Malawi Passport

【 Country Name 】 The Republic of Malawi.

【 Area 】 118484 square kilometers.

Population: 20.7 million (2023). The vast majority are black people from the Bantu language family. The main ethnic groups are Khiva, Longwei, and Yao. The official languages are English and Khiva. About 82% of residents believe in Protestantism and Catholicism, 14% believe in Islam, and the rest believe in primitive religions.

【 Capital 】 Lilongwe, with a population of approximately 1.33 million (2023).

[Head of State] President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera took office in June 2020.

Important Festivals: Heroes' Day (January 15th), Martyrs' Day (March 3rd), Labor Day (May 6th), Freedom Day (June 14th), National Day (July 6th).

【 Overview 】 A landlocked country in southeastern Africa, adjacent to Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania. 3/4 of the country has an altitude of 1000-1500 meters. It belongs to the tropical grassland climate. Moderate rainfall and mild climate. The annual average temperature is around 20 ℃, divided into three seasons: cool and dry (May to August), hot (September to November), and rainy (December to April). The highest temperature during the hot season is 29 ℃, and the lowest temperature during the cool and dry season is 7 ℃. The annual average precipitation is 1000-1500 millimeters.

In the 16th century, the Bantu people began to migrate in large numbers to the northwest of Lake Malawi (formerly known as Lake Nyasa) and settled in Malawi and adjacent areas. In 1891, Britain officially declared this area as the "British Central African Protectorate", also known as Nyasaland. In October 1953, Britain forcibly formed the Central African Federation with Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). On February 1, 1963, the Central African Federation dissolved and Nyasaland implemented internal autonomy. On July 6, 1964, it gained independence and was renamed Malawi. The Republic was declared on July 6, 1966. Hastings Banda, the Chairman of the Malawi Congress Party, serves as the President for life.

Since independence, the political situation has remained stable. In May 1994, the first multi-party elections were held, and Bakili Muluzi, the chairman of the United Democratic Front, was elected president and re elected in June 1999. In May 2004, Bingu Mutharika was elected as the third president of Malaysia and was re elected in May 2009. On April 5, 2012, President Mutharika passed away due to a sudden heart attack. On the 7th, Vice President Joyce Banda (female) took over as President. In May 2014, Malaysia held its first three in one presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections, with former president Bingu Mutharika's brother and chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, Peter Mutharika, elected as president. In May 2019, Mutharika was re elected as president and inaugurated that same month. In February 2020, the Ma Linshi Constitutional Court made a ruling on the election dispute, declaring the 2019 election results invalid. On June 23, 2020, Malaysia held a new presidential election. The presidential candidate of the Tongse Alliance, which includes the Congress Party and the United Movement for Change, and the chairman of the Congress Party, Chuck Villa, defeated the candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party United Democratic Front Alliance, Mutharika, and was elected president. He was inaugurated on June 28th.

The current Constitution was promulgated in May 1994 and revised in 1995. The constitution stipulates that Malaysia implements a multi-party system. The President is the Head of State, the Head of Government, and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, elected by universal suffrage for a term of 5 years and can only be re elected once. Protecting multi-party democracy and independent judicial power. The parliament is the highest legislative body. The Cabinet is the highest administrative body.

The parliament adopts a unicameral system. The parliament is composed of the president, speaker, vice speaker, elected members, etc., with a term of 5 years each. The current parliament was formed in June 2019, with a total of 187 seats, including 54 seats for the Congress Party, 60 seats for the Democratic Progressive Party, 9 seats for the United Democratic Front, 3 seats for the United Movement for Change, 4 seats for the People's Party, 1 seat for the Democratic Alliance, and 56 seats for independent legislators. Speaker Catherine Hara, from the Congress Party. The term of this parliament has been extended by one year until 2025.

The current government was formed on July 8, 2020 and has undergone several adjustments since then. In June 2024, then Vice President Chilima passed away in a plane crash, and President Chakvira appointed then Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Michael Bizwick Usi to succeed him as Vice President. The main members include: Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Michael Bizwick Usi, Vice President, Simplex Chityrola, Secretary of Finance and Economic Affairs, Nancy Tembo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kawale, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change (not yet appointed), Richard Chimvenedo Banda, Minister of Local Government, Solidarity and Culture, Titus Mwaro, Minister of Justice. Valo, Secretary of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng'oma, Secretary of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Female), Minister of Trade and Industry Sosten Alfred Gwengwe, Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire, Minister of Education Madalitso Wirima Kambauwa, Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara, Minister of Mines Monica Chang'anamuno, Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Mouonaunau Jean Muonaowauza Sendeza (female), Minister of Labor Agnes Nyalonje (female), Minister of Defense Harry Mkandawire, Abida Sidik Mia, Minister of Water Sanitation, Ibrahim Matola, Minister of Energy, Deus Gumba, Minister of Land, and Moses Kunkuyu Kalongashawa, Minister of Information.

[Administrative divisions] There are 3 districts and 28 counties under the jurisdiction of the country. The three regions are Northern Region, Central Region, and Southern Region.

The judicial system is divided into the Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the District Court.

The main political parties are:

(1) Malawi Congress Party (MCP): The ruling party. Established in 1944. Originally known as the African National Congress of Nyasaland, it was renamed to its current name in 1959. From 1964 to 1994, it was the only legal political party in Malaysia and held power for 30 years. After the first multi-party elections in 1994, Ma became an opposition party and returned to power after the June 2020 elections. The current chairman is Chakvira.

(2) United Transformation Movement (UTM): Member of the ruling coalition. In 2018, after the rupture between Vice President Chilima and President Peter Mutharika, he led the launch of the "Chilima Movement". In July of the same year, Qi announced that he would rename the "Chilima Movement" as the United Movement for Change and register it as a political party. In March 2020, the United Movement for Change formed a 9-party campaign alliance with the Congress Party and won the re held general election in June. In June 2024, the party chairman and then vice president Chilima passed away in a plane crash, and the party vice chairman Usi took over as vice president. The new chairman of the party has not yet been appointed.

(3) The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was founded in February 2005 by the then President of Malaysia, Bingu Mutharika. It was in power from February 2005 to March 2012 and from May 2014 to June 2020. According to the data released by the party, there are 2.5 million party members. Advocate for unity among all Malawians, committed to restoring economic growth and reducing poverty. The current chairman is Peter Mutharika.

(4) United Democratic Front (UDF): Formerly known as the United Democratic Independence Party, founded in March 1992 in Lilongwe, it was renamed to its current name in October of the same year. Since 1994, he has been in power. In 2005, he became an opposition party due to President Bingu Mutharika's departure from the party and the establishment of a new party to govern. In May 2022, Atupele Muluzi resigned from his position as chairman and returned as party chairman after the October 2024 party congress elections.

(5) People's Party (PP): Established by then Vice President Joyce Banda in 2011, he served from April 2012 to April 2014. The party takes "solidarity, equality and development" as its founding philosophy, advocates safeguarding citizens' constitutional rights, promoting democratization of political decision-making, economic liberalization and diversification of export products, vigorously developing industry and commerce, education and AIDS prevention and control, promoting employment and ensuring food security. The current chairman is Joyce Banda.

Lazarus McCarthy Chakvilla: President. Born on April 5th, 1955. Bachelor of Philosophy from the University of Malawi, Master of Theology from the University of South Africa, PhD in Pastoral Studies from Trinity International University in the United States. Since 1983, he has been a lecturer at the Malawi Theological Seminary and became its president in 1996. He also serves as the director of the National Federation of Theological Seminaries in Malawi. He has successively served as the Chairman of the National Petroleum Control Committee, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, and a member of the Public University Working Committee in Malaysia. Joined the Congress Party in April 2013 and was elected as the President of the Congress Party in October. In 2014 and 2019, as a candidate for the Congress Party, he participated in the presidential elections but lost to Mutharika. In the presidential election held in June 2020, Chakvira defeated Mutarika with approximately 59% of the vote and was elected president, taking office on June 28th.

Michael Bizwick Ushi: Vice President. Born on December 16th, 1968. I studied at Maramuro Medical College in Malawi and obtained a diploma in clinical medicine. Afterwards, I studied at Andrews University in the United States, Derby University in the United Kingdom, and Bedford University in the United Kingdom, obtaining bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. I worked at the Development and Relief Bureau of the Adventist Church in Malaysia for 26 years, gained popularity while working at the National Broadcasting Company of Malaysia, and gained great fame for my role in the movie "Doctor Manjia". In February 2019, the then chairman of the United Movement for Change party, Chilima, announced Ukraine as his running mate and officially entered politics. Since then, Ukraine has served as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife and Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change respectively. In June 2024, Vice President Chilima passed away in a plane crash, and Ukraine took over as Vice President.

Malaysia is an agricultural country, with about 86% of the population engaged in agriculture. Its economy is very backward and it is recognized as the least developed country by the United Nations. Its economic development heavily relies on foreign aid. Mainly cultivating tobacco, cotton, corn, etc., it is one of the major tobacco producing countries in Africa, with tobacco exports accounting for 70% of the country's foreign exchange earnings. Its Burley tobacco is of superior quality and enjoys a high reputation in the global tobacco industry.

Since the mid-1990s, the Malaysian government has implemented privatization and poverty alleviation plans, but economic development has been hindered due to Western accusations of corruption and freezing of aid. After Bingu Mutharika came to power, he made efforts to improve relations with the West, and the West gradually resumed aid, leading to an improvement in the economic situation. Since 2005, the "Growth and Development Strategy" has been implemented with the support of the International Monetary Fund. Due to the government's increase in agricultural investment and expansion of agricultural subsidy programs, Malaysia has achieved self-sufficiency in food for several consecutive years, with an economic growth rate exceeding 7% for six consecutive years (from 2005 to 2010). In the first half of 2011, Malaysia experienced a foreign exchange and fuel shortage crisis, which led to nationwide demonstrations, marches, and riots. After Joyce Banda took office as president in April 2012, he eased relations with the West, focused on seeking foreign aid, and introduced a series of economic reform measures, which improved the economic situation in Malaysia. However, due to the "Cash Gate" scandal exposed by the Banda government and its continued escalation, traditional Western donors have suspended budget support to the Malaysian government, posing serious challenges to the economy once again. In 2014, after Peter Mutharika came to power, he intensified reform efforts and introduced policy measures to attract investment and promote trade, resulting in a relatively stable economy. Since 2015, affected by the El Ni ñ o phenomenon, droughts and floods have occurred frequently, causing severe losses in traditional grain producing areas and having a significant impact on horse food production and economic development. Since President Chakvira took office in 2020, the new government of Malaysia has attached great importance to economic development, with the pillars of promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth, enhancing market economic stability, and strengthening fiscal and financial management. It focuses on solving the problem of power shortage, accelerating the construction of water conservancy infrastructure such as water supply, and striving to improve the level of agricultural development. To achieve development goals, the Ma Xin government has also launched the "2063 National Development Vision Plan".

In 2023, the economy will continue to suffer from the impact of unfavorable international environment and natural disasters, facing significant development pressure. The main data is as follows (data from the London Economic Quarterly Review, World Bank reports, Malawi Reserve Bank data, etc.):

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): 9.374 billion US dollars.

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 471.1 US dollars.

Economic growth rate: 1.5%.

Currency name: Kwacha.

Annual average exchange rate: 1 US dollar ≈ 1700 kwacha.

Inflation rate: 28.8%.

Foreign exchange reserves: 672 million US dollars.

Total external debt: 3.338 billion US dollars.

【 Resources 】 Mineral deposits include coal, bauxite, asbestos, graphite, apatite, uranium, iron ore, etc. The forest area is about 730000 hectares. Abundant water resources.

Industry mainly refers to the processing of primary products, including tobacco, tea, sugar, brewing, cotton spinning, vegetable oil, building materials, and food processing.

Agriculture is a pillar industry of the national economy. The agricultural output value accounted for 27% of the gross domestic product in 2021. 86% of the population in the country is engaged in agriculture, and 38% of the land is arable land. The main grain crops include corn, sorghum, millet, beans, rice, cassava, etc. The major cash crops include tobacco, tea, sugarcane, etc. Malawi's tobacco production is second only to Zimbabwe, ranking second in Africa. Tobacco exports are the most important source of foreign exchange income for Malaysia, accounting for 50% -70% of foreign exchange income. Animal husbandry mainly focuses on raising cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens. The fishery resources are abundant, with Lake Malawi and the upper reaches of the Shire River being the main fish producing areas. There are approximately 45000 fishermen and 250000 people engaged in fisheries related work nationwide.

In recent years, Malaysia has vigorously improved its tourism facilities and the tourism industry has developed rapidly. In 2019, the tourism industry in Malaysia achieved a production value accounting for 7.7% of GDP. Affected by the COVID-19, the proportion of tourism output value will drop to 0.28% in 2020. Tourists mainly come from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania, as well as countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. The main tourist destinations include Lake Malawi, national parks, hunting areas, and nature reserves.

【 Transportation 】 As an inland country, the nearest ports are Nacala Port and Beira Port in Mozambique. Domestically, land transportation is the main mode of transportation.

Highway: With a total length of 24900 kilometers, including 4073 kilometers of asphalt roads, it connects with highways in Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and other countries.

Railway: With a total length of 790 kilometers, it connects with the Mozambique Railway.

Air freight: There are 4 civilian airports, including 2 international airports, with international routes to South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Water transportation: The first phase of the Ensanje International Inland Terminal in the south was completed in 2010, connecting with the Zambia Railway.

In 2019, the total revenue of the Malaysian government was 1.628 billion US dollars, with a total expenditure of 1.948 billion US dollars and a fiscal deficit of 320 million US dollars; In 2020, the total revenue of the Malaysian government was 1.737 billion US dollars, with a total expenditure of 2.407 billion US dollars and a fiscal deficit of 670 million US dollars; In 2021, the total revenue of the Malaysian government was 1.416 billion US dollars, with a total expenditure of 2.054 billion US dollars and a fiscal deficit of 638 million US dollars; In 2022, the total revenue of the Malaysian government was 2.032 billion US dollars, with a total expenditure of 2.886 billion US dollars and a fiscal deficit of 854 million US dollars; In 2023, the total revenue of the Malaysian government will be 2.523 billion US dollars, with a total expenditure of 2.869 billion US dollars and a fiscal deficit of 346 million US dollars.

Foreign trade mainly exports tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, imports industrial and transportation equipment, petroleum, fertilizers, chemical products, etc. The main trading partners are South Africa, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and member countries of the Southern African Customs Union. The import and export volume in recent years is as follows (in millions of US dollars):