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my major research interests span criminal law, criminal justice, criminology, human rights and family law,Law,
Profile
Gift Dorothy Makanje is a lawyer of twelve yearsâ experience and admitted to the Malawian Bar. She holds an LLB (Honours) degree from the University of Malawi, an LLM (with Distinction) in criminal justice and human rights from the University of Aberdeen and is currently a doctoral research candidate at Durham University law school . Gift is a two-time holder of the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship. She is a Lecturer in the University of Malawiâs Faculty of Law where she teaches criminal law, family law and labour law and served as Head of the Foundation Law Department for three years. Prior to joining the academia, Gift served in the Malawi Judiciary for six years as senior resident magistrate, assistant registar and later principal resident magistrate. Her major research interests span criminal law, criminal justice, criminology, human rights and family law. She has published and presented papers in these areas at various local and international conferences. Gift has also undertaken research, consultancy and charitable outreach activities through UNIMA Faculty of Law's legal clinics, Malawi Law Society, Women Lawyers Association of Malawi and other community-based organisations that she supports for the benefit of vulnerable groups as well as policy and law makers.
Publications
- Journal Article
GENDER AND DISABILITY CONSIDERATIONS IN SENTENCING IN MALAWI (Undergoing review for publication in the Zambia Social Science Journal) (2026)
- Journal Article
Gender and Disability Considerations in Sentencing in Malawi (2026, Pending publication in the Southern African Public Law Journal) (2026)
- Book Chapters
Balancing the interests of vulnerable witnesses and of the defendant in criminal proceedings in Malawi: An ubuntu inspired approach' pending Publication in Edited Book Collection on Comparative Approaches to Vulnerable Witness Testimony in Criminal Trials (2026)
- Journal Article
The admissibility of expert evidence in criminal proceedings in Malawi: a call for reliability safeguards published by Journal of African Law (2023)
https://doi-10.1017/S0021855322000262
- Journal Article
Makanje, GD âThe admissibility of expert evidence in criminal proceedings in Malawi: a call for reliability safeguardsâ (2023) 67 (1) Journal of African Law 117-134, doi-10.1017/S0021855322000262 (2023)
https://doi-10.1017/S0021855322000262
- Journal Article
Mbano-Mweso N, Malunga B, Makanje G, and Chome T âRecognition of Marriage by Repute: Its Implications on Customary Law and Gender Justice in Malawiâ (2023) Southern African Public Law 38 (2):21 pages. https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-6800/12223 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-6800/12223
- Journal Article
Mweso N, Malunga B, Chome T and Makanje G 'Land Rights for Unmarried, Divorced, and Childless Women in Patrilineal Tribes in Malawi: Prospects and Challenges' (2021) 6(2) Pathways to African Feminism and Development 66 (2021)
- Book Chapters
Makanje, GD âStrengthening the role of traditional leaders for effective local community participation in environmental management in Malawiâ in Sindico F, Switzer S & Tianbao Q (eds) The Transformation of Environmental Law and Governance: risk, innovation and resilience (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021) 92 (2021)
- Book Chapters
Makanje, GD âStrengthening the role of traditional leaders for effective local community participation in environmental management in Malawiâ in Sindico F, Switzer S & Tianbo Q (eds) The transformation of environmental law and governance: risk, innovation and resilience (2021, Edward Elgar Publishing) (2021)
- Journal Article
Makanje, GD âThe protection of vulnerable witnesses during criminal trials in Malawi: addressing resource challengesâ (2020) 20 African Human Rights Law Journal 41-77 (2020)
- Journal Article
Makanje, GD âThe protection of vulnerable witnesses during criminal trials in Malawi: addressing resource challengesâ (2020) 20 African Human Rights Law Journal 41-77, doi-10.17159/1996-2096/2020/v20n1a8 (2020)
http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2020/v20n1a8
- Journal Article
Makanje, GD âCrimes involving dishonesty or moral turpitude in Malawiâs electionsâ 2019 Journal of African Elections 18(1) p108 (2019)
- Journal Article
Makanje, GD âCrimes involving dishonesty or moral turpitude in Malawiâs electionsâ (2019) 18(1) Journal of African Elections 108-128, doi-10.20940/JAE/2019/v18i196 (2019)
Makanje, GD âCrimes involving dishonesty or moral turpitude in Malawiâs electionsâ (2019) 18(1) Journal of African Elections 108-128, doi-10.20940/JAE/2019/v18i196
- Conference Papers
Makanje, GD âThe environment management act (2017) and natural resource regulation in malawi: opportunities for and limitations to effective enforcementâ in P Kameri-Mbote et al (eds) Law/Environment/Africa (Baden: NOMOS, 2018). (2018)
- Book Chapters
Makanje, GD âThe environment management act (2017) and natural resource regulation in malawi: opportunities for and limitations to effective enforcementâ in P Kameri-Mbote et al (eds) Law/Environment/Africa (Baden: NOMOS, 2018) (2018)
- Book Chapters
Confirmation of Peer Review Process for Book chapter (2018)
- Book Chapters
'Balancing the interests of vulnerable witnesses and of the defendant in criminal proceedings in Malawi: An ubuntu inspired approach' pending Publication in Edited Book Collection on Comparative Approaches to Vulnerable Witness Testimony in Criminal Trials. (2016)
- Journal Article
Ngcimezile Mbano-Mweso, Bernadette Malunga,Theresa Chome, Gift Makanje Faculty of Law, University of Malawi (Lecturers): LAND RIGHTS FOR UNMARRIED, DIVORCED AND CHILDLESS WOMEN IN PATRILINEAL TRIBES IN MALAWI: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES (0)
