BASIC INFORMATION
Full Country Name: The Republic of Malawi
Country Profile: Malawi
Area: 118,000 sq km
Population: 13 million (est. 2006)
Capital City: Lilongwe. Key Date: 6 July (Independence Day)
People: Main groups are Chewa and Angoni (Nguni)
Languages: English, Chichewa
Religion(s): Protestant, Roman Catholic, Muslim, indigenous beliefs, other beliefs
Currency: Kwacha. Exchange rate 269.61 MK/£ (September 2006)
Major political parties: United Democratic Front (UDF), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Republican Party (RP), Peoples' Progressive Movement (PPM), Democratic People's Party (DPP)
Head of State: President Bingu wa Mutharika
Foreign Minister: Joyce Banda
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Commonwealth, Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), African Union (AU), United Nations.
GEOGRAPHY
Malawi is a landlocked country in south central Africa bordered by Tanzania to the north, Zambia to the west and Mozambique to the east and south. Over 1/5 of the total land area of 118,000 sq km comprises of Lake Malawi.
HISTORY
Malawi takes its name from the Maravi ('l' and 'r', and 'v' and 'w' are interchangeable in some Chichewa dialects) empire which developed on the shore of Lake Malawi in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the 19th century Maravi was devastated by the arrival of Nguni invaders from the south, and Muslim slavers from the east, leading to the establishment of a British Protectorate of Nyasaland at the end of the 19th century. Christian missions, inspired by Livingstone's appeal to end the slave-trade, played a key role in promoting British intervention. Apart from local initiatives – most notably by John Chilembwe, an evangelical Christian minister (and national hero), in 1914 - there was little resistance to colonial rule until the 1950s when there were widespread protests against the unpopular Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
Nyasaland achieved independence as Malawi in 1964; Hastings Banda, who had returned from a successful medical practice in London to lead African protest against the Federation, became the first prime minister. He quickly adopted an autocratic style, leading to ministerial rebellions in the 1960s, which in turn led to further repression. He also adopted a policy of détente with the remaining white-ruled states in southern Africa and, in contrast with the governments of Tanzania, Zambia and (after 1975) Mozambique, took a staunchly capitalist and pro-Western line. In the climate of the Cold War donors were prepared to tolerate his domestic idiosyncrasies, especially since - again in contrast to his neighbours – he managed an effective economy in one of the poorest countries in the world. But with the collapse of communism the props, both domestic and international, were kicked away. Under donor and popular pressure, as well as feeling the effects of age (he was at least 90), he conceded multi-party democracy in 1993. Bakili Muluzi and his United Democratic Front (whose popular support was in the densely-populated south of the country) won the ensuing presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994.
POLITICS
Although the UDF was the largest party in parliament after the 1994 elections, it failed by three seats to win an absolute majority in parliament. Banda's Malawi Congress Party dominated the central region and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) the north. In September 1994 Chakufwa Chihana, president of AFORD, joined the UDF Government as 2nd Vice-President and a coalition government was formed. But Chihana resigned in May 1996, just as the President was about to dismiss him. AFORD decided to withdraw from the coalition, but not all the AFORD ministers resigned: four remained in government, and two AFORD MPs also joined. AFORD and the MCP boycotted the December 1996 parliamentary session in protest at UDF's 'poaching' of MPs. In April 1997, MCP and AFORD decided to end the boycott (after many of their members had ignored it anyway). Dr Banda retired later that year and was replaced as leader of MCP by former vice-president Gwanda Chakuamba. Banda died in November that year and was given a state funeral. The next presidential and parliamentary elections were again held in June 1999. Once again Muluzi won the presidency, but his party failed to gain an overall majority.
In the 2004 presidential and parliamentary elections Bingu wa Mutharika – Muluzi's hand-picked successor as leader of UDF - won the presidency with 36% of the vote. The MCP's John Tembo was the immediate runner-up on 27%, and Chakuamba, now heading a coalition of opposition parties, won 26%. In the parliamentary contest the MCP overtook the UDF, and large number of independent MPs were also elected. International observers declared the poll generally free and fair. However, they highlighted previous misuse of government resources by the UDF, and the Malawi Electoral Commission's failure to adequately address problems with the voters' roll.
Mutharika soon indicated he was his own man, in particular launching a determined attack on corruption, alienating many influential figures in the UDF, including his former patron Muluzi. Eventually Mutharika split from the party and founded his own, the Democratic People's Party, which drew support from a number of minor opposition parties and disaffected UDF MPs. Mutharika's uncompromising approach and willingness to upset his former colleagues has led to an impeachment attempt in October 2006, the arrest of the vice-president, Cassim Chilumpha, and the stalling of the 2006 budget in parliament.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Under Banda, freedom of assembly and expression were restricted and arbitrary arrest and detention without trial were frequent. The failure to address donors' concerns over human rights led to the withholding of aid in 1992. Multi-party democracy brought with it constitutional and other safeguards, including a Malawi Human Rights Commission, but the UDF-led government displayed occasional heavy-handedness, particularly towards the media.
ECONOMY
Basic economic facts
GDP: US$2.172 bn (2006 estimate)
GDP per capita: US$147 (2005)
Annual Growth: 7% (2006 estimate)
Inflation: 15.1% (2006 estimate)
Major Industries: Tobacco, Tea, Sugar, Sawmill Products, Cement and Consumer Goods
Main Trading Partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Netherlands, UK, Japan
Malawi has few exploitable resources apart from land, which is at serious risk of degradation as a result of population pressure and poor farming methods. Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, employing 85% of the working population. However, about 90% of these workers are engaged in subsistence farming. Tobacco is responsible for some 60% of export earnings, with sugar, tea and coffee contributing about 5% each.
DEVELOPMENT
The UN Human Development index ranks Malawi 166 out of 177 countries and the tenth poorest country in the world. It is the most densely populated country in Africa with few natural resources: HIV/AIDS, low educational attainment and deforestation are some of its more serious challenges. Poverty has increased in the last few decades.
UK's aid programme in Malawi concentrates on poverty elimination, equity and human rights. DFID's £70M development programme in 2006/2007 includes £20M of direct budgetary support, £20M on health and £7M on education.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Malawi has good relations with its neighbours, although there has been tension in the past with the other 'Front-line states' because of Banda's relations with white minority regimes in the region. Banda also maintained links with Renamo when it opposed the Mozambican government during that country's civil war, although Malawian troops deployed into Mozambique to defend the Nacala Corridor against Renamo attacks. There is also a long dormant disagreement with Tanzania over Lake Malawi. One surviving legacy of Banda's political stance is that Malawi maintains relations with Taiwan.
MALAWI'S RELATIONS WITH THE UK
UK/Malawi relations are good. The UK is a major trading partner and has also been Malawi's principal bilateral aid donor since independence.
Diplomatic Representation
UK representation in Malawi: High Commissioner Mr Richard Wildash LVO
Malawi representation in the UK: High Commissioner Dr Francis Moto
There are c.3500 [registered] UK nationals in Malawi.
Trade and Investment with the UK
UK Exports: £11.94 million (2004)
UK Imports: £19.74 million (2004)
Cultural Relations
The British Council is the focal point for cultural relations between Britain and Malawi -
Policy
For recent statements of UK policy towards see the Hansard website and enter 'Malawi' in the search engine.
Recent Visits
Principal visits to Malawi have been from Peter Hain (Minister of State, FCO, September 2000), Hilary Benn (Permanent-Under Secretary of State, DFID, October 2001), Paul Boateng (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury, February 2002), Michael Ancram (Shadow Foreign Secretary, July 2002), House of Commons International Development Committee (October 2002), Lord David Steel (January 2003), Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland (May 2005), House of Commons International Development Committee (March 2006).
Principal visits from Malawi have been President Mutharika in September 2004 and ex-President Muluzi in February 2002, June 2003 and January 2004.
TRAVEL
Travel Advice: Malawi
Department of Health Advice
Last reviewed: 1 March 2007
