| |
| |
| |
 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| Malawi Facts The geography, history, people, in brief...Malawi is a landlocked country located in south-eastern Africa. It is one of Africa's smallest but most densely populated countries. Malawi has been described as 'the warm heart of Africa' largely due to the exceptionally friendly and peaceful nature of its people and the fact that so many who visit the country fall instantly in love with it. Its wide range of natural wonders is dominated by a single feature: Lake Malawi - arguably Africa's most beautiful - which is over 350 miles long and accounts for almost 20% of the country. Flanked by forested hillsides and edged with palm fringed sandy beaches the Lake is the country's main tourist destination. It is estimated that the lake holds over 500 different fresh water fish species - more than are found in Europe and North America combined. Mulanje Mountain is another dominant feature in the south of the country. This huge granite outcrop is the highest mountain in central Africa. Malawi has five national parks, four wildlife reserves and numerous forest reserves, which boast large ranges of mammals and/or birds. Malawi's rich variety of scenic beauty masks the nation's acute poverty. Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for 31% of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The country remains crippled by an enormous debt burden despite recent promises of debt relief. The country's population faces enormous challenges. Malawi's food security situation is highly precarious and the country is prone to natural disasters - from drought to heavy rainfalls. This particularly affects those who rely on subsistence agriculture. Widespread malnutrition remains a major problem.The health of the population is equally precarious. Illnesses such as malaria and TB are on the increase but, like many countries in Africa, the most acute crisis is HIV/AIDS. An estimated 15% of the rural population and 32% of the urban population are infected with the HIV virus. This has resulted in life expectancy rates plummeting and hundreds of thousands of orphans. The country's environment is also threatened by a host of problems. Malawi's single major natural resource, agricultural land, is under severe pressure from rapid population growth (now slowing due to AIDS), which, according to the United Nations, has more than doubled since independence in 1964. The country's soils and biodiversity are further threatened by deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution and over fishing in Lake Malawi. Having been established as the British protectorate of Nyasaland in 1891, Malawi gained its independence in 1964. For three decades Malawi was governed by the self declared President-for-Life Kamuzu Banda. In the mid-1990s Banda buckled under popular pressure to hold elections. The country held its first multiparty elections in 1994 which resulted in the election of President Bakili Muluzi. He was re-elected in 1999 for a second and final term. In the elections of May 2004 Muluzi's hand-picked successor, 71 year old Bingu Wa Mutharika, was elected president. His party, the United Democratic Front (UDF), did less well in the parliamentary elections and he has had to form a coalition government. The previous 3-way party-regional alignment appears to have been broken. Look at other pages on this site to find out more about the problems Malawi faces and what MACS in doing to help communities in Malawi address these issues. For further details on Malawi visit the World Fact Book
| |
| |
| | | |
| |||
|
Website by |