Malawi Information

June 1998

BASIC DATA

Official name Republic of Malawi

Area 118,484 sq km (45,747 sq miles)

Population 9,609,081 (July 1997 est.)

Annual growth 1.57% (1997)

Urban population 13% of total

Density72.2 per sq km

Capital city lilongwe (inhabitants 395,500 [1994, including suburbs])

Other cities Blantyre (inhabitants 446,800 [1994]), Zomba

Language Chichewa is the national language and widely spoken, English is the official language, Chitumbuka is spoken in the north.

Ethnic groups African 99% (Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde), Asian and European 1%

Religions Traditional religions with Christian (Roman Catholic, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian and Anglican) Hindu and Muslim minorities (many of the Yao people are Muslim and the Ngoni are predominantly Christian)

Public holidaysNew Year’s Day (1 January), John Chilembwe Day (15 January), Martyrs’ Day (3 March), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (1 May), Freedom Day (14 June), Republic Day (6 July), Mothers’ Day (2nd Monday in October), National Tree Planting Day (21 December, Christmas (25, 26 December)

Note: if a public holiday falls on a Saturday, the previous day will be a holiday; if on a Sunday, the next day will be a holiday.

CurrencyMalawi kwacha (Mk) divided into 100 tambala. Exchange rate in June 2000, US$1=40Mk

INTRODUCTION

Bantu-speaking peoples entered the region between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. Early political states were established by Bantu speakers, and around 1480 the Maravi Confederacy was founded. The confederacy encompassed most of central and southern Malawi and influenced many adjacent peoples in the 17th century. In northern Malawi the Ngonde people founded a kingdom about 1600, and in the 18th century immigrants from the eastern shore of Lake Nyasa (or Lake Malawi) established the Chikulamayembe state.

The slave trade flourished in Malawi during the 18th and 19th centuries. Swahili-speaking peoples entered the region between 1830 and 1860 and, along with the Yao peoples, established spheres of influence. British colonial settlers and missionaries moved into the area in the late 1850s. The British established colonial authority over the region in 1891, creating the Nyasaland Districts Protectorate. It became the British Central Africa Protectorate in 1893 and Nyasaland in 1907.

A federation of the colonies of Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland was formed between 1951 and 1953. The federation was dissolved in 1963, and the next year Malawi achieved independence as a member of the British Commonwealth. In 1966 Malawi became a republic, with Hastings Kamuzu Banda as president. Malawi’s first parliamentary elections since independence were held on June 29, 1978. Banda’s 30-year rule came to an end in May 1994, when he was defeated by Bakili Muluzi in multiparty presidential elections. Banda, officially 91 but thought to be older, died in November 1998. Small, densely populated, and landlocked, Malawi’s economy is predominantely agricultural. The main cash crops are tobacco, tea, coffee and sugarcane.

Lilongwe, formally made the capital city of Malawi in 1975, is a sprawling city with two centres: Capital City, which has the airlines and embassies; and Old Town, with markets and the bus station. The climate is comfortable and the crime rate is still low. Blantyre, situated in a valley ringed by low hills, is Malawi’s unofficial commercial capital, with more inhabitants than the official capital Lilongwe.

GEOGRAPHY

Malawi is a long, narrow country in southeast Africa, bordered by Mozambique to the south, east and southwest, by Zambia to the north and north-west and by Tanzania to the north and north-east. The country is characterized by dramatic highlands and extensive lakes. Malawi can be divided into four regions. The East African Rift Valley is Malawi’s most prominent physical feature, running through the country from north to south and containing Lake Nyasa, known in Malawi as Lake Malawi, and the Shire River valley in the south. The broad plateaus of central Malawi have an elevation of between 760 and 1,370m (2,500 and 4,500 feet and cover about three-fourths of the total land area. The highland areas consist chiefly of the Nyika and Viphya plateaus in the north and the intensively cultivated Shire Highlands in the south. The fourth region consists of the isolated massifs of Zomba and Mulanje (3,002 m [9.849 feet] at Sapitwa peak, the country’s highest point) in the south.

Forests and woodlands occupy about 40% of the total land area and consist chiefly of savanna-type grasses and shrubs on the infertile plateaus and bamboo, acacia and yellowwood trees on the highlands.

CLIMATE

Malawi has an equatorial monsoonal climate with three seasons: a cool, dry season from May to August, a warm, dry season from September to November and a rainy season from December to April. The average temperature of October ranges from 21°C in the highland region to 29°C in the lowlands; the corresponding temperatures for July are 14°C and 21°C. Annual rainfall ranges from 2,300mm in the northern highlands to 1,300mm on the plateaus and 800mm in the lowlands.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Government

The president is head of state. Legislative authority is vested in the unicameral National Assembly, which has 112 members, most of whom are elected for a five-year term by universal adult suffrage. There are some nominated members. The Speaker is elected by the National Assembly.

Two years after independence in 1964, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda became president. Malawi became a one-party state, with Banda’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) as the sole party. The following period saw widespread political unrest. Calls for full democracy and human rights grew after the arrest of the Malawian trade union leader and multi-party democracy campaigner, Chakufwa Chihana, in April 1992. A Public Affairs Committee (PAC) was formed - an umbrella body of religious and political groups calling for change. The government established the President’s Committee for Dialogue (PCD) and decided to hold an internationally supervised national referendum on whether to retain the one-party system. Over 78% of the adult population voted in the referendum on 14 June 1993, and 63% supported a multi-party system. Presidential and parliamentary elections were then held, in May 1994. Bakili Muluzi won the Presidential election. The next elections are sheduled in May 1999.

A new constitution was finalised in May 1995, which responds to most of the recommendations made by human rights groups. It contains a Bill of human rights (although it retains the death penalty) and protects the maintenance of a multi-party democracy and an independent judiciary. Information about the Malawian constitution on the Internet: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Govern_Political/mlwi_const.html

Political Parties

Government Parties are:
The United Democratic Front (UDF), founded in April 1992 by former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) officials who operated clandestinely until October 1992 when they announced their intention to campaign for a multiparty democracy. The leader of the party is President Bakili Muluzi.

The Alliance for Democracy (Aford), founded in 1992, by trade union leader and prodemocracy advocate Chakufwa Chihana. The grouping is led by a 13-member interim committee which includes civil servants, academics and businesspeople. The United Front for Multiparty Democracy (UFMD), organized in 1992 and led by Edmond Jika; and the Malawi National Democratic Party (MNDP).

Other recognized parties are:
The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is a continuation of the Nyasaland African Congress (NAC), which was formed under President Banda’s leadership in 1959. On 25 August, 1994, Banda retired from politics, although retaining the title of MCP President for Life. In early 1995, Banda and John Tembo were arrested for the killing twelve years earlier of Dick Matenje and three other MCP officials. President of the MCP is now Stephen Gwandanguluwe Chakuamba-Phiri.

Human Rights

In 1996, the government generally respected 0the human rights of its citizens, but serious problems remained. The National Police, headed by the Inspector General of Police under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is responsible for internal security. Despite notable improvements, there continued to be credible allegations of human rights abuses by the police. The constitution provides for freedom of speech and the press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. However, the government remained in control of the broadcast content of the nation’s radio station. By contrast the print media continued to report freely. The Human Rights Commission mandated by the constitution to explore human rights violations was established in 1996 but made very little progress.

Ethnic Groups

Almost the entire population of Malawi consists of Bantu-speaking black Africans, with small minorities of Europeans and Asians. The Chewa are the largest ethnic group in Malawi and they live along the lakeshore and on the plains. The Tonga live mainly in the Northern Region, as far as Usisya. The Tumbuka-Henga live mostly between Mzimba and Karona, while even further north live the Ngonde.

Refugees

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Malawi now hosts approximately 1,500 refugees. There were 200 new cases in December 1996, primarily due the crisis in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Approximately 1 million refugees from Mozambique left Malawi in 1995. Although the government grants refugee status, it does not accept refugees for resettlement and does not permit them to work or study.

Foreign Relations

Malawi is a member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The SADC wants to promote economic cooperation with the goal of establishing a regional common market. Malawi is also a member of the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States (PTA). The purpose of the PTA is to promote wide-ranging regional economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of agriculture, industry, transportation and communications. The organization wants to facilitate intraregional trade through the reduction or elimination of trade barriers and the establishment of regional financial institutions.

ECONOMY

Overview

Malawi ranks among the world’s least developed countries. The country has a developing mixed economy in which both the public and private sectors participate. The economy is predominantly based on agriculture. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and individual donor nations. Drought hurt the 1994 economy. Good weather and a strong tobacco crop resulted in an upturn in 1995. GDP amounts to US$7.5 billion (1996 est.), the national product per capita is US$800. The real growth rate is estimated at 6% (1996 est.). Inflation remained high throughout 1995, with the average annual rate at 83.3%, compared to 34.7% in 1994. The government’s annual inflation target is 20%.

Economic sectors

Agriculture accounts for about 35% of the GDP and employs 43% of the workforce. Corn (maize) is the main staple and grown with peanuts (groundnuts), beans and peas. Tobacco, tea, coffee, sugarcane and cotton are the principal cash crops. Mineral industries are limited to the mining of coal and the quarrying of limestone. Manufacturing industries account for about 30% of the GDP and employ 16% of the workforce. These industries centre on the production of sugar, beer, cigarettes, soap, chemicals, textiles and blankets. Services account for about 25% of the GDP and employ 41% of the workforce. Since the mid-1980s, tourism has grown rapidly, with stronger marketing of Malawi’s attractions of game reserves and resorts on the lake.

Employment

The total labour force est. 3.5 million (1990), 473,090 (1990) in formal employment, the remainder working mainly in small-scale agriculture. Malawians have been a leading labour source for industries in neighbouring countries. Recruitment programmes have been established in countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa to import Malawians f or work in the mining, agricultural and domestic industries. Average pay for all occupations was Mk112 per month (then about US$41) in 1990; but agricultural workers earned on average only Mk39.17 per month. Official minimum wage levels are Mk3.55 per day in cities and Mk3.00 per day elsewhere (July 1994). Civil service pay has been substantially increased after a series of strike actions earlier in the 1990s. The prescribed minimum wages are largely irrelevant for the great majority of citizens who earn their livelihood outside the formal wage sector.

Economic Programme

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a series of loans for Malawi over the period 1995/1998, totalling about US$69 million. The government wants to achieve a real GDP growth of over 4.5% in 1996-98; bring the rate of inflation sharply down to 5% by the end of 1998; and attain a more sustainable balance of payments position by the end of the programme period. Privatization is a very strong issue in this period. Addressing social costs, the government wants to take measures to alleviate poverty and provide a social safety net and free primary education. Greater emphasis will be placed on providing health services and water to underserved remote areas.

CULTURE

One of the most distinctive features of Malawi culture is the enormous variety of traditional songs and dances that use the drum as the major musical instument. Dances play a part in most ceremonies in Malawi, an important dance for men being the Gule Wamkulu with its heavily carved masks, feathers and skin paint. It is performed by the Chewa and Mang’anja and this and other national dances can be seen at Kamuzu Day Celebrations the second week in May, or at the annual Malawi Republic Day celebrations held the first week in July. There are various traditional arts and crafts, including sculpture in wood and ivory. The National Museum in Blantyre, which lies just off the Kamuzu Highway towards Limbe, houses a range of traditional Malawian artefacts and musical instruments.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher education structure

Although ideas and plans had existed longer, it was only after Malawi gained independence in 1963 that the University of Malawi was established. The university consists of four constituent colleges. Chancellor College (arts, education, science, social sciences, law and public administration), Bunda College (agriculture), Kamuzu College of Nursing (community and mental health, maternal and child health, medical and surgical nursing) and the Polytechnic (technical and administrative subjects, such as engineering, marketing etc.). Moreover, there are several colleges in the fields of teacher training, forestry and natural resources, and technology. The Malawi Institute of Management is a private institution, providing high-level short courses. Finally, there are a marine-training school and a hotel-training school.

Entrance

Either the Malawi Certificate of Education, with at least five credits, or the General Certificate of Education with O-level passes, or an equivalent qualification (e.g. the Cambridge School Certificate) is a necessary qualification for enrolment in higher education. The composition of the qualification differs according to the programme in which the candidate would like to enrol. Selection of candidates for the teacher training programmes takes place through an interview.

Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree can be obtained after four years of study at university level. A diploma is awarded after three years of study in a technical subject. A Master's degree requires another 1 to 2 years of study, including thesis writing. In technical subjects, an advanced diploma or another professional qualification is awarded after three more years of study. If supervisors are available, a Ph.D. degree may be pursued; it takes 3 to 5 years. Finally, the colleges, specialized and private institutes provide certificate and diploma courses, mainly at post-graduate and professional level.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Travel documents

A valid passport is required by all. Visas are required by all except by nationals of Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Currency regulations

Import and export of local currency up to Mk200 is allowed. Import of foreign currency is unlimited if declared. Export of foreign currency is allowed up to the amount declared on entry.

Cost of living and available foodstuffs

The staple diet in Malawi is nsima, a stiff porridge made from pounded maize meal boiled in water. Nsima will be familiar to people from East Africa under the name of ugali, and to people from Southern Africa as mieliemeal. Restaurants serve nsima or rice with a small serving of stew. This is most often made with chicken (mkuku) or beef (nyama ngombe). Along with the meat stew, they often serve sharp-tasting stewed cassava or pumpkin leaves or stewed beans. Fresh fish from Lake Malawi is the country’s speciality, chambo (Tilapia fish) being the main lake delicacy. There are trout from streams on the Zomba, Mulanje and Nyika plateaux. The most widely available fish in Malawi is usipa, a tiny fish which is generally sun-dried after it is caught. The taste of the usipa is very bitter. Poultry and dairy produce are plentiful and tropical fruits are abundant in season. Local and imported beer and soft drinks are widely available.

The variety of foodstuffs at markets and supermarkets varies from season to season and from town to town, and sudden shortages of items which are normally readily available are to be expected. In most towns, you can buy fresh bread at the People’s Trading Centre (PTC), the Kandodo supermarket, or at the bakery. Fruits and vegetables are best bought at markets, where they are very cheap.

In Lilongwe, the old town is the main business and shopping area. The main business road through the old town is Kamuzu Procession, and the most important intersection is that with Kenyatta Avenue. Along Kamuzu Procession are the largest branches of the PTC and Kandodo supermarkets. The central market, next to the bus station, is the best place to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.

Both supermarkets, PTC and Kandodo in Blantyre, are in Victoria Avenue. Neither of these is open on Saturday afternoons or Sundays. There are several smaller PTC and Kandodo branches in Blantyre, most of which keep longer hours than the main branches and are open on Sundays.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH

Health services

Although 80% of the population has access to primary health services, quality of services is poor. There are private clinics and hospitals in most large towns but not all services are available in every health unit. There is one doctor per 50,360 inhabitants. The MPL chain of pharmacies has a branch in most towns of any size. In major towns, these are well stocked with medicines and toiletries.

Vaccinations

A yellow fever vaccination is required for those arriving within 6 days of leaving infected areas. A cholera vaccination is not a condition of entry to Malawi. However, cholera is a risk in this country and precautions are essential. Vaccinations against typhoid and polio are recommended.

Diseases

Malaria risk exists all year throughout the country. In Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu, malaria is only a serious cause for concern during the rainy season (November to April) and cases are comparatively rare during the drier months. The risk is greatest at lower altitudes, notably the Lake Malawi shore and the Shire Valley.
Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present, so avoid swimming in slow-moving fresh water. The area of the greatest risk in Lake Malawi, is the southern end of the lake. Minimise the risk by sticking to areas free of weed.

In Malawi, AIDS is transmitted primarily by heterosexual contact. Other than sex, the major way of contracting AIDS in Malawi is through blood transfusions and injections. Malawi has taken a very serious approach to AIDS, reporting the highest totals of cases in Southern Africa (22,300, June 1993) and expending 11% of the health budget on treatment.
Bacterial meningitis is a bacterial infection in the lining of the brain or spinal cord. The bacteria is transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs on you. There is a seasonal risk of meningitis in Malawi, primarily during the dry season. Vaccination is not required for entry into the country. Local papers normally report local outbreaks.
Dengue fever (primarily an urban viral infection transmitted by mosquito bites) occurs sporadically in Malawi. The risk of infection is small except during periods of epidemic transmission.

Electricity and water Hydroelectric schemes have greatly increased electricity generating capacity since independence. A ten-year national energy plan, unveiled 1989, includes hydroelectric projects supported by some European countries and the World Bank. The electricity supply is 220/240 volts AC, 50 Hz. A variety of plugs are in use. Square 3-pin plugs are used in most modern buildings. 42% of the rural and 91% of the urban population has access to safe water (1990-1995).

Transport and Communication Roads

In 1990 there were 13,647km of roads, 17% tarred. All major and most secondary roads are all-weather. The main north-south highway to Karonga is now sealed. Car hire is available in main towns. Driving is on the left. International driving permits and certain national driving licences are accepted in Malawi. Public Transport Malawi Railways operates the lines in the country. The main route connects Mchinji, Lilongwe, Salima, Chipoka, Blantyre, Limbe and Nsanje to the Mozambique port of Beira. The connection between Chipoka and Beira on this line has been suspended since 1985. The other line connects Lilongwe-Salima-Blantyre. There is a good bus system, including an express service, connecting main towns. Double-decker buses are available in Blantyre and Lilongwe and there is a regular bus service in all major cities. The main bus operator in Malawi is the quasi-governmental Stagecoach Bus Company. On most routes in Malawi, and especially where there is no official public transport, bus services are replaced or supplemented by an informal matola system of paid lifts. The majority of matola vehicles cover a route for the specific purpose of carrying passengers. Taxis are in short supply and cannot be hailed on the street. Air services International airports are in Lilongwe (LLW) (Kamuzu International), 22 km (14 miles) from the city and in Blantyre (BLZ) (Chileka), 18 km (11 miles) from the city. Air Malawi is the national airline. There are connections between Malawi and Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Internal flights link Blantyre and Lilongwe with local airports at Mzuzu and Karonga. In addition, planes are available for charter, thereby giving access to the many small airports in the country. Post and Telephone The international code for Malawi is 265, there are no area codes. Fax and telex bureaux are situated in the main towns and telegram facilities are available at the main post offices. A poste restante service is available in all major towns. Post offices are generally open 07.30-12.00 and 13.00-17.00 Monday to Friday. Post offices in some of the larger towns may be open 0900-1000 Sunday, but only to sell stamps or to accept telegrams.

Media The two main newspapers are The Daily Times (Monday to Friday) and the weekly Malawi News (Saturday). Another newspaper is the fortnightly Odini. A flourishing independent press emerged prior to the 1994 elections. The Financial Post and the Michiru Sun began publication in 1992 and by 1994 there were over 20 privately owned newspapers. The Government Information Department produces a monthly newspaper in Chichewa and a monthly magazine. There is no television service in Malawi. Malawi has two radio stations. A small private station broadcasts only religious programming and is not permitted to broadcast news. The state-owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, however, is the most important medium for reaching the public. The radio service is in English and Chichewa.

Bookshops

The main branch of the Times Book Shop in Lilongwe, is in the old town in Kamuzu Procession.

The best bookshop in Blantyre city centre is the Central Book Shop in Livingstone Avenue. This stocks a fair range of novels, as well as many books published in Malawi. There are branches of the Times Book Shop on Victoria Avenue and on Livingstone Avenue in Limbe.

Recreational facilities

Malawi has five national parks; Kasungu National Park, Lengwe National Park, Liwonde National Park, Nyika National Park and Lake Malawi National Park.

Lake Malawi offers excellent fishing, particularly on the southern shores in April when anglers take part in the tackle tournament organized by the Angling Society. Swimming, water-skiing and sailing are all popular in Lake Malawi, although bilharzia is present in the southern end of the lake.

The Wildlife Society of Malawi publishes a range of inexpensive booklets covering all the main national parks and game reserves. Also published by the Wildlife Society, are Judy Carter’s Day Outings from Lilongwe and Peter Barton’s Day Outings from Blantyre. Both are available in most bookshops.

Useful addresses

Tourist offices

Ministry of Tourism

Private Bag 326

Lilongwe 3

tel.: 781073 / 782702

fax: 780650

Malawi Department of Tourism

Downs House

PO Box 402

Blantyre

tel.: 620300

fax: 620947

Tourist Office

Kamuzu Procession

Lilongwe

Tourist Office

Victoria Avenue

Blantyre

tel.: 620300

Department of National Parks and Wildlife

PO Box 30131

Lilongwe

tel.: 723566

fax: 723089 Embassies Embassies are all found in Lilongwe: Mozambique PO Box 30579 tel.: 784100 South Africa Mpico Bldg, City Centre PO Box 30043 tel.: 783722 fax: 782571 Tanzania There is no Tanzanian High Commission in Malawi so visas must be obtained elewhere. Lusaka and Harare are the closest places. Zambia PO Box 30138 tel: 782100 Zimbabwe PO Box 30187 tel.: 784988 Other addresses

European Commission Delegation

Europa House

P.O. Box 30102, Capital City

Lilongwe 3

tel.: (265) 783199 / 783124 / 782743

fax: (265) 783534

Immigration Office

Chilambula Road

Lilongwe

Immigration Office

Victoria Avenue

PO Box 331

Blantyre

tel.: 623777.

Malawi Railways

PO Box 5144

Limbe

tel.: 640 844

fax: 640 683

Main Post Office

Kamuzu Procession

Lilongwe

Tellcoms Office

Chayamba Building

Victoria Avenue

Lilongwe