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 The Republic of Malawi

 

Malawi  , officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. 
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The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Malawi is over 118,000 km² (45,560 sq mi) with an estimated population of more than 13,900,000. Its capital isLilongwe, which is also Malawi's largest city; the second largest is Blantyre and the third is Mzuzu. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that inhabit the area. HP Pavilion DV9790EA Battery

The country is also nicknamed "The Warm Heart of Africa".^[8]

The area of Africa now known as Malawi was colonized by migrating tribes of Bantu around the 10th century. In 1891 the area was colonized again, this time by the British. In 1953 Malawi, then known as Nyasaland, became part of the semi-independent Central African Federation (CAF). HP Pavilion DV9790EB Battery

The Federation was dissolved in 1963 and in 1964, Nyasaland gained full independence and was renamed Malawi. Upon gaining independence it became a single-party state under the presidency ofHastings Banda, who remained president until 1994, when he was ousted from power. HP Pavilion DV9790ED Battery

Joyce Banda (no relation) is the current president, raised to that position after president Bingu Mutharika died in 2012. Malawi has a democratic, multi-party government. Malawi has a small military force that includes an army, a navy and an air wing. Malawi's foreign policy is pro-Western and includes positive diplomatic relations with most countries and participation in severalinternational organizations. HP Pavilion DV9790EF Battery

Malawi is among the world's least-developed countries. The economy is heavily based in agriculture, with a largely rural population. The Malawian government depends heavily on outside aid to meet development needs, although this need (and the aid offered) has decreased since 2000. HP Pavilion DV9790EG Battery

The Malawian government faces challenges in building and expanding the economy, improving education, health care, environmental protection, and becoming financially independent. Malawi has several programs developed since 2005 that focus on these issues, and the country's outlook appears to be improving, with improvements in economic growth, education and healthcare seen in 2007 and 2008. HP Pavilion DV9790EL Battery

Malawi has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, which is a drain on the labor force and government expenditures. There is a diverse population of native peoples, Asians and Europeans, with several languages spoken and an array of religious beliefs. HP Pavilion DV9790EO Battery

Although there was tribal conflict in the past, by 2008 it had diminished considerably and the concept of a Malawian nationality had begun to form. Malawi has a culture combining native and colonial aspects, including sports, art, dance and music. HP Pavilion DV9790EP Battery

The area of Africa now known as Malawi had a very small population of hunter gatherers before waves of Bantu-speaking peoples began emigrating from the north around the 10th century. Although most of the Bantu peoples continued south, some remained permanently and founded tribes based on common ancestry.^[9] HP Pavilion DV9790ER Battery

By 1500 AD, the tribes had established a kingdom that reached from north of what is now Nkhotakota to the Zambezi River and from Lake Malawi to the Luangwa Riverin what is now Zambia.^[10]

Soon after 1600, with the area mostly united under one native ruler, HP Pavilion DV9790ES Battery

native tribesmen began encountering, trading with and making alliances with Portuguese traders and members of the military. By 1700, however, the empire had broken up into areas controlled by many individual tribes, which was noted by the Portuguese in their information gathering.^[11] HP Pavilion DV9790ET Battery

The Swahili-Arab slave trade reached its height about 150 years ago, when approximately 20,000 slaves were considered to be carried yearly from Nkhotakota to Kilwa where they were sold.^[12]

David Livingstone reached Lake Malawi (then Lake Nyasa) in 1859,^[13] when Malawi was originally known as Nyasaland under the rule of the British.^[14] HP Pavilion DV9790EW Battery

In a prime example of what is sometimes called the "Thin White Line" of colonial authority in Africa, the colonial government of Nyasaland was formed in 1891. The administrators were given a budget of £10,000 per year, which was enough to employ ten European civilians, two military officers, seventy Punjab Sikhs, and eighty-five Zanzibar porters. HP Pavilion DV9791EO Battery

These few employees were then expected to administer and police a territory of around 94,000 square kilometers with between one and two million people.

 

In 1944, the Nyasaland African Congress (NAC) was formed by the Africans of Nyasaland to promote local interests to the British government.^[16] 
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In 1953, Britain linked Nyasaland with Northern and Southern Rhodesia in what was known as theCentral African Federation (CAF),^[14] for mainly political reasons.^[17] Even though the Federation was semi-independent the linking provoked opposition from African nationalists, and the NAC gained popular support. HP Pavilion DV9773EG Battery

An influential opponent of the CAF was Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, a European-trained doctor working in Ghana who was persuaded to return to Nyasaland in 1958 to assist the nationalist cause. Banda was elected president of the NAC and worked to mobilize nationalist sentiment before being jailed by colonial authorities in 1959. HP Pavilion DV9774CA Battery

He was released in 1960 and asked to help draft a new constitution for Nyasaland, with a clause granting Africans the majority in the colony's Legislative Counsel.^[9]

In 1961, Banda's Malawi Congress Party (MCP) gained the majority in the Legislative Council elections and Banda became Prime Minister in 1963. HP Pavilion DV9775EE Battery

The Federation was dissolved in 1963, and on 6 July 1964, Nyasaland became independent from British rule and renamed itself Malawi. Under a new constitution, Malawi became a single-party state under MCP rule in 1966, and in 1970 Banda declared himself president-for-life. HP Pavilion DV9775EG Battery

For almost 30 years, Banda ruled firmly, suppressing opposition to his party and ensuring that he had no personal opposition.^[18]

Despite his political severity, however, Malawi's economy while Banda was president was often cited as an example of how a poor,HP Pavilion DV9775LA Battery

landlocked, heavily populated, mineral-poor country could achieve progress in both agriculture and industrial development.^[19] While in office, and using his control of the country, Banda constructed a business empire that eventually produced one-third of the country's GDP and employed 10% of the wage-earning workforce.^[20] HP Pavilion DV9778EG Battery

Under pressure for increased political freedom, Banda agreed to a referendum in 1993, where the populace voted for a multi-party democracy. In late 1993 a presidential council was formed, the life presidency was abolished and a new constitution was put into place, effectively ending the MCP's rule.^[18] HP Pavilion DV9778EO Battery

In 1994 thefirst multi-party elections were held in Malawi, and Bakili Muluzi became president. Muluzi remained president until 2004, when Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika was elected. Although the political environment is described as "challenging", as of 2009, the multi-party system still exists in Malawi.^[21] HP Pavilion DV9779EO Battery

Multiparty parliamentary and presidential elections were held for the fourth time in Malawi in May 2009, and President Mutharika was successfully re-elected, despite charges of election fraud from his rival.^[22]

President Mutharika was seen by some as increasingly autocratic and dismissive of human rights,^[23] HP Pavilion DV9780EA Battery

and in July 2011 protests over high costs of living, devolving foreign relations, poor governance and a lack of foreign exchange reserves erupted.^[24] The protests left 18 people dead and at least 44 others suffering from gun shot wounds.^[25] In April 2012, Mutharika died of a heart attack; the presidential title was taken over by former Vice President Joyce Banda.^[26] HP Pavilion DV9780EB Battery

Politics

Malawi is a democratic, multi-party government, currently under the leadership of Joyce Banda.^[18] The current constitution was put into place on May 18, 1995. The branches of the government consist of executive, legislative and judicial. HP Pavilion DV9780ED Battery

The executive includes a president who is both chief of state and head of government, first and second vice presidents and a cabinet. The president is elected every five years, and the vice president is elected with the president. A second vice president may be appointed by the president if he so chooses, although they must be from a different party. HP Pavilion DV9780EG Battery

The members of the cabinet are appointed by the president and can be from either inside or outside of the legislature.^[10]

The legislative branch consists of a unicameral National Assembly of 193 members who are elected every five years, HP Pavilion DV9780EO Battery

and although the Malawian constitution provides for a Senate of 80 seats, one does not exist in practice. If created, the Senate would provide representation for traditional leaders and a variety of geographic districts, as well as special interest groups including the disabled, youth and women. HP Pavilion DV9780EP Battery

The independent judicial branch is based upon the English model and consists of a constitutional court, a High Court, a Supreme Court of Appeal and subordinate Magistrate Courts. There are currently nine political parties, with theDemocratic Progressive Party acting as the ruling party and the Malawi Congress Party and the United Democratic Front acting as the main opposition parties in the National Assembly. HP Pavilion DV9780ES Battery

Suffrage is universal at 18 years of age, and the central government budget for 2009/2010 is $1.7 billion.^[10]

Malawi is composed of three regions (the Northern, Central and Southern regions),^[5] which are divided into 28 districts,^[27] HP Pavilion DV9780ET Battery

and further into approximately 250 traditional authorities and 110 administrative wards.^[5] Local government is administered by central government-appointed regional administrators and district commissioners. For the first time in the multi-party era, local elections took place on November 21, 2000, with the UDF party winning 70% of the available seats. HP Pavilion DV9780EW Battery

There was scheduled to be a second round of constitutionally mandated local elections in May 2005, but these were canceled by the government.^[10]

In February 2005, President Mutharika split with the United Democratic Front and began his own party, HP Pavilion DV9780EZ Battery

the Democratic Progressive Party, which has attracted reform-minded officials from other parties and is winning elections across the country as of 2006. As of 2008, President Mutharika has implemented reforms to address the country's major corruption problem, with at least five senior UDF party members facing criminal charges.^[28] HP Pavilion DV9780LA Battery

In 2008, Malawi was ranked 11th of all countries in sub-Saharan Africa in the 2008 Ibrahim Index of African Governance, an index that measures several variables to provide a comprehensive view of the governance of African countries.^[29]

The military of Malawi consists of an army, a navy and an air wing, all considered to form different sections of the Malawian Army.HP Pavilion DV9784EG Battery

Between the three forces there are approximately 5,500 military personnel, 1,500 paramilitary police and ten aircraft, none of which are combat aircraft. The navy division is based out of Monkey Bay on Lake Malawi.^[30]

Foreign relations

Former President Banda established a pro-Western foreign policy that continued into early 2011. HP Pavilion DV9785EG Battery

It included good diplomatic relationships with many Western countries. The transition from a one-party state to a multi-party democracy strengthened Malawian ties with the United States. Significant numbers of students from Malawi travel to the US for schooling, and the US has active branches of the Peace Corps, HP Pavilion DV9785LA Battery

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Agency for International Development in Malawi. Malawi maintained close relations with South Africa throughout the Apartheid era, which strained Malawi's relationships with other African countries. HP Pavilion DV9787EG Battery

Following the collapse of apartheid in 1994, diplomatic relationships were made and maintained into 2011 between Malawi and all other African countries. In 2010, however, Malawi's relationship with Mozambique became strained, partially due to disputes over the use of the Zambezi River and an inter-country electrical grid. HP Pavilion DV9765EG Battery

In 2007, Malawi established diplomatic ties with China, and Chinese investment in the country has continued to increase since then, despite concerns regarding treatment of workers by Chinese companies and competition of Chinese business with local companies. HP Pavilion DV9766EZ Battery

In 2011, relations between Malawi and the United Kingdom was damaged when a document was released in which the British ambassador to Malawi criticized President Mutharika. Mutharika expelled the ambassador from Malawi, and in July 2011, the UK announced that it was suspending all budgetary aid because of Mutharika's lack of response to criticisms of his government and economic mismanagement. HP Pavilion DV9767EG Battery

On July 26, 2011, the United States followed suit, freezing a US$350 million grant, citing concerns regarding the government's suppression and intimidation of demonstrators and civic groups, as well as restriction of the press and police violence.^[33] HP Pavilion DV9767EO Battery

alawi has been seen as a haven for refugees from other African countries, including Mozambique and Rwanda, since 1985. These influxes of refugees have placed a strain on the Malawian economy but have also drawn significant inflows of aid from other countries. HP Pavilion DV9769EG Battery

Donors to Malawi include the United States, Canada, Germany, Iceland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and the UK, as well as international institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, theAfrican Development Bank and UN organizations. HP Pavilion DV9770EA Battery

Malawi is a member of several international organizations including the UN and some of its child agencies, the IMF, the World Bank, the African Union and the World Health Organization. Malawi tends to view economic and political stability in southern Africa as a necessity, and advocates peaceful solutions through negotiation. HP Pavilion DV9770ED Battery

The country was the first in southern Africa to receive peacekeeping training under the African Crisis Response Initiative.^[10]

Human rights

As of 2010, international observers noted issues in several human rights areas. HP Pavilion DV9770EF Battery

Excessive force was seen to be used by police forces, security forces were able to act with impunity, mob violence was occasionally seen, and prison conditions continued to be harsh and sometimes life threatening. However, the government was seen to make some effort to prosecute security forces who used excessive force. HP Pavilion DV9770EG Battery

Other legal issues included limits on free speech and freedom of the press, lengthy pretrial detentions, and arbitrary arrests and detentions. Societal issues found included violence against women, human trafficking and child labor. Corruption within the government is seen as a major issue, despite the Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) attempts to reduce it. HP Pavilion DV9770EL Battery

The ACB appears to be successful at finding and prosecuting low level corruption, but higher level officials appear to be able to act with impunity. Corruption within security forces is also an issue.^[34]

As of 2010, homosexuality was illegal in Malawi, and in one recent case, a couple perceived as homosexual faced extensive jail time when convicted.^[35] HP Pavilion DV9770EO Battery

The convicted pair, sentenced to the maximum of 14 years of hard labor each, were pardoned two weeks later following the intervention of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.^[36]

Geography

Malawi is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, bordered by Zambia to the northwest, HP Pavilion DV9770ES Battery

Tanzania to the northeast and Mozambique to the south, southwest and southeast. It lies between latitudes 9° and 18°S, and longitudes 32° and 36°E.

The Great Rift Valley runs through the country from north to south, and to the east of the valley lies Lake Malawi (also called Lake Nyasa), making up over three-quarters of Malawi's eastern boundary.^[9] HP Pavilion DV9770EV Battery

Lake Malawi is sometimes called the Calendar Lake as it is about 365 miles (587 km) long and 52 miles (84 km) wide.^[37] The Shire River flows from the south end of the lake and joins the Zambezi River 250 miles (400 km) farther south in Mozambique. HP Pavilion DV9770EW Battery

The surface of Lake Malawi is located at 1,500 feet (457 m) above sea level, with a maximum depth of 2,300 feet (701 m), which means the lake bottom is over 700 feet (213 m) below sea level at some points.

In the mountainous sections of Malawi surrounding the Rift Valley, HP Pavilion DV9770LA Battery

plateaus rise generally 3,000 to 4,000 feet (914 to 1,219 m) above sea level, although some rise as high as 8,000 feet (2,438 m) in the north. To the south of Lake Malawi lie the Shire Highlands, gently rolling land at approximately 3,000 feet (914 m) above sea level. In this area, the Zomba and Mlanje mountain peaks rise to respective heights of 7,000 feet (2,134 m) and 10,000 feet (3,048 m).^[9] HP Pavilion DV9750US Battery

Malawi's capital is Lilongwe, and its commercial center is Blantyre with a population of over 500,000 people.^[9] Malawi has two sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lake Malawi National Park was first listed in 1984 and the Chongoni Rock Art Areawas listed in 2006.^[38] HP Pavilion DV9751EF Battery

Malawi's climate is hot in the low-lying areas in the south of the country and temperate in the northern highlands. The altitude moderates what would be an otherwise equatorial climate. Between November and April the temperature is warm with equatorial rains and thunderstorms, with the storms reaching their peak severity in late March. HP Pavilion DV9751EO Battery

After March, the rainfall rapidly diminishes and from May to September wet mists float from the highlands into the plateaus, with almost no rainfall during these months.^[9]

Economy

Malawi is among the world's least-developed and most-densely populated countries. Around 85% of the population live in rural areas. HP Pavilion DV9752EO Battery

The economy is based on agriculture, and more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues come from this. In the past, the economy has been dependent on substantial economic aid from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other countries.^[27] HP Pavilion DV9753EO Battery

In December 2000, the IMF stopped aid disbursements due to corruption concerns, and many individual donors followed suit, resulting in an almost 80% drop in Malawi's development budget.^[28] However, in 2005, Malawi was the recipient of over US$575 million in aid. The Malawian government faces challenges in developing a market economy, HP Pavilion DV9755ED Battery

improving environmental protection, dealing with the rapidly growing HIV/AIDS problem, improving the education system, and satisfying its foreign donors that it is working to become financially independent. Improved financial discipline had been seen since 2005 under the leadership of President Mutharika and Financial Minister Gondwe. HP Pavilion DV9757EO Battery

This discipline has since evaporated as shown by the purchase in 2009 of a private presidential jet followed almost immediately by a nationwide fuel shortage which was officially blamed on logistical problems, but was more likely due to the hard currency shortage caused by the jet purchase.^[39][40][41] The overall cost to the economy (and healthcare system) is unknown. HP Pavilion DV9757EZ Battery

In addition, some setbacks have been experienced, and Malawi has lost some of its ability to pay for imports due to a general shortage of foreign exchange, as investment fell 23% in 2009. There are many investment barriers in Malawi, which the government has failed to address, including high service costs and poor infrastructure for power, water, and telecommunications.HP Pavilion DV9758CA Battery

As of 2009, it was estimated that Malawi had a GDP (purchasing power parity) of $12.81 billion, with a per capita GDP of $900, and inflation estimated at around 8.5% in 2009.^[27]

Agriculture accounts for 35% of GDP, industry for 19% and services for the remaining 46%.^[21] HP Pavilion DV9760ED Battery

Malawi has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world,^[28] although economic growth was estimated at 9.7% in 2008 and strong growth is predicted by the International Monetary Fund for 2009.^[42] The poverty rate in Malawi is decreasing through the work of the government and supporting organizations, HP Pavilion DV9760EF Battery

with people living under the poverty line decreasing from 54% in 1990 to 40% in 2006, and the percentage of "ultra-poor" decreasing from 24% in 1990 to 15% in 2007.^[43]

Malawi was ranked the 119th safest investment destination in the world in the March 2011 Euromoney Country Risk rankings.^[44]HP Pavilion DV9760EI Battery

Agriculture and industry

The main agricultural products of Malawi include tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, sorghum, cattle and goats. The main industries are tobacco, tea and sugar processing, sawmill products, cement and consumer goods. HP Pavilion DV9760EL Battery

The industrial production growth rate is estimated at 10% (2009). The country makes no significant use of natural gas. As of 2008, Malawi does not import or export any electricity, but does import all its petroleum, with no production in country.^[27] Beginning in 2006, the country began mixing unleaded petrol with 10% ethanol, produced in-country at two plants, to reduce dependence on imported fuel. HP Pavilion DV9760EO Battery

In 2008, Malawi began testing cars that ran solely on ethanol, and initial results are promising, and the country is continuing to increase its use of ethanol.^[45]

As of 2009, Malawi exports an estimated US$945 million in goods per year. HP Pavilion DV9760EZ Battery

The country's heavy reliance on tobacco places a heavy burden on the economy as world prices decline and the international community increases pressure to limit tobacco production. Malawi's dependence on tobacco is growing, with the product jumping from 53% to 70% of export revenues between 2007 and 2008. HP Pavilion DV9762EO Battery

The country also relies heavily on tea, sugar and coffee, with these three plus tobacco making up more than 90% of Malawi's export revenue.^[27][28] Because of a rise in costs and a decline in sales prices, Malawi is encouraging farmers away from tobacco towards more profitable crops, including spices such as paprika. HP Pavilion DV9762EZ Battery

India hemp is another possible alternative, but arguments have been made that it will bring more crime to the country through its resemblance to varieties of cannabis used as a recreational drug and the difficulty in distinguishing between the two types.^[46] HP Pavilion DV9764EG Battery

This concern is especially important because the cultivation of Malawian cannabis, known as Malawi Gold, as a drug has increased significantly.^[47] Malawi is known for growing "the best and finest" cannabis in the world for recreational drug use, according to a recent World Bank report, and cultivation and sales of the crop may contribute to corruption within the police force.^[48] HP Pavilion DV9747CL Battery

Other exported goods are cotton, peanuts, wood products and apparel. The main destination locations for the country's exports are South Africa, Germany, Egypt, Zimbabwe, the United States, Russia and the Netherlands. Malawi currently imports an estimated US$1.625 billion in goods per year, HP Pavilion DV9747EF Battery

with the main commodities being food, petroleum products, consumer goods and transportation equipment. The main countries that Malawi imports from are South Africa, India, Zambia, Tanzania, the US and China.^[27]

In 2006, in response to disastrously low agricultural harvests, Malawi began a program of fertilizer subsidies that were designed to re-energize the land and boost crop production. HP Pavilion DV9747TX Battery

It has been reported that this program, championed by the country's president, is radically improving Malawi's agriculture, and causing Malawi to become a net exporter of food to nearby countries.^[49]

Infrastructure

As of 2009, Malawi has 32 airports, 6 with paved runways and 26 with unpaved runways. HP Pavilion DV9748CA Battery

The country has 495 miles (797 km) ofrailways, all narrow-gauge, and 9,601 miles (15,451 km) of roadways, 4,322 miles (6,956 km) paved and 5,279 miles (8,496 km) unpaved. Malawi also has 435 miles (700 km) of waterways on Lake Malawi and along the Shire River.^[27]

As of 2010, there were 3.038 million cell phones, up from 1.781 million in 2008. HP Pavilion DV9748TX Battery

As of 2008, there were 236,000 land linetelephones in Malawi. There were 716, 400 Internet users in 2010 (up from 316,100 Internet users as of 2008), and 1092 Internet hosts as of 2010. As of 2001 there were 14 radio stations and 1 TV station.^[27] In the past, Malawi's telecommunications system has been named as some of the poorest in Africa, HP Pavilion DV9749EF Battery

but conditions are improving, with 130,000 land line telephones being connected between 2000 and 2007. Telephones are much more accessible in urban areas, with less than a quarter of land lines being in rural areas.^[50] HP Pavilion DV9750ED Battery

Demographics

Malawi has a population of over 15 million, with a growth rate of 2.75%, according to 2009 estimates.^[27] The population is forecast to grow to over 45 million people by 2050, nearly tripling the estimated 16 million in 2010.^[51] HP Pavilion DV9750EF Battery

Malawi's population is made up of the Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni and Ngonde native ethnic groups, as well as populations of Asians and Europeans. Major languages include English, an official language,Chichewa spoken by over 57% of the population, Chinyanja (12.8%), Chiyao (10.1%) and Chitumbuka (9.5%).^[27] HP Pavilion DV9750EG Battery

Other native languages are Malawian Lomwe, spoken by around 250,000 in the southeast of the country; Kokola, spoken by around 200,000 people also in the southeast; Lambya, spoken by around 45,000 in the northwestern tip; Ndali, spoken by around 70,000; Nyakyusa-Ngonde, spoken by around 300,000 in northern Malawi; HP Pavilion DV9750EJ Battery

Malawian Sena, spoken by around 270,000 in southern Malawi; and Tonga, spoken by around 170,000 in the north.^[52]

Religion

According to 2007 estimates, approximately 80% of the population is Christian, with the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Central Africa, HP Pavilion DV9750EL Battery

Presbyterian making up the largest Christian groups. There are also smaller numbers of Anglicans, Baptists, evangelicals and Seventh-day Adventists. Around 13% of the population is Muslim, with most of the Muslim population being Sunni, of either the Qadriya or Sukkutu groups. HP Pavilion DV9750EO Battery

Other religious groups within the country include Jews, Rastafarians, Hindus and Baha'is.Atheists make up around 4% of the population, although this number may include people who practice traditional African religions.^[53]

Health

Malawi has central hospitals, regional and private facilities. HP Pavilion DV9750EP Battery

The public sector offers free health services and medicines, whilenon-government organizations offers services and medicines for fees. Private doctors offer fee-based services and medicines. Health insurance schemes have been established since 2000.^[54] The country has a pharmaceutical manufacturing industry consisting of four privately owned pharmaceutical companies. HP Pavilion DV9750ER Battery

Malawi's healthcare goal is for "promoting health, preventing, reducing and curing disease, and reducing the occurrence of premature death in the population".^[55]

Infant mortality rates are high, and life expectancy at birth is 50.03 years. HP Pavilion DV9750EV Battery

There is a high adult prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS, with an estimated 930,000 adults (or 11.9% of the population) living with the disease in 2007. There are approximately 68,000 deaths a year from HIV/AIDS (2007).^[27] Approximately 250 new people are infected each day, and at least 70% of Malawi's hospital beds are occupied by HIV/AIDS patients. HP Pavilion DV9740EL Battery

The high rate of infection has resulted in an estimated 5.8% of the farm labor force dying of the disease. The government spends over $120,000 each year on funerals for civil servants who die of the disease.^[28] In 2006, international superstar Madonna started Raising Malawi, HP Pavilion DV9740EO Battery

a foundation that helps AIDS orphans in Malawi, and also financed a documentary about the hardships experienced by Malawian orphans, called I Am Because We Are.^[56] Raising Malawi also works with the Millennium Villages Project to improve education, health care, infrastructure and agriculture in Malawi.^[57] HP Pavilion DV9740ES Battery

There is a very high degree of risk for major infectious diseases, including bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, plague,schistosomiasis and rabies.^[27] Malawi has been making progress on decreasing child mortality and reducing the incidences of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; HP Pavilion DV9740TX Battery

however, the country has been "[performing] dismally" on reducing maternal mortality and promoting gender equality.^[43]

Education

In Malawi, primary education is not compulsory, but the Constitution requires that all people be entitled to at least five years of primary education. HP Pavilion DV9740US Battery

In 1994, free primary education for all children was established by the government, which increased attendance rates. Dropout rates are higher for girls than boys,^[58] attributed to security problems during the long travel to school, as girls face a higher prevalence of gender-based violence. HP Pavilion DV9741EO Battery

However, attendance rates for all children are improving, with enrollment rates for primary schools increased from 58% in 1992 to 75% in 2007, while the number of students who begin in grade one and complete grade five has increased from 64% in 1992 to 86% in 2006. Youth literacy has also increased, moving from 68% in 2000 to 82% in 2007. HP Pavilion DV9741TX Battery

This increase is primarily attributed to improved learning materials in schools, better infrastructure and feeding programs that have been implemented throughout the school system.^[43]

Culture

The name "Malawi" comes from the Maravi, a Bantu people who immigrated from the southern Congo around 1400 AD. HP Pavilion DV9742TX Battery

Upon reaching northern Lake Malawi, the group divided, with one group moving south down the west bank of the lake to become the group known as the Chewa, while the other group, the ancestors of today's Nyanja, moved along the east side of the lake to the southern section of Malawi. HP Pavilion DV9743CL Battery

Ethnic conflict and continuing migration prevented the formation of a society that was uniquely and cohesively Malawian until the dawn of the 20th century. Over the past century, ethnic distinctions have diminished to the point where there is no significant inter-ethnic friction, although regional divisions still occur. HP Pavilion DV9743TX Battery

The concept of a Malawian nationality has begun to form around a predominantly rural people who are generally conservative and traditionally nonviolent.^[10]

From 1964–2010, the Flag of Malawi was made up of three equal horizontal stripes of black, red and green with a red rising sun superimposed in the center of the black stripe. HP Pavilion DV9744CA Battery

The black stripe represented the African people, the red represented the blood of martyrs for African freedom, green represented Malawi's ever-green nature and the rising sun represented the dawn of freedom and hope for Africa.^[1] In 2010, the flag was changed, removing the red rising sun and adding a full white sun in the center as a symbol of Malawi'seconomic progress. HP Pavilion DV9744EF Battery

A strong part of Malawi's culture are its dances, and the National Dance Troupe (formerly the Kwacha Cultural Troupe) was formed in November 1987 by the government.^[38] Traditional music and dances can be seen at initiation rites, rituals, marriage ceremonies and celebrations. HP Pavilion DV9744EL Battery

Soccer is the most common sport in Malawi, introduced there during British colonial rule. Basketball is also growing in popularity.^[60]

The indigenous ethnic groups of Malawi have a rich tradition of basketry and mask carving, and some of these goods are used in traditional ceremonies still performed by native peoples. HP Pavilion DV9744EO Battery

Wood carving and oil painting are also popular in more urban centers, with many of the items produced being sold to tourists. There are several internationally recognized literary figures from Malawi, including poet Jack Mapanje, history and fiction writer Paul Zeleza and authors Legson Kayira, Felix Mnthali, Frank Chipasula and David Rubadiri. HP Pavilion DV9744ES Battery

The History of Malawi covers the area of present-day Malawi. The region was once part of the Maravi Empire. In colonial times it was known as British Central Africa and Nyasaland and was at one time part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The country reached full independence, as Malawi, in 1964.

Oil was first found there in the late 19th century. HP Pavilion DV9744TX Battery

Prehistory

Hominid remains and stone implements have been identified in Malawi dating back more than one million years, and early humans inhabited the vicinity of Lake Malawi50,000 to 60,000 years ago. HP Pavilion DV9745TX Battery

Human remains at a site dated about 8000 BC show physical characteristics similar to peoples living today in the Horn of Africa. At another site, dated 1500 BC, the remains possess features resembling Bushmen people. HP Pavilion DV9746TX Battery

These short people with copper colored skin were known as the Akafula or Batwa. They are responsible for rock paintings found south of Lilongwe in Chencherere and Mphunzi.

The Maravi Empire

The name Malawi is thought to derive from the word Maravi. The people of the Maravi Empire were iron workers. Maravi is thought to mean "rays of light" and may have come from the sight of many kilns lighting up the night sky. HP Pavilion DV9730TX Battery

A dynasty known as the Maravi Empire was founded by the Amaravi people in the late 15th century. The Amaravi, who eventually became known as the Chewa (a word possibly derived from a term meaning "foreigner"), HP Pavilion DV9730US Battery

migrated to Malawi from the region of the modern dayRepublic of Congo to escape unrest and disease. The Chewa attacked the Akafula, who settled in small family clans without a unified system of protection. Using a system of destruction they would later employ in hunting predatory animals, the Chewa hunted down and butchered the Akafula. HP Pavilion DV9731CA Battery

Eventually encompassing most of modern Malawi, as well as parts of modern day Mozambique and Zambia, the Maravi Empire began on the southwestern shores of Lake Malawi. The head of the empire during its expansion was the Kalonga (also spelt Karonga). The Kalonga ruled from his headquarters in Mankhamba. HP Pavilion DV9731TX Battery

Under the leadership of the Kalonga, sub-chiefs were appointed to occupy and subdue new areas. The empire began to decline during the early 18th century when fighting among the sub-chiefs and the burgeoning slave trade weakened the Maravi Empire's authority.

The Portuguese

Initially the Maravi Empire's economy was largely dependent on agriculture, the majority being the production of millet and sorghum. HP Pavilion DV9732TX Battery

It was during the Maravi Empire, some time during the 16th century, that Europeans first came into contact with the people of Malawi. Under the Maravi Empire, the Chewa had access to the coast of modern day Mozambique. Through this coastal area, the Chewa traded ivory, iron, and slaves with the Portuguese and Arabs. HP Pavilion DV9733TX Battery

Trade was enhanced by the common language of Chewa which was spoken throughout the Maravi Empire.

The Portuguese reached the area via the Mozambican port of Tete in the 16th century and gave the first written reports on the people of Malawi. HP Pavilion DV9734NR Battery

The Portuguese were also responsible for the introduction of maize to the region. Maize would eventually replace sorghum as the staple of the Malawian diet. Malawian tribes traded slaves with the Portuguese. These slaves were sent mainly to work on Portuguese plantations in Mozambique or to Brazil. HP Pavilion DV9734TX Battery