Malawi (original) (raw)

Republic of Malawi

CAPITAL : Lilongwe

FLAG : The national flag is a horizontal tricolor of black, red, and green, with a red rising sun in the center of the black stripe.

ANTHEM : Begins "O God, Bless Our Land of Malawi."

MONETARY UNIT : The kwacha ( K ) of 100 tambala (t) is the national currency; it replaced the Malawi pound ( M £) on 28 August 1970 and was linked with the pound sterling until November 1973. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 tambala, and notes of 50 tambala and 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 kwacha. K 1 = 0.01137(or0.01137 (or 0.01137(or1 = K 87.9) as of May 2003.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES : The metric system is the legal standard.

HOLIDAYS : New Year's Day, 1 January; Martyrs' Day, 3 March; Kamuzu Day, 14 May; Republic or National Day, 6 July; Mothers' Day, 17 October; National Tree Planting Day, 21 December; Christmas, 25 December; Boxing Day, 26 December. Movable holidays include Good Friday and Easter Monday.

TIME : 2 PM = noon GMT.

LANGUAGES

Numerous Bantu languages and dialects are spoken. Chichewa, the language of the Chewa and Nyanja, is spoken by more than half the population, but the Lomwe, Yao, and Tumbuka have their own widely spoken languages, respectively known as Chilomwe, Chiyao, and Chitumbuka. English and Chichewa are the official languages.

ARMED FORCES

In 2002, Malawi had an army of 5,300 personnel, organized into three infantry battalions, one independent paratroop battalion, and one support battalion. The air wing numbered 80 and the maritime wing had 220 members. There was a paramilitary gendarmerie of 1,500 in the mobile police force. In 2000/01 Malawi spent $9.5 million on defense, or 0.8% of GDP. Malawi participated in the UN peacekeeping mission in the DROC.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Malawi became a UN member on 1 December 1964; the nation participates in ECA and all the non-regional specialized agencies except IAEA. Malawi also belongs to the African Development Bank, Commonwealth of Nations, G-77, and AU. It is a member of the WTO and a signatory of the Lomé Convention, and is a participant in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

INSURANCE

Most insurance firms operating in Malawi are owned or sponsored by parent companies in the UK. However, the leading company, the National Insurance Co. (NICO), is owned by Malawi interests. There were seven insurance companies in operation in 1997. Motor vehicle insurance is compulsory.

DEPENDENCIES

Malawi has no territories or colonies.

Location, size, and extent

Topography

Climate

Flora and fauna

Environment

Population

Migration

Ethnic groups

Religions

Transportation

History

Government

Political parties

Local government

Judicial system

Economy

Income

Labor

Agriculture

Animal husbandry

Fishing

Forestry

Mining

Energy and power

Industry

Science and technology

Domestic trade

Foreign trade

Balance of payments

Banking and securities

Public finance

Taxation

Customs and duties

Foreign investment

Economic development

Health

Housing

Education

Libraries and museums

Media

Organizations

Tourism, travel, and recreation

Famous malawians

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Boeder, Robert B. Malawi. Boulder, Colo.: Westview, 1986.

Chanock, Martin. Law, Custom, and Social Order: The Colonial Experience in Malawi and Zambia. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1985.

Crosby, C. A. Historical Dictionary of Malawi. 2d ed. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1993.

Decalo, Samuel. The Stable Minority: Civilian Rule in Africa, 1960–1990. Gainesville, Fla.: FAP Books, 1998.

Democracy and Political Change in Sub-Saharan Africa. New York: Routledge, 1995.

Else, David. Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. Oakland, Calif. Lonely Planet, 1997.

Harmon, Daniel E. Southeast Africa: 1880 to the Present: Reclaiming a Region of Natural Wealth. Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House Publishers, 2002.

Kalinga, Owen J. M. Historical Dictionary of Malawi. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2001.

McElrath, Karen (ed.). HIV and AIDS: A Global View. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2002.

Mtewa, Mekki. Malawi: Democratic Theory and Public Policy. Cambridge, Mass.: Schenkman, 1986.

O'Toole, Thomas. Malawi in Pictures. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Co., 1989.

Spring, Anita. Agricultural Development and Gender Issues in Malawi. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, Inc.,1995.