Malawi 2006
In 2006, Malawi was a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa with a population of over 13 million people. The economy of Malawi was largely agricultural, with most citizens relying on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Despite this, poverty levels were high, and many people lacked access to basic necessities such as food and water. Education levels were also low; most children did not attend school due to the cost of tuition and the lack of available resources. Infrastructure was also limited; roads were often in poor condition and did not connect many areas of the country. However, Malawi had a rich culture and vibrant music scene that kept its people connected to their heritage. According to constructmaterials, the country also had several protected areas that preserved its biodiversity and served as tourist attractions for visitors from all over the world.
Yearbook 2006
Malawi. A furious power struggle took up most of the political leaders’ time throughout the year. In 2005, the former ruling party United Democratic Front (UDF) had initiated a civil trial against the new president Bingu wa Mutharika. violated a number of Parliament’s rules. The process appeared mainly as a revenge for forming his own party and ordering corruption investigations against leading UDFs. While the judicial process was almost halted, the president went into counter-attacks against his enemies. During the year, Vice President Cassim Chilumpha was placed under house arrest following charges of attempted murder on Wa Mutharika and President Bakili Muluzi was temporarily arrested on corruption charges. The head of the anti-corruption authority, the Chancellor of Justice and the Prosecutor General were dismissed for deficiencies in the handling of the charges against the Vice President and the President. The president himself got worried after the Constitutional Court deprived him of almost all of his political support by deposing the 70 MPs elected for the UDF but switched over to his new party. As a result, the opposition was again free to try to get the president deposed. Political veteran Chakufwa Chihana died at age 67. He led the opposition for many years against Malawi’s authoritarian First President Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Although almost all of today’s political leadership has a background in opposition to Banda, the old dictator was honored with a stately new mausoleum, erected for the equivalent of over SEK 4 million.
According to CountryAAH, major public holidays in Malawi include Independence Day (July 6) and New Year (January 1). The Malawian population, whose average life expectancy has dropped to 36 years due to the AIDS epidemic and half of them are starving, received a small distraction from a visit by the world artist Madonna. She left the country with a one-year-old orphanage that she wanted to adopt. It sparked a heated debate about how wealthy celebrities can get courts in poor countries to see between the fingers of the law in a way that virtually sanctions human trafficking.
Malawi Overview
The elongated Malawi is located in eastern Africa. Its administrative capital is Lilongwe, but the largest city and business center is Blantyre. An East African burial ground runs through the country, with Lake Malawi, known for its endemic rainbow trout species, at its lowest point. The lake is home to more than a thousand species of fish, five hundred of which are not found anywhere else in the world. To the south of the lake flows the Shire River. Highlands rise on both sides of the burial ground. Due to large altitude differences, the climate in Malawi is very variable. The Shire Valley is only about 180 meters above sea level and has a tropical hot climate. The mountainous region of Malawi receives about 1500-2000 mm of rain each year and is therefore the wettest region in Africa. Malawi is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are the rock paintings of Mount Chongoni and Lake Malawi National Park. Malawi has nine national parks with more than 170 mammal species, including the “Big 5,” which includes a lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant. There are about 650 different bird species in the country. Malawi offers tourists sun-roasted beaches, turquoise waters, colorful fish, diving, snorkeling and safaris.
- According to abbreviationfinder, MW is the abbreviation code for Malawi.
Area: 118,484 km²
Population: 21,196,629 (estimate 7/2020)
Capital: Lilongwe
Population: Creoles (Malaysian-Indonesian), Indians, French
Religion: Christians 82%, Muslims 13%, others 5%
Language: English (official), chichewa (general)
Form of government: Republic
