Anna Smagacz

Logan
Honors per. 7
2 February 2016
Who is involved with the issues
Many groups of people have involved themselves with issues in Malawi. Some are
religious groups that work there or people spending time to assist. Some doctors will spend time
there helping to treat the people and train others to help. The government has funded a national
healthcare service that is free to all. Health care is provided in three forms: health centers local
level, and rural hospitals. RIPPLE Africa helps to fight malaria. They also help with the water.
Many people in Malawi struggle to find clean water, let alone carry it from a lake to their home.
Malawi women assist other women who are giving birth. These women are often called a
traditional birth attendant (TBA).
Issues Malawi is facing
Malawi is facing a great deal of main issues. HIV/AIDS and other disease is an issue
Malawi has been working to control for a while. Approximately 51 thousand people die a year
due to AIDS. This is such a problem partly because people are not educated on this topic. 120
thousand children are currently living on HIV. Over 40 % of the people who live in Malawi live
below poverty. The majority of those are females. Because education is limited, not many people
have an opportunity for a high paying job. Agriculture is essential for a good economy.
However, its not very reliable because droughts are common. Nearly 1,000,000 children are
orphaned in Malawi. There are few resources and facilities to help children. 13% of them have
lost their parents and an estimated 17% are living without their biological parents. It is common
to find families without parents due to all the disease and some abandonment. Often times an
oldest sibling will care for the younger ones. It is hard to obtain nutrition, health, education, and
more living this way. Education is a large issue for Malawi. It is estimated that 26% of boys and
16% of girls complete primary school. 15% of boys and 7% of girls make it through secondary
school. Going to school there probably means a long walk and struggles to find a shelter for
school. Girls often times end up leaving school because a pregnancy or early marriage.
When the issues began
The issue dealing with AIDS/HIV did not have specific starting point. It most likely
started years ago when people were not educated on this topic. Education has always been a
problem for Malawi. It was not what generations and families of people saw as important and of
course there was not a shelter or money to make education successful. Today, Malawi still has
not figured out a successful way to educate. The problem of orphans mostly comes from the
issue of disease leading to death. Disease has not been controlled well since the country began.
Poverty is an ongoing issue that has not been controlled.

Resources, resource location, and who controls them

The natural resources Malawi include limestone, uranium, coal, bauxite, phosphates,
graphite, granite, black granite, aquamarine, tourmaline, rubies, sapphires, and rare earths. The
specific locations are not obvious however they probably vary. Malawi is lucky to have a lake in
East area providing a convenient resource of water. Those who do not live by water resources
most likely struggle.

Political Structure:
Origin of political structures: Malawi has been a multi party democracy since 1994. The judicial
system is based on an english model.
Constitution of government: The constitution was repealed in 1966. The constitution established
a republican government and provides a separation of the government powers.
Stability and policies of current government: Malawi is governed by a president who is elected in
5 year terms. There are 193 members in the house.

Natural Resources:
Exports: Raw tobacco takes up 45% of malawi exports. A slim majority of the exports is raw
sugar. Lots of tea radioactive chemicals are exported along with uranium and and thorium ore.
Raw cotton is one of Malawis exports as well. It is the 147th largest exporter.
Basic commodities produced:
Trade agreements with other countries: Malawi has trade agreements with countries that include:
Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, China , India, and Malaysia.
Degree of self-sufficiency: Around 1964 when Malawi had independence some smallholders
were not legally allowed to grow crops. Others grew things like tobacco but had to sell them to
ADAMRC which sold for one third or half the price. 90% or rural households grow maize
however they dont have enough to sustain themselves for months after a harvest. 67% of
households rely on the market. 8.6% rely on their own production.
Cultural Factors:
Ethnic Groups: Malawis ethnic groups include Chewa, Nyanja, Yao, Tumbuka, Lomwe, Sena,
Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian and European.
Religions: Christianity, Islam, and Muslim are the main religions in Malawi.
Cultural History:
Customs:Malawis customs are varied due to a variety of religions. Trade and manufacturing are
a couple. Decorations, hotels/lodges and clothing are included.

History:
General: People migrated from the Congo in the late 13th century. They got a government going
and in 1964 developed a declaration of independence and end established freedom and
commonwealth of malawi. They faced a strong opposition with the catholic bishop, community
Last 50 years: First elections since independence. Several ministers and politicians were killed
for treason. President Banda became seriously ill. Elections that reestablished freedom. Banda
died. World bank said it would cancel 50% of foreign debt.
Last 6 months: nothing
Economy:
Monetary system:
Dependency of debt: 44.04
Membership in economic and trade organizations:
Size of economy: major types of jobs, strength of economy: Malawis agriculture represents 85%
and 29% represents the total amount of exports.
Standard of living: The standard of living in Malawi is cheap. Nearly half of the people are
below poverty or at it.

Anna Smagacz
Logan
Honors ss per. 4
16 February 2016
Works Cited
"Information About Healthcare in Malawi, Africa." RIPPLE Africa. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb.
2016. <http://www.rippleafrica.org/healthcare-in-malawi-africa/healthcare-in-malawiafrica>.

"Malawi." OEC. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.

<http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/mwi/>.
"Malawi Profile - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13881367>.
"The Hunger Project in Malawi." The Hunger Project Malawi Comments. N.p., n.d. Web.
17 Feb. 2016. <
"The Hunger Project: Empowering Women and Men to End Their Own Hunger." The
Hunger Project Homepage Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.thp.org/our-work/where-we-work/africa/malawi/.>.
"World Intellectual Property Organization." Malawi: Constitution of the Republic of
Malawi. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. <http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/details.jsp?
id=9197>.
"Why Malawi?" Why Malawi? N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.raisingmalawi.org/pages/why-malawi>.

2008. Northampton: Society of Homeopaths, 2007. Web.