About Malawi

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Malawi

The Republic Malawi is a small, landlocked country in east Central Africa, comprising of more than 20% water and lying entirely within the tropics. It is 896 kilometres in length and varies in width from 80 to 160 kilometres and a land area of nearly 120,000 sq km. It is bordered by Mozambique on the east and southwest, by Tanzania on the north and northeast, and by Zambia on the west and northwest.

Malawi has a vast range of geographical features, with high plateaus in the north and central areas and mountains to the south. Lake Malawi, formally Lake Nyasa, makes up one fifth of the country's surface area and is Africa 's third and the world's ninth largest lake. It is a fresh water lake, also known as the Lake of Stars . The country boasts a diverse array of flora and fauna and made up of a variety of woodlands, tropical rainforests, open savannah high altitude grasslands and scrub. There are two main seasons, cold-dry and hot-wet. The hot-wet season is from November to April. Climate varies with topography with temperatures averaging 14 to 32 degrees Celsius.

Three provinces demarcate Malawi – Northern, Central and Southern. Lilongwe City in central Malawi is the national and administrative capital. Blantyre City is the provincial capital of the Southern province, and the country’s commercial and manufacturing hub. Mzuzu is the main town in the Northern Province . Other key towns are Limbe, close to Blantyre and Zomba, the former political capital and a trading centre between Blantyre and Lilongwe.

Elephants in Liwonde

Sunset over Lake Malawi

View From Mt Mulange Peak

Malawi has been a multiparty system democracy since 1994. The current President, His Excellency Bingu wa Mutharika, was elected in 2004.

Free primary education was implemented in 1999 but pupils still buy some books and materials and are required to wear uniforms. Primary education is eight years and pupils join at seven years. Secondary education is four year, but schools are not adequate and the fees inhibit many from enrolling.

The University of Malawi consists of Chancellor College , the School of Medicine , the Agricultural College and the Polytechnic. There are a few technical colleges and private institutions offering diplomas and certificate studies.

Malawi is often called the “Warm Heart of Africa”, for its friendly people and hospitality. The people have a rich culture and vibrant music, song and dance. The National Museum and French Cultural Centre are some of the places the people and culture is demonstrated in its arts and crafts. Majority of the population is Christian but with is a significant population of Muslims.

Agriculture accounts for one-third of GDP, 90% of export earnings, and three-quarters of total employment. The principal exports are tobacco, sugar, tea and coffee. Tobacco accounts for 70% of Malawi ’s export earnings and mainly grown by smallholder farmers. Tea and sugar are grown in large plantations and comprise 20% of export earnings. Maize is the staple crop supplemented with millet and rice.

The industrial sector is limited and tourism has a potential for growth but is underdeveloped. Non-farm employment opportunities are extremely limited, and levels of income are low.

Malawi’s rural population accounts for 85% and are subsistence farmers or work on large plantations. Approximately 65% of Malawians live below the poverty line; majority of households are unable to meet their food requirements. Malawi was ranked 165 out of 177 countries in the 2005 UNDP Human Development Reports.

Useful Links for more facts and figures:

World Bank: Malawi at Glance
http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/aag/mwi_aag.pdf

National Statistical Office
http://www.nso.malawi.net

MASEDA: Malawi Socio-Economic Database
http://www.maseda.info

UNDP Human Development Report Statistics
http://hdr.undp.org/statistics/data/

Malawi Tourism
http://www.tourismmalawi.com