Malawi
Malawi: Political System

Malawi is a presidential republic in the Commonwealth. The unicameral
parliament, the National Assembly, consists of 193 members who are elected every
five years. The head of state is also directly elected every five years. A
one-time re-election is possible. According to Digopaul.com,
the state is called:
Mfuko la Malawwi
Republic of Malawi |
National anthem
Mulungu dalitsa Malawi (God bless our country Malawi)
has been the national anthem of Malawi since 1964. Text and music are by
Michael-Fredrick Paul Sauka.
In English |
In the English translation |
O God bless our land of Malawi,
Keep it a land of peace.
Put down each and every enemy,
hunger, disease, envy.
Join together all our hearts as one,
That we be free from fear.
Bless our leader,
each and every one,
And Mother Malawi.Our own Malawi, this land so fair,
Fertile and brave and free.
With its lakes, refreshing mountain air,
How greatly blest are we.
Hills and valleys, soil so rich and rare
Give us a bounty free.
Wood and forest, plains so broad and fair,
All - beauteous Malawi.Freedom ever, let us all unite
To build up Malawi.
With our love, our zeal and loyalty,
Bringing our best to her.
In time of war, or in time of peace,
one purpose and one goal.
Men and women serving selflessly
In building Malawi. |
O God bless our country Malawi,
keep it as a land of peace.
Destroy all enemies,
hunger, disease and envy.
Unite all of our hearts
that we are free from fear.
Bless our leaders,
each one,
and Mother Malawi.Our Malawi, this shining land,
fertile and loyal and free.
With its lakes, refreshing mountain air,
How great are we blessed.
Hills and valleys, soil so rich and precious.
Give us your gifts.
Forests and plains so wide and bright,
all of this is beautiful Malawi.Freedom Forever, Let's All Unite
To Build Malawi.
With our love, our zeal and our loyalty,
we bring her our best.
In times of war and times of peace,
one will and one goal.
Men and women serve selflessly in
building Malawi. |
National flag
The national flag (national flag) of Malaw was introduced on July 6, 1964
with the independence of the state from the United Kingdom from Great Britain
and Northern Ireland (UK). It consists of three horizontal stripes of equal
size, black above with a rising sun stylized in red, red in the middle and green
below. Based on flag descriptions by
Countryaah.com, the colors of the flag are interpreted as follows:
- Black for the peoples of Africa
- Red for the blood of the martyrs that was shed in the struggle for
independence
- Green stands for the country's forests.

Malawi: personalities
Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1896/1898/1906-1997)
The exact year of birth of the independence leader, president and later de facto
dictator of Malawi, Hastings Banda, is controversial. But the fact is that he
led Malawi to independence. After he first proclaimed the republic in 1966 and
became its president, he declared himself president for life in 1971. Banda
founded the Kamazu Academy, allowed Malawian television in the 1990s, introduced
a dress code for all citizens and maintained diplomatic relations
with apartheid South Africa. After allowing democratic elections in
1994, he was defeated by Bakili Muluzi and resigned.
Cate Campbell (born 1992)
The Australian freestyle swimmer, who was born in Blantyre, has won numerous
titles in the course of her athletic career. Among other things, he won the gold
medal over 50 meters at the Japan Open in 2008 and swam a new
Commonwealth record.
John Chilembwe (1871-1915)
Chilembwe, a Baptist clergyman and missionary, made a name for himself as a
fighter against the British colonial system. The Chilembwe, who awakened the
Malawian national consciousness, is still considered a national hero today. He
will be remembered on January 15th.
Jack Mapanje (born 1944)
The well-known Malawian writer and poet was Head of English at the University of
Malawi for a while and is currently Senior Lecturer in English at Newcastle
University.
Elson Bakili Muluzi (born 1943)
The politician, born in Machinga in 1943, was President of Malawi from 1994 to
2004. His reign was marked by numerous controversies. Not only did he propose a
constitutional amendment after his re-election in 1999 that would have given him
a third term. He also had the Malawian grain reserves sold abroad shortly before
the outbreak of a drought. The result was severe famine. The money for the sold
grain has not turned up to this day.
Bingu wa Mutharika (born 1934)
Mutharika, born in Thyolo in 1934, has been the President of Malawi since
2004. In the 2004 elections there was talk of massive electoral fraud. Since the
beginning of 2010, Mutharika has also served as President of the African Union.
Tamandani Wazayo Phillip Nsaliwa (born 1982)
The German-Canadian soccer player from Lilongwe, Malawi, plays
in the Canadian national soccer team. He started playing for AEK Athens in the
2007/08 season.
David Livingstone (1813-1873)
David Livingstone, the famous Scottish missionary and Africa explorer, undertook
several expeditions to Africa and tried all his life to work against the slave
trade. He is considered to be the one who discovered Lake Malawi.
Paul Tiyambe Zeleza (born 1955)
The Malawian historian, literary critic and writer, born in 1955, has been
President of the African Studies Association since 2009.
Malawi: animals, national parks
Animals in the national parks
The fauna of Malawi is presented according to the five local national parks
and protected areas. The reptiles, however, are presented separately.
Nyika National Park
The Nyika National Park is located in the north of the country at an altitude
between 2,000 and 3,000 m and covers an area of 3,214 km².
The park covers almost the entire Nyika plateau. The local coniferous forests
and grasslands are typical.
In the park live 95 mammals, among which are:
African elephant (Loxodonta africana),
Ethiopian Vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops),
bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus),
eland (Taurotragus oryx),
United reedbuck (Redunca arundinum),
greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros),
Klipspringer (oreotragus oreotragus),
crown Ducker (Sylvicapra grimmia),
Lichtenstein antelope (Alcelaphus lichtensteinii),
lions (Panthera leo),
leopard (Panthera pardus),
roan (Hippotragus equinus),
puku (Kobus vardoni),
red duiker (Cephalophus natalensis),
Steppenzebras (Equus quagga),
Striped jackals (Canis adustus),
spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta),
white-throated monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis),
desert warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus).
Among the local 425 bird species one can find, for example, the red-winged
frankolin (Francolinus levaillantii), the rock crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) or
the Stanley bustard (Neotis denhami). The national park is open all year round.
Kasungu National Park
The Kasungu National Park covers an area of around 2,300 km². The park is
located about 115 km from the capital Lilongwe. The park is known for the
elephants that come to the river channels to drink in the early morning and
evening, although their numbers have decreased massively due to the
poaching. The park's grassland is home to large herds of buffalo. Other animals
include hyenas, kudu, lions, leopards, reed buck, saber antelopes and
zebras. The national park is open from the beginning of May to the end of
December.
Lengwe National Park
Lengwe National Park is located in the southwest of Malawi and covers an area of
130 km² and is a habitat for the rare nyala antelope. Other local animals are
buffalo, bushbuck, duiker, impalas, hartebeest, kudu, leopard, lions and
warthogs. The numerous observation stands from which you can observe these and
other animals are highly recommended. The park is closed during the rainy
season.
Liwonde National Park
The Liwonde National Park extends from Lake Malombe in northern Malawi to the
city of Liwonde in the south and covers an area of around 550 km². It is
possible to take a boat ride through the papyrus swamps and observe the local
hippos and elephants. You can also find here:
African buffalo, bushbuck, duiker, impalas, kudu, rhinos, baboons, saber
antelopes, black rhinos, warthogs, waterbucks, zebras, sable or sable
antelopes. Some of the animals have been moved here. There are also Nile
crocodiles in the park. The bird life in the park is very diverse, with around
380 species. It is important to know that the park is closed between November
and May.
Lake Malawi National Park
The Lake Malawi National Park covers an area of approx. 90 km², the southern
and central part of Lake Malawi, the Khumba peninsula and twelve smaller
islands.
The lake The Malawi lake has the greatest diversity of fish in the world. Around
half of the 1,000 species estimated in the entire lake are found in the area of
the park. Of these, over 90% are only native here, i.e. endemic.
The national park has been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since
1984.
On land, you can see klipspringers, bushbucks and vervet monkeys. The park is
open all year round. Campsites are available.
Nature and landscape protection areas
In addition to the national parks described, there are several nature and
landscape protection areas. However, there are no accommodation options for
visitors here, although an appropriate infrastructure is being built up.
Majete Game Reserve
The Majete Game Reserve is about 65 km north of Lengwe. It is very remote and
little developed for tourism. The area was fenced in to reintroduce animals to
the wild. This is what it is called when animals are released back into the
wild. Some of them came from the national parks of neighboring countries. The
Big Five are now living here again: elephants, buffalo, rhinos, lions and
leopards.
Mwabvi Game Reserve
The Mwabvi Game Reserve is located southeast of Lengwe. You can find impalas,
saber antelopes, black rhinos or zebras here.
Vwasa Marsh Game Reserve
The Vwasa Marsh Game Reserve is located west of Mzuzu. Elephants, buffalo,
rhinos and a large number of birds live in the game reserve. The flora of the
reserve consists mainly of forests, open grasslands and swamps.
Important reptiles
Nile crocodile
The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) occurs in large parts of Africa and
also in Malawi. The animals are about 3 to 5 m long. A detailed description of
the Nile crocodile can be found here >>>
African
spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis) In Malawi, the subspecies of the African
peibobra Naja nigricollis crawshayi occurs.
A detailed description of the African spitting cobra can be found here >>>
Leaf-green mamba
The leaf-green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps), also known as the common mamba,
is a very poisonous snake whose bites are almost always fatal without any
counter-serum. But even with a serum, a bite poses serious danger.
A detailed description of the comparable green mamba can be found here >>>
Boomslang
The Boomslang (Dipholidus typus) belongs next to the Mambas to one of the most
poisonous snakes in Africa. You can find a detailed description of Boomslang here
>>>
Gaboon viper
Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) is quite sluggish and bit lazy also it is
difficult to see in their environment and is therefore treated by the locals too
careless. But a full bite of this snake almost always ends in death without
counter-serum.
A detailed description of the Gaboon viper can be found here >>>
Banded cobra
The banded cobra (Naja anilifera) is a venomous snake belonging to the genus of
the real cobras (Naja). A detailed description of the Banded Cobra can be found here
>>>
Common puff adder
The common or common puff adder (Bitis arietans) belongs to z. B. the Gaboon
viper to the genus Bitis, of which there are 14 species. A detailed description
of the common puff adder can be found here >>>
Marbled tree snake
The marbled tree snake (Dipsadoboa aulica) is not poisonous.
This snake becomes about 65 cm long and feeds on frogs, geckos, but also on
toads, skinks and small rodents such as mice.
Mozambique spitting
cobra The Mozambique spitting cobra (Naja mossambica) belongs to the genus of
the real cobras (Naja), which can not only bite, but also spray its poison a few
meters away against humans or animals. The real cobras are found in both Africa
and Asia.
A detailed description of the Mozambique spitting cobra can be found here >>>
Striated tree snake
The striated tree snake (Dipsadoboa flavida) is not poisonous. The snake species
has the following subspecies: Dipsadoboa flavida flavida and Dipsadoboa flavida
broadleyi.
The latter subspecies does not occur in Malawi, but only in Somalia, Kenya,
Tanzania and Mozambique.
Black mamba
The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) can be over 4 m long and is certainly
the most dangerous venomous snake on the African continent.
A detailed description of the Black Mamba can be found here >>>
Black and white cobra
The black and white or white-lipped cobra (Naja
melanoleuca) belongs to the genus of real cobras (Naja). The real cobras are
found in both Africa and Asia.
Malawi: plants
General overview
The most common vegetation formations in Malawi are savannahs and open
grasslands as well as light dry forest. Closed forests only occur in mountainous
areas and on the wooded high plateaus. There are still extensive coniferous
forests in Nyika National Park. The country's forest was previously cleared for
agriculture and settlements, but its importance has been recognized and major
reforestation has begun. Baobab trees, acacias and various conifers are the most
common tree species in Malawi. It is worth mentioning that due to the increasing
drought, it is losing more and more water, which understandably has a not
insignificant impact on the surrounding flora and fauna. At Lake Malawi you can
find various marsh plants including reeds in the bank area.
Orchids
Alone in Nyika National Park there are said to be around 200 different types of
orchids.
Wild fig trees Wild fig trees
grow in the country, There is a beautiful story about it, For example, David
Livingstone is said to be welcomed in Nkhotakota on September 10, 1863 by chief
Juma ben Saidi with 50 followers under a wild fig tree.
Aloe plants
The aloe plants (Aloe vera) with their milky-white juice are mainly used for
skin diseases. This species belongs to the genus of aloes (Aloe) in the
subfamily of the Affodill plants in the family of the grass tree plants
(Xanthorrhoeaceae). The plants either have no trunk and if they do, then it has
a diameter of about 10 cm. The aloin contained in aloe has a strong laxative
effect, which is why it can also be used for constipation. The plant was
introduced to the island
Spurge plants
The spurge plants (Euphorbiaceae) are a family of plants in the order of the
Malpighia-like (Malpighiales). Worldwide there are about 240 genera with about
6,000 different species. The representatives of a number of subfamilies are also
growing in Malawi. The
spurge plants include: - African milk bush (Synadenium granti)
- Triangular spurge (Euphorbia trigona)
- Cassava (Manihot esculenta), which originally comes from South America
- Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), which is mainly found in Central and South
America, for example also occurs in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and on Madagascar
- but not in Malawi.
Legumes
The legumes (azuki beans) are divided into around 700 genera with around 15,000
known species. The plants can be herbaceous or also trees, shrubs and
lianas. They usually have a relatively high protein content, making their fruits
and seeds an important part of the human diet. They are almost indispensable,
especially in the case of a low-meat, vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Examples of
which to use as food for humans and animals. Legumes are, for example, azuki
beans, green beans, peas, peanuts, chickpeas, lima beans or lentils and lupins,
as well as soybeans and vetches.
Baobab trees The baobab trees - also known as baobabs
- are not only a real eye-catcher for nature lovers. The baobab trees
(Adansonia) are a genus from the subfamily of the wool tree family
(Bombacoideae) in the family of the mallow family (Malvaceae). They reach a
height between 5 and 30 m.
Baobab trees store water in the trunk and also get by with relatively little
water, so that it can withstand the African heat well. This tree species also
grows in Madagascar and Australia. However, it does not exist in rainy areas.
The baobabs are large and often bizarre growing deciduous trees. They are
characterized by a relatively short, extremely thick trunk and the tree crown
consists of strong, often misshapen appearing branches that form a widely
spreading crown. In the unleaved state, the crown of branches is reminiscent of
a root system, which has contributed to the legend that the baobab tree is a
tree planted upside down. The gray-brown to gray bark is between 5 to 10 cm
thick and is hard on the outside and fibrous on the inside. Therefore, the trees
can withstand smaller bush fires quite well.
The sweet fruits are used as fruit or for the production of fruit juices and
confectionery, and precious oil is extracted from the seeds. Ropes, ropes,
straps, strings for musical instruments, baskets, nets and fishing lines are
made from the fibers of the bark. The dried bark is used, among other things, as
a remedy for fever.
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