Pre-Colonial Period

The area now known as Malawi has seen massive tribe migrations for hundreds of years. Probably the most significant of which was that of the great Bantu tribes. Spread across Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Mozambique, the Bantu tribe slowly swallowed up weaker tribes during their move from western Africa into the center and eastern parts of Africa. Malawi is host to several cave paintings (in Mangochi and the Nyika Plateau to name two) that date back to the iron age.

Somewhere between the 14th and 16th centuries, two main tribes moved into Malawi; the Tumbuka from the Congo moved into the northern region while the Chewa from Zambia moved into the southern region. They have remained in these areas to this day. The Yao invaded southern Malawi in the 19th century, capturing weaker tribes for slave trade. It is believed that they were armed with firearms from Arab traders in the area.

Slave trade became a very big business in Malawi during this period. A heavy Arab influence in the area contributed to this. Of course, slave trade had existed through out Africa for many centuries, but this era saw a new level of international slave trade. Malawi towns like Nkhotakota and Karonga served as major slave trade centers.

Colonial Period

The first Europeans to arrive in Malawi were Portuguese explores who eventually made their way further south to settle in Mozambique. The most famous explorer to reach Malawi was Dr. David Livingstone (yes, from the quote “Dr. Livingstone I presume”) in 1846. After his first trek through Malawi (he named Lake Malawi “Lake Nyasa” and the area “Nyasaland”), Livingstone returned to England to report his findings and gather money and momentum for the founding of the Universities Mission in Central Africa (UMCA). Dr.

Dr. David Livingstone, Malawi's most famous explorer.

Livingstone returned to Malawi two more times to explore and help establish trade routes and mission sites. He died in 1873 during a trek through Malawi and into Zambia.
Livingstone paved the way for trade and a missionary presence in Nyasaland. Blantyre slowly became the trade center of the area and by 1883 had it’s own bank and several trading companies. As a result of heavy European trade along the Shire river and Lake Nyasa, Arab-powered slave trade drastically diminished.

In 1889, as a result of the “Scramble for Africa” among the European Colonizing powers and the quick-to-follow potential conflict, the area known as Malawi became a British protectorate. The new government still battled with Yao and Ngoni slave traders in Malawi and set up forts through-out Nyasaland to deal with the problem.

Over the next few decades, communication improved with the construction of and International Post Office and a Railway line to the coast of what is now called Mozambique. European settlers also increased in the area.

Banda Era

	President of Malawi from 1966 - 1994: Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda

Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda was made president of Malawi, as head of his own Malawian Congress Party (MCP), in July of 1966. Like many African presidents in history, Banda ruled Malawi with an iron fist. Upon taking office, he swiftly drove his opposition inside Malawi into exile and banned the foreign press from entering Malawi. In 1971 he named himself “President for Life” and continued to increase his power. Banda created two companies; Press Holdings (a nation-wide chain of supermarkets and general stores) and Admarc (which completely controlled all agricultural businesses). Through these two companies, Banda gained almost total economic control of Malawi.

Banda also made economic trade ties with South Africa. During South Africa’s apartide, Malawi became South Africa’s only public trade partner (although many African nations continued to trade with South Africa secretly). As a result, South Africa invested in Malawi heavily, eventually funding the construction of Lilongwe’s business center “City Center.”
Dr. Banda survived several attempts to throw him out of office. In 1978 a general election was held. Banda required all candidates pass a strict English exam (there-by eliminating all of his opposition). The candidates were then required to pledge their allegance to Dr. Banda. One of Banda’s supporters in the government actually lost his seat as a result of the elections. He was simply reinstated a few weeks later.

One newspaper reported that during Banda’s rule over Malawi, over 250,000 people were murdered or disappeared in connection with the government.

Democracy

At the end of the Cold War, Africa was looked on, by western countries, in a completely different way. Foreign aid was no longer awarded based on “friendly” countries (mainly distinguished by those who opposed communism) but rather by good governance. After over 30 years under Banda’s iron fist, the people of Malawi were ready for a change. The Catholic Church was the first to move on this by issuing a pastoral letter in 1992 demanding change. Protests and marches followed, but Banda’s fall didn’t happen until donor countries cut off their funding until Banda gave up his power. In 1992 the people of Malawi were asked what kind of government they wanted; a multi-party system or to continue with Banda’s government. The multiparty system won and on May 17th 1994, a general election between three parties was held. Businessman Bakili Maluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF) party became president.

Banda was actually brought to trial in 1995 for being accused of ordering the murder of three government ministers during his rule. The trial ended with his aquital, but Banda publically apologized for any suffering he “may have caused.”

Democracy has now been in Malawi for almost ten years. Maluzi’s government closed Banda’s vast political prisons, rewrote the constitution to include freedom of speech and press and created a national free primary school system. But like many young democratic nations, Malawi still has a long way to go. The economic, political, social and environmental conditions of Malawi are far from acceptable for any culture.