Malawi |
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The Republic of Malawi, the landlocked nation is located in Southeast Africa, bordering Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the north and Mozambique to the east, south and west. Lake Malawi or Nyasa separates Mozambique from Malawi. Lake Nyasa is the 3rd largest lake in Africa, and the 10th largest in the world. The country is the abode of 5 national parks: Cape Maclear, Kasungu, Lengwe, Liwonde, and Nyika. Malawi is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. HISTORY:- The Khoisan hunter-gatherers inhabited in the region before the advent of the Bantu tribes. The Maravi Kingdom was founded in 1480, the Ngonde Kingdom in 1600, and the Chikulamayembe Kingdom in the 18th century in Malawi. Islam and Christianity evolved in the region between 18th and 19th centuries when slave trade was introduced in Malawi. David Livingstone was the first European to arrive in the land in 1859. British South African Company received a charter to uplift Malawi but during 1887 to 1889 the British company came into collision with the Arab slavers. The British gained the control of the Nyasaland territory in 1891 and in 1892 the territory became a British protectorate. From 1951 to 1953, Nyasaland was united with Northern and Southern Rhodesia to form the Central African Federation. In 1963 with the adoption of the constitution, a virtual autonomy for the country was granted. The Central African Federation collapsed in the same year and in the next year Malawi gained the status of a fully independent member of the British Commonwealth. In 1966, the nation became a republic with Dr. Banda as the first President of Malawi. GEOGRAPHY:- Malawi is located at 13 30 S, 34 00 E in Southern Africa, capturing total 118,480 sq km area in which 94,080 sq km area is covered by land. Lake Nyasa lies in the east, comprising almost 20% of the total area of the landlocked country. The lowest point is located at the junction of the Shire River and border with Mozambique (37 m) and the highest point is Sapitwa on the Mount Mlanje (3,002 m). Malawi is composed of narrow and elongated plateau with rolling plains and hills, and some mountains. CLIMATE:- The climate of Malawi is mostly sub-tropical with a rainy season (November to May) and a dry season (May to November). GOVERNMENT:- Malawi is a multiparty democratic country. The new constitution was adopted on 18th May 1994. The legal system is modeled on the English common law and customary law. The three major branches of the government are: Executive branch comprises the President (the chief of state, head of government), and the cabinet. The President is elected by a popular vote on a 5-year term. The 46-member Cabinet is appointed by the president. The President is Bingu wa Mutharika. Legislative branch comprises the unicameral National Assembly (193 seats). Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the magistrate's courts. Democratic Progressive Party is the ruling parties. The major opposition parties are United Democratic Front, Malawi Congress Party, Alliance for Democracy, New Republican Party, National Democratic Alliance, People's Progressive Movement, People's Transformation Party, and Congress for National Unity. Suffrage is universal at 18. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:-Malawi is divided into 3 regions: the Northern, Central and Southern regions. These regions are further sub-divided into 27 districts, 137 traditional authorities and 68 sub-chiefdoms. CULTURE:- The Malawian music ranges from folk to traditional music genres. ECONOMY:- Malawi is one of the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. Agriculture is the predominant sector, engaging 85% of the population living in rural areas, and providing over 33% of the total GDP and 90% of foreign earnings. GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $7.645 billion; per capita $600. Real growth rate: 1%. Inflation: 15.4%. Budget: Revenues: $1.128 billion Expenditures: $1.185 billion (2007 est.) Public debt: 50.6% of GDP (2007 est.) Debt - external: $894 million (31 December 2007 est.) Unemployment: NA. Arable land: 20%. Agriculture: Tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats. Labor force: 4.5 million (2001 est.); agriculture 90%, industry and services 10% (2003 est.). Industries: Tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods. Natural resources: Limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite. Exports: $364 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel. Imports: $645 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): food, petroleum products, semi-manufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment. Major trading partners: South Africa, U.S., Germany, Egypt, UK, Mozambique, India, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania (2004). Monetary unit: Kwacha LANGUAGE:- Chichewa spoken by 57.2% of the total population is the official language of Malawi. Other languages are: Chinyanja 12.8% Chiyao 10.1% Chitumbuka 9.5% Chisena 2.7% Chilomwe 2.4% Chitonga 1.7% Other 3.6% (1998) CITIES:- The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe while the largest city is Blantyre. Other large cities are Zomba, and Mzuzu. POPULATION:- The estimated population of Malawi is 13,603,181 with a growth rate of 2.4%. Density per sq mi: 374 Literacy rate: 63% (2003 est.) RACE:- Ethnic groups like Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European reside in the country. RELIGION:- Christians (mainly Protestants) 80% Muslims (Sunni) 12% Other 8%. HEALTH:- Birth rate: 41.79 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Death rate: 17.89 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 90.55 deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 43.45 years Total fertility rate: 5.67 children born/woman (2008 est.) Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 64 UNICEF:- UNICEF and the World Food Programme supplies life-saving therapeutic feeding to 1000 malnourished children in 2005 every month and provided supplementary feeding to 92,000 malnourished children and 42,000 malnourished pregnant women. Polio is almost abolished from the country. Over 2 million children are provided with measles immunizations and vitamin A supplements. 60% children and 55% pregnant women received insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria. Antiretroviral drugs were distributed to over 33000 HIV+ in 2004. UNICEF also focuses on the protection of children’s rights and promotion on breastfeeding in Malawi. TRANSPORTATION:- Railways: total: 797 km (2002). Highways: total: 28,400 km; paved: 5,254 km; unpaved: 23,146 km (1999 est.). Waterways: 144 km; Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire Riverall. Ports and harbors: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba. Airports: 43 (2002). Posted by subhasis on Wednesday Jul 30 reply Comments |
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