Malawi

Map of Malawi Republic of Malawi President: Bingu wa Mutharika (2004) Current government officials Land area: 36,324 sq mi (94,079 sq km); total area: 45,745 sq mi (118,480 sq km) Population (2007 est.): 13,603,181 (growth rate: 2.4%); birth rate: 42.1/1000; infant mortality rate: 92.1/1000; life expectancy: 43.0; density per sq mi: 374 Capital (2003 est.): Lilongwe, 499,200 Largest city: Blantyre, 547,500 Monetary unit: Kwacha Languages: Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998) Ethnicity/race: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European Religions: Christian 80%, Islam 13%, none 4% (1998) Literacy rate: 63% (2003 est.) Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $10.51 billion; per capita $800. Real growth rate: 7.4%. Inflation: 8.1%. Unemployment: n.a. Arable land: 20%. Agriculture: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats. Labor force: 4.5 million (2001 est.); agriculture 90%, industry and services 10% (2003 est.). Industries: tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods. Natural resources: limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite. Exports: $364 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel. Imports: $645 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment. Major trading partners: South Africa, U.S., Germany, Egypt, UK, Mozambique, India, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania (2004). Member of Commonwealth of Nations Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 45,000 (2000); mobile cellular: 49,000 (2000). Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a third station held in standby status) (2001). Radios: 2.6 million (1997). Television broadcast stations: 1 (2001). Televisions: n.a. Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (2002). Internet users: 35,000 (2002). Transportation: Railways: total: 797 km (2002). Highways: total: 28,400 km; paved: 5,254 km; unpaved: 23,146 km (1999 est.). Waterways: 144 km; Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire Riverall. Ports and harbors: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba. Airports: 43 (2002). International disputes: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant. Major sources and definitions

Geography

Malawi is a landlocked country about the size of Pennsylvania. Located in southeast Africa, it is surrounded by Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania. Lake Malawi, formerly Lake Nyasa, occupies most of the country's eastern border. The north-south Rift Valley is flanked by mountain ranges and high plateau areas.

Government

Multiparty democracy.

History

Early human inhabitants of what is now Malawi date to 8000–2000 B.C. Bantu-speaking peoples migrated there between the 1st and 4th centuries A.D. A large slave trade took place in the 18th and 19th centuries and brought Islam to the region. At the same time, missionaries introduced Christianity. Several major kingdoms were established in the precolonial period: the Maravi in 1480, the Ngonde in 1600, and the Chikulamayembe in the 18th century.

The first European to make extensive explorations in the area was David Livingstone in the 1850s and 1860s. In 1884, Cecil Rhodes's British South African Company received a charter to develop the country. The company came into conflict with the Arab slavers in 1887–1889. Britain annexed what was then called the Nyasaland territory in 1891 and made it a protectorate in 1892. Sir Harry Johnstone, the first high commissioner, used Royal Navy gunboats to wipe out the slavers.

Between 1951 and 1953, Britain combined Nyasaland with the colonies of Northern and Southern Rhodesia to form a federation, a move protested by black Africans who were wary of alignment with the ultra conservative white-minority rule in South Rhodesia.

On July 6, 1964, Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi. Two years later, it became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. Dr. Hastings K. Banda became Malawi's first prime minister (a title later changed to president). In his first month as ruler, he declared, “one party, one leader, one government, and no nonsense about it.” In 1971, he became president for life, further consolidating his authoritarian rule. In addition to allowing former colonialists to retain considerable power in the country, he maintained warm relations with the white-minority government of South Africa. These policies drew heavy criticism from citizens of Malawi and other African nations. In 1992, Banda faced violent protests.

Bakili Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF) won the country's first free election in May 1994, ending Banda's 30-year rule. In 1999, Muluzi was reelected. While Malawi was no longer the repressive society it was under Banda, Muluzi's government was tainted by corruption scandals. Senior officials are believed to have sold off 160,000 tons of reserve maize in 2000, despite the signs of a coming famine. In 2002 and 2003, the country faced severe food shortages, with more than 3 million people suffering.

In May 2004, Bingu wa Mutharika, an economist and crony of Muluzi, was elected president in elections that were widely considered irregular.

In 2005, Malawi faced its worst food shortage in over a decade, with more than 4 million people, 34% of the population, without adequate food supplies.

See also Encyclopedia: Malawi.
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Malawi
National Statistical Office www.nso.malawi.net/ .

Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

• • Cite
  • Print