Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
UNDERSTAND MALAWI
Malawi Today
The last couple of years in Malawi have been colourful to say the least, with the reign of its
controversial president, Bingu wa Mutharika, coming to an end amid an economic fiasco.
In April 2012, when Mutharika's heart gave out, fresh blood was pumped into the political
system in the form of its new premier - women's rights activist and former vice president,
Dr Joyce Banda.
As Banda came to power the country was in the grip of a fuel crisis, and nepotism and
corruption in the ruling elite were rife. More worryingly, confidential files revealed by the
Sunday Times
in November 2012 proved that her predecessor had tried to have her killed to
block her becoming prime minister (as vice president she would have automatically suc-
ceeded him in the event of his demise). A truck had been arranged to crash into her car;
fortunately for Banda, she switched vehicles at the last moment.
Banda has other challenges on her hands: Malawi remains one of the world's poorest
countries (with a per capita GNP of less than US$250), nearly half the population is chron-
ically malnourished and life expectancy is only 53 years (owing in large part to the HIV/
AIDS infection rate in Malawi, which is estimated to run at almost 12%). Increased im-
munisation and improved access to running water have helped reduce the infant mortality
rate, though according to UNICEF it still sits at about one in eight children under five years
old dying of preventable causes such as neonatal conditions, pneumonia, diarrhoea, mal-
aria, HIV-related diseases and, of course, malnutrition. Malawi is urbanising rapidly and
the rate of population growth in the cities is far higher than that in rural areas. The burgeon-
ing population is straining natural resources, and schools, hospitals and other social institu-
tions are overflowing.
According to the CIA World Factbook, Malawi's total population is around 16.3 million
and is growing at an unsustainable 2.8% a year. Because the country is so small, this cre-
ates one of the highest population densities in Africa. About 85% of Malawians live in rur-
al areas and are engaged in subsistence farming or fishing, or working on commercial
farms and plantations. Around half the population is under 15 years of age. Against this
backdrop, Banda continues to achieve as much as she can in the event her reforms do not
get her elected for a second term in 2014.
