Country Information on Malawi 

Terrain

The extensive plateau in western Malawi drops sharply to the southern part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Malawi (which is more than 560 km long and transects Malawi) lies in its deepest area. Lake Malawi is the third-largest lake in Africa and covers around 20 % of Malawi. Malawi's highest peak (Mount Mulanje, more than 3,000 m high) and the Shire River with its countless waterfalls are located in the Shire highlands in the south of the country.

Climate

Malawi has a tropical continental climate. There are three seasons: the dry (August to October), the wet (November to April) and the cool (May to July) season. Temperatures and rainfall are greatly influenced by Lake Malawi and the altitude at which the country is located, which varies from 37 m in the Lower Shire Valley to 3,250 m at Mount Mulanje.

Maritime influence is felt in the south of the country. A light drizzle, which is known locally as "chiperoni" is characteristic of the Shire Highland, even during the dry season. Temperatures reach up to 38°C in the Rift Valley during the hottest months, whereas frost is quite common on plateaux located at about 1,830 m.

Fauna/Flora

Malawi's flora and fauna are affected by the different climatic zones. In humid areas, as well as in river valleys and some plateaux, there are woods. Most of the country is however covered with pasture and bushes, alternating between topical and subtropical vegetation.

Numerous protected areas and five national parks form a safe habitat for elephants, zebras, crocodiles, antelopes, lions and leopards. Of the 630 different species of birds in Malawi, 70 are not found in any other country in Africa. Lake Malawi has a greater diversity of fish than the waters of Europe and North America together.

History/Politics

Malawi was originally part of the Kingdom of Kitwara. In the 17th century Jesuit missionaries visited the area near Lake Malawi, which was discovered by Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone in 1859. Several Scottish missions were established between 1875 and 1876. A British consul was sent to the country in 1883. Raids by Arab slave-traders, fear of Portuguese expansion (as seen in 1890), and national and state interests led to the establishment of a British protectorate known as Nyasaland in 1907.

Given that the British approach of establishing a Central African federation including Rhodesia and Zambia would have meant extending the apartheid system, local parties promoted Malawi's independence, which was finally gained in 1964. Political changes in the region in the 1970s and 1980s also influenced Malawi's domestic politics and economy. Guerrilla groups rebelled against Banda who had declared himself president for life. The government cracked down on the guerrillas and the years that followed were dominated by harsh political repression.

As a result of international pressure, the first democratic elections were held in Malawi in 1994. Opposition leader Bakili Muluzi was elected president. He succeeded Banda who had decided to retire from political life. A year later, Banda was arrested for murder of three former ministers. Muluzi was re-elected in 1999 but corruption scandals forced him to step down a year later. As a result, international aid was cut, despite the risk of famine. In May 2004, Bingu wa Mutharika became the new president. He launched a campaign against corruption in March 2005.

Economy

Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries. Its economy is based on agriculture (90%), which provides work for nearly all the country's workforce. Agricultural products account for 90% of export revenue, which means that Malawi's economy very much depends on the weather. Long periods of drought can result in economic crisis, given that Malawi has to import food, petroleum products, consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment. Almost 70% of agricultural produce (maize, beans, rice, cassava and fruit such as bananas, mangos, papayas and oranges) comes from farmers with small farms, most of whom just produce enough for their own consumption.

Products such as tobacco, tea, sugar cane, peanuts, cotton, pulses, wheat, coffee and rice are mainly grown in plantations specifically for export. Malawi has mineral resources which have not yet been extracted, such as uranium, coal and bauxite. Democracy brought financial deregulation to the country and, as a result, the local currency has been devalued by more than 100 %. In 2003, the inflation rate was 10.2%.

Culture

Many old traditions and dances are still very much alive in Malawi today. Each village has its traditional gatherings where disputes between neighbours or spouses are settled. Large celebrations are held when a new tribal chief is named, which are intended to give clans the opportunity to tell their new chief what they expect of him, as well as demonstrate the chief's authority and prestige in public. Each tribe has its initiation rites and ceremonies, which are usually, like the harvest festival, accompanied by traditional dancing.