.
That decision has since been widely cited as a model of judicial independence in emerging democracies. According to scholars writing in the African Human Rights Law Journal, Malawi’s courts and civil society have played a significant role in upholding democratic norms and accountability, translating legal protections into everyday political practice.
Mzikamanda’s visit also reflects longstanding ties to Minnesota. He was a Humphrey Fellow at the University of Minnesota during the 1997–98 academic year—a program that brings accomplished mid-career professionals from around the world to the United States for academic study and professional exchange, including judges, policymakers and civil society leaders—making his return both professional and personal, organizers say.
The event also highlights ongoing collaboration between Books For Africa and Malawi’s judiciary. The organization’s law book program—developed in partnership with Thomson Reuters—was expanded three years ago when the American Bar Association joined the effort, contributing legal texts that are included in shipments to courts, law schools, and bar associations across Africa. Together, the partners have supplied more than 100 law and human rights libraries to institutions across the continent, addressing chronic legal resource shortages and supporting the rule of law.
By bringing together legal leaders across continents, the reception aims to underscore how partnerships and shared democratic values can strengthen institutions globally.
Organizers say the discussion will offer attendees a chance to reflect not only on Malawi’s experience, but also on broader challenges facing the rule of law worldwide—at a time when democratic norms are under increasing pressure in many regions.
Details on how to attend the reception can be found at this link.
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About Tom Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the board of the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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