Malawi Country Report

Malawi is a landlocked developing country located in southeastern Africa. A lack of natural resources, underdeveloped infrastructure, and high rates of corruption and unemployment have long been major obstacles to the country's development and it remains one of the poorest nations in the world. A culture of personal rivalries centered around political leaders has also undermined the government's ability to address longstanding socio-economic issues. Although historically a major recipient of foreign development assistance, concerns over governance and corruption have resulted in international donors reducing their aid to Malawi over the past several years, compounding the country's economic difficulties.

Overall crime rates are relatively low by regional standards, with opportunistic street crime driven by a lack of legitimate employment opportunities being the main threat to foreign travelers in the main urban centers. However, in many rural areas there remains an enduring risk of exposure to vigilante violence stemming from local in superstitions and witchcraft beliefs. Overland travel can also be hazardous due to the poor state of the country's road network, reckless driving by some local road users, and deteriorating driving conditions during the rainy season.

Opportunistic street crime is the main threat to foreign nationals in Malawi, particularly in urban centers such as Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, as well as lakeside tourist destinations. Armed carjackings occur h in both urban and rural areas, though are a particular threat in Lilongwe and Blantyre. There has also been a recent increase in residential burglaries in Lilongwe, Blantyre, and Limbe. The risk of exposure to criminal activity increases significantly after dark and many foreign travelers limit pedestrian movement after nightfall.

Malawi's southern border region is likely to be negatively impacted by armed conflict in Mozambique. Malawi does not face any particular external threat. Popular mobilizations occur intermittently and can escalate into violence in cities and provinces.

In recent years, there have also been several incidents linked to superstition-based vigilante violence in the Mount Malanje area and several other districts in the south of the country, including Blantyre. While the majority of these attacks were directed against members of the local community, foreign travelers have been affected on several occasions.

There are no major safety concerns regarding air travel in the country.

Overland travel in Malawi presents significant hazards due to poor road conditions and reckless driving by some local road users.

Utilities infrastructure is extremely limited outside of Lilongwe and Blantyre, with an unreliable electricity supply and limited mobile communications networks being major impediments to economic development.

Malawi has a sub-tropical climate, with a cool and dry winter between May and August, a hot season from September to October and a warm and wet season between November and April. Flooding is common during the rainy season and can cause significant disruption to overland travel in some areas of the country as well as displace thousands in affected low-lying communities. Malawi is also located in a seismically active region and experiences relatively frequent low to moderate intensity earthquakes. Whilst these rarely cause any significant damage or casualties, stronger earthquakes above magnitude six also occasionally occur and have the potential to cause widespread damage in affected areas. Districts on the border with Mozambique have historically suffered from unexploded ordnance and landmine contamination but many of these devices have been cleared in recent years.

Food-borne illnesses and gastric intestinal infections are relatively common among travelers to Malawi and outbreaks of cholera occur with some frequency in the country, particularly in areas around the borders with Tanzania and Mozambique. Malaria is also widespread in the country and prophylaxis is recommended for all travelers. Malawi also has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world and HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern in the country. The availability of medical facilities is limited but several hospitals are available in Lilongwe and Blantyre. However, medical facilities generally suffer from shortages of basic supplies and care is often rudimentary, with evacuation to a country with more advanced facilities often being required in the case of serious injury or illness. Many over-the-counter drugs can be found at pharmacies and clinics in Lilongwe and Blantyre but many prescription pharmaceuticals are unavailable. Tap water throughout the country is considered unpotable, with some water sources in rural areas presenting a serious health risk.

A fractious political landscape and difficult socio-economic conditions have hampered drives towards political stability in Malawi, although the country has enjoyed a period of political stability since Lazarus Chakwera assumed the presidency in June 2020; however, tensions within the Tonse Alliance, composed of an alliance of nine political parties will almost certainly persist and worsen amid the multitude of divergent views within the former opposition coalition. Furthermore, Chakwera’s government has been criticized for the regional imbalance of the cabinet, with few people from the Northern region appointed, while they played a significant role in electing Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance. This could pose a challenge in maintaining the alliance’s ability to operate as one cohesive group and avoid internal divisions. A break-up in the coalition is, however, unlikely through 2021.

Corruption is a major problem in both the government and private sector in Malawi and permeates many levels of the civil service and society in general, having a significant detrimental impact on the country's business environment. However, rule of law is generally seen as being relatively strong in the country, despite limited resources and a burdensome caseload.