Lilongwe

CAPITAL CITY OF Malawi: Lilongwe
LANGUAGE OF Malawi: English
CURRENCY OF Malawi: Malawian kwacha (MWK)
COMMENTS ABOUT Malawi:
The Republic of Malawi is a democratic, densely populated country located in southeastern Africa.
Cities : Lilongwe (capital), Blantyre, Mzuzu, Mangochi, Monkey Bay, Cape Maclear, Salima, Nkhota Kota,Nkhata Bay, Livingstonia, Chilumba, Karonga, Rumphi
Best Places : Likoma and Chisumulu Islands, Mua, Zomba, Zomba Plateau, Thyolo Tea Estates, Kasungu National Park, Lake Malawi National Park, Lengwe National Park, Liwonde National Park, Nyika National Park, Mount Mulanje, Majete Wildlife Park, Shire Valley, Lake Chilwa, Nkhotakota, Viphya Plateau
Eat : staple, maize, nsima, relishes of beef, chicken or fish, kapenta, chibwabwa
Drink : mahewu (maheu), gritty yogurty, vaguely yogurty, fizzy drinks, fine ginger ale, Mulanje Gold Coffee Liqueur, Malawi Gin and Tonic
Calling code : +265
Time zone : CAT (UTC+2)
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution, which came into full effect the following year. Current President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after the previous president was unable to amend the constitution to permit another term, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor, who still leads their shared political party. MATHARIKA's anti-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests but no convictions. Increasing corruption, population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.
CLIMATE OF Malawi: sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
RELIGION OF Malawi: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 3%, other 2%
POPULATION OF Malawi: 11,906,855 - estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2004 est.)>>>
ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Malawi: Landlocked 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 accounted for nearly 40% of GDP and 88% of export revenues in 2001. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. In November 2002 the World Bank approved a $50 million drought recovery package, which is to be used for famine relief. The government faces strong challenges, e.g., to fully develop a market economy, to improve educational facilities, to face up to environmental problems, to deal with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and to satisfy foreign donors that fiscal discipline is being tightened. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for over 50% of exports