- Welcome to Malawi
- Malawi in the Commonwealth
- Malawi became a member of the Commonwealth in 1964
- Malawi became an independent country on the 6th of July 1964
- Malawi has been competing in the Commonwealth Games since 1970, and has won three medals
- Professor Joseph Uta served until 2008 as the President of the Commonwealth Library Association
- Malawi is one of six landlocked Commonwealth countries, all of which are in Africa, though it does have a border with Lake Malawi of more than 750km
- With nearly half of its population under 15, Malawi has a higher proportion of young people than any other Commonwealth country after Uganda
- As a proportion of total government spending, the Government of Malawi is the third highest spender on health in the Commonwealth
His Excellency Mr Lazarus Chakwera
President of the Republic of Malawi
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Malawi, the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’.
Malawi is a young democracy committed to improving the lives of her people through sustainable development. Malawi has much to learn and benefit from her fellow Commonwealth Member States, as it continues to address critical challenges affecting her.
Malawi ascribes to the Commonwealth values and aspirations that include promotion and protection of human rights, democracy, international peace and security, sustainable development, and protecting the environment, which are relevant in this century.
Malawi has a diverse and rich culture with kind and friendly people. I invite you to enjoy Malawi’s hospitality. The country offers beautiful mountains, valleys, and fresh water lakes, with our unique flora and fauna and varied range of wildlife.
Malawi is a haven for industrial growth as it offers a vast pool of labour. Investors will find the opportunity to participate in Malawi’s economic endeavours, secured by friendly industrial laws and pro-investment labour laws that safeguard both national and foreign investment interests. All these factors qualify Malawi as a favourable investment destination.
Let me welcome you once again to Malawi to experience the nation’s great hospitality and enjoy our beautiful country, as well as explore our business environment.
The above message was provided by the previous President.
Malawi in the Commonwealth
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Commonwealth Projects
Media Assistance to Electoral Commission of Malawi (2007/08)
A media advisor, provided for by the Commonwealth Secretariat, assisted the Malawi Election Commission (MEC) prepare for the 2009 elections. Specifically, the advisor worked with the MEC to help build up the Commission’s capacity to conduct media outreach, to monitor media coverage and regulate media behaviour. It is anticipated that this would help to provide a fairer and freer environment for the election campaign as well as ensure that voters were better informed regarding their rights and voting options.
Encouraging the Competitiveness of Women (2007/08)
The objective of this Commonwealth Secretariat commissioned project was to support the development and promotion of women-owned small and medium enterprises. This project targeted women because, although the SME sector in Malawi is comprised mostly of women, women entrepreneurs are disadvantaged because they lack adequate capital to establish competitive businesses, have low levels of technical skills and there are few organised structures and facilities to support them.
Medical/Surgical Nursing and Community Health/AIDS Expert, Kamuzu School of Nursing (2002 – ongoing)
This initially two year project, was funded by the Commonwealth, aimed to provide up-to-date training methods and increase the numbers of nurses trained in surgical and medical procedures and in community health/AIDS nursing care. The Kamuzu College is the only college offering training to registered and professional nurses and midwives in Malawi. The Medical/Surgical Nursing and the Community Health Nursing courses form the core programme of nursing training in the country and are viewed as critical to the delivery of health care. Nurses trained in these areas work with, and are available to, patients at all levels but the number of trained nurses falls far short of the country’s requirements. The expert assisted the Kamuzu College to implement its strategic work programme in line with the National Health Plan of Malawi.
Voter Registration in Malawi (2004)
The voter registration process and relevant aspects of its organisation, conducted between 5-18 January 2004 in preparation for the May 2004 General Election, was observed to assess that it provided a sound basis for continued preparations for the elections. The observers produced an assessment report for the Electoral Commission of Malawi.
Law Commission Advisor, The Malawi Law Commission (1998)
The objective of this advisory project (which was funded by the Commonwealth) was the provision of a long-term expert to work with the Law Commissioner in Malawi to develop systems and structures for an effective Law Commission.
Malawi
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