MALAWI HANDBOOK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00891A001000040001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 35
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 25, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 1, 1971
• Content Type: BH

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Secret
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Malawi
Handbook
Secret
N2 93
No. 0607
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WARNING
This document contains information affecting the national
defense of the United States, within the meaning of Title
18, sections 793 and 794, of the US Code, as amended.
Its transmission or revelation of its contents to or re-
ceipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
CROUP I
Excluded from aidamatIt
downgrading and
declassiacation
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. GEOGRAPHY
Page
Location 1
Area 1
Topography 1
Climate 1
Natural resources 2
Human resources 3
II. ECONOMIC BACKGROUND
Structure of the economy 1
Economic policy and financial system 1
Foreign trade and balance of payments 2
Transportation and telecommunications 2
III. POLITICAL SITUATION AND TRENDS
Historical background 1
Government structure and functioning 1
Political dynamics 3
Security system 5
IV. SUBVERSION
VI. ARMED FORCES
Organization and manpower 1
Mission and capabilities 1
Foreign support 1
Africanization and morale 1
Malawi
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VII. FOREIGN RELATIONS
Basic objectives 1
African states 1
Western states 1
Communist states 2
VIII. US INTERESTS
Aid and investment 1
Trade 1
Residents 1
MAP
Malawi
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INTRODUCTION
Malawi, formerly the British Protectorate of Nyasaland, has enjoyed a
degree of political stability remarkable for Africa, a condition attributable to
the autocratic rule of President for Life H. Kamuzu Banda. Banda, who
enjoys immense prestige in his country as the man who charted Malawi's
independence, also serves as minister of external affairs, minister of justice,
commander in chief of the armed forces, and president for life of Malawi's
sole political party.
Political stability has not brought economic viability, however. Poor,
overcrowded, and landlocked, Malawi has one of the lowest per capita
incomes in the world. Fully 90% of the population of over five million is
engaged in agriculture, and agricultural products account for almost all
exports. The limited modern sector of the economy is geared largely to the
processing of agricultural products. Unemployment is chronic. Malawi de-
pends upon Portuguese Mozambique for rail and port facilities, and both
South Africa and Rhodesia have become important sources of development
capital and employment for Malawi's huge surplus of unskilled manpower.
This economic dependence, as well as a desire to become the architect
of conciliation between black Africa and white Africa, prompts Banda to
advocate open cooperation with the white-ruled states of southern Africa.
This policy reached a high point in August 1971 when Banda made a state
visit to South Africa, the first by a black African head of state. Banda's
policy and his trip have been severely criticized by militant black African
leaders who adamantly oppose white racial policies in southern Africa and
regard I3anda as a stooge.
Banda's domination of domestic politics has undercut the potential for
dissidence within his government and has forestalled any threat of foreign-
supported insurgency. Although remote border areas are used by anti-
Portuguese insurgents operating against Mozambique, this activity has been
of such low level that it has not threatened either Malawi's internal security
or its relations with Mozambique.
Malawi
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I. GEOGRAPHY
Location
Malawi, in southeast Africa, is a long, narrow, landlocked country
nestled against Lake Nyasa and bordering Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozam-
bique.
Area
Malawi has an area of 46,000 square miles, including more than 9,000
square miles of Lake Nyasa. It is approximately the size of peninsular
Florida.. Malawi's perimeter is 1,665 miles, about a quarter of which is in or
along Lake Nyasa. The boundary with Zambia, 520 miles, is mostly across
rugged hills and mountains. The Malawi-Mozambique boundary is about 850
miles, of which approximately 180 miles are in Lake Nyasa. The Malawi-
Tanzania border is about 295 miles, about 200 of which is along the east
shoreline of Lake Nyasa.
Topography
The nation is an area of rolling plains and rounded hills and mountains.
South of Lake Nyasa there are scattered areas of flat plains. Although
elevations range mostly between 2,000 and 5,000 feet, the extremes range
from about 120 feet in places along the Shire River to almost 10,000 feet in
the Mlanje Mountains.
Vegetation is chiefly open to moderately dense deciduous forest and
grass two to four feet high. Marshy areas are along streams and lakes in the
south, along with numerous cultivated fields consisting chiefly of cotton,
tobacco, corn, peanuts, and tea bushes.
Culture features, mainly rural settlements, are dense in the extreme
south and generally sparse elsewhere. The settlements consist of clusters of
rounded huts of wattle and daub with thatched roofs. The few urban centers
are mainly in the south and have modern commercial and industrial areas
surrounded by relatively new residential sections. These sections in turn are
surrounded by slums consisting of huts similar to those of rural areas.
Climate
Malawi's climate is tropical but moderated by the relatively high eleva-
tion of the country. The rainy season, early November through April, is
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generally cloudy, warm to hot, and humid; showers and thunderstorms are
frequent. The dry season, early May through October, has clear or only
partly cloudy skies, warm to hot days but cool nights, and comparatively
low humidity.
Annual precipitation generally ranges from 30 to 55 inches at most
lower elevations to more than 90 inches on some mountain slopes. More
than 90% of the annual precipitation at most locations occurs during the
rainy season. During the dry season, amounts are mostly less than one inch.
In the low-lying areas along the Shire River and near Lake Nyasa,
temperatures are high throughout the year; during October and November,
the hottest months, the mean daily maximums are near 95F, and extremes
are over 100F. In June and July, the coolest months, mean daily maximums
are in the low 80s and the mean daily minimums near 60F. At higher
elevations, temperatures are greatly modified. During the hottest months,
mean daily maximums are mostly in the 80s and mean daily minimums in
the 60s and 70s. During the coolest months, temperatures are usually in the
70s during the day and in the 40s and 50s at night.
Natural resources
Agriculture?Malawi's generally good agricultural land, reliable rainfall,
and moderate temperature are suitable for growing a wide variety of crops.
Less than 15% of the land is being farmed, however, because of the broken
topography which makes up three fourths of Malawi. Most cultivation is in
the relatively low lying, heavily populated southern area. Tobacco and tea
are Malawi's primary agricultural products, followed by peanuts, cotton, and
tung oil. The three largest lakes?Nyasa, Shirwa, and Malombe?support large
quantities of fish. Although exploitation is heavy, both for trade and
subsistence, it has not reached its full potential.
Minerals?Numerous minerals have been discovered in Malawi, but little
exploitation has taken place. In southern Malawi, bauxite deposits?esti-
mated at 60 million tons?still await exploitation pending development of
low-cost electricity and practical transportation. Although sizable sulphur
deposits exist, they cannot be profitably exploited.
Fuels and power?All principal fuel supplies are imported, with the
exception of firewood, which is used extensively in agricultural areas. Coal
deposits are low-grade and cannot be profitably exploited. Malawi is at-
tempting to develop a reliable electric power base as a prerequisite for
modest industrial expansion.
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Human resources
Population composition?Malawi's population in early 1971 was esti-
mated to be 5,144,000. The average annual growth rate was around 3%.
Almost 90% of the population is engaged in agriculture, primarily sub-
sistence. Because of its limited modern economy, Malawi suffers from a
manpower surplus, and relies upon South Africa and Rhodesia to supply a
market for Malawian workers. These countries annually employ about
300,000 Malawians, almost twice the number of Malawian wage earners at
home. Fully 99% of the population is native African; about 1% are Euro-
peans and Asians.
Population distribution and trends?With an average population density
of around 109 persons per square mile, Malawi is one of the most densely
populated countries in southern Africa. The population density is exceeded
only by those of Rwanda, Burundi, and Nigeria in Africa as a whole. Over
half the population lives in the southern third of the country where the
average density is about 270 persons per square mile and actual densities
range from 100 to 1,000 per square mile depending on the fertility of the
land. Blantyre, the largest urban area in Malawi, has a population of roughly
110,000. Zomba, the capital, has a population of approximately 20,000.
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II. ECONOMIC BACKGROUND
Structure of the economy
Malawi's economy is predominantly agricultural and is likely to remain
so. Approximately 90% of the working population is engaged in agriculture,
and cash crops?mainly tea, tobacco, peanuts, and cotton?account for
virtually all exports. Economic stability is thus dependent upon favorable
weather conditions and world prices. The few government-sponsored light
industrial projects consist primarily of firms that process agricultural
products. Malawi lacks sufficient mineral resources to generate a broad
industrial base.
Growth rate?Malawi's growth rate for 1970 was 3.7%, a sharp drop
from the 5.7% growth rate averaged between 1964-69. A potentially good
harvest was predicted for 1971, however, and was expected to push the
growth rate to 6%.
Income distribution?Annual per capita income in Malawi is about
$60?one of the lowest in the world. To some extent, this figure is deceptive
since most people live outside a money economy. The modern sector of
Malawi's economy is limited, and unemployment, a chronic problem, is
manageable only because many Malawians find employment as contract
laborers in South Africa, Rhodesia, and Zambia.
Economic policy and financial system
Malawi is heavily dependent upon foreign loans and grants. A major
factor in its economic growth since independence has been the high level of
government development expenditures financed by foreign loans, principally
from the UK, World Bank, US, and Federal Republic of Germany. Develop-
ment expenditures for FY 1970-71 were $38 million, or more than double
the $16 million for the previous year. Of the $35 million scheduled for FY
1971-72, a total of $29 million will be financed by foreign assistance. Major
areas of development include agriculture ($7.6 million), transportation ($7.5
million), construction of the new capital at Lilongwe ($4.9 million), and
electrical power ($4 million).
Malawi's major donor has been the UK, and although Britain currently
provides substantial budgetary and developmental aid, London plans to
phase out budget subsidies by 1973-74. British development loans will
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continue, however. Because Malawi is landlocked, it is dependent upon the
Portuguese province of Mozambique for rail links to the sea. This plus its
need to have its surplus manpower employed elsewhere in southern Africa
has moved Malawi closer to the white-ruled states of southern Africa. South
Africa has committed $11.2 million to finance construction of a new capital,
and a South African firm was awarded the contract for the construction of
the rail line linking Malawi with the Mozambican port of Nacala.
Currency and banking?The national currency is the kwacha, intro-
duced early in 1971 to put Malawi on a decimal system and convertible at
the rate of kwacha 1.00 to $1.20. Malawi's banking system consists of a
central bank, two commercial banks, a Post Office Savings Bank, and a
building society. The Reserve Bank of Malawi, established in 1964, acts as
the government's banker and financial adviser and issues the country's legal
tender. Malawi became a member of the International Monetary Fund, the
International Finance Corp., International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, and the International Development Association in July 1965.
Foreign trade and balance of payments
Despite a poor crop, Malawi's total exports in 1970 reached $59.1
million, an increase over 1969 of 13%. Imports increased even more sharply
to $85.8 million, or 16% over 1969, leaving a trade deficit of over $26
million, which was financed by foreign development loans. Better than 50%
of Malawi's exports are accepted by the UK. The importance of UK markets
could be seriously weakened, however, by British entry into the Common
Market, and the Banda government is actively studying the question of
applying for associate membership in the EEC. South Africa and Rhodesia
have become increasingly important as sources of Malawi's imports, pri-
marily at the expense of the British whose share declined to 26% in 1970.
Transportation and telecommunications
Surface routes?Malawi's transportation facilities are concentrated in
the southern part of the country. Rail is the most important mode of
transport. The railroad traverses southern Malawi in a general north-south
direction and transports the major share of freight traffic, both import-
export and domestic. The railroad is a 289-route-mile, single-track, 3' 6"
narrow-gage line, part of a 515-mile rail route extending to the ocean port of
Beira, Mozambique. Construction of the Malawi section of a new line linking
Malawi with the port of Nacala, Mozambique was completed in the summer
of 1970.
Malawi
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Malawi's highway network is sparse, unevenly distributed, and in-
adequate to Malawi's needs. Highways provide mainly feeder service to the
railroads and to ports on Lake Nyasa. In parts of the country they provide
the only means of transportation. The highway network totals about 6,300
miles, about 90% of which is of earth and light gravel. Since independence,
the government has devoted about 25% of its development funds to highway
improvement and the opening of new highway links. President Banda is
particularly anxious to improve highway links with Lilongwe in central
Malawi, the future site of the capital. Highway development and main-
tenance is hampered, however, by shortages of funds, mountainous terrain,
and a lack of skilled labor and equipment.
Malawi has two navigable inland waterways, Lake Nyasa and the Shire
River. Lake Nyasa is 350 miles long, 20 to 40 miles wide, and up to 1,300
feet deep. The entire lake area, apart from a section along the Mozambique
shore, is Malawi territorial water. The northeastern shore of the lake forms
the boundary with Tanzania. The Shire River originates at the southern tip
of the lake and flows south across the Mozambique border to its confluence
with the Zambezi River.
The waterways in Malawi are perennially navigable. Cargo movement is
chiefly northbound from Chipoka, the rail-lake transshipment port. The
scarcity of natural harbors and generally inadequate port facilities have
hindered economical lake transport. The lake fleet has 16 ports of call, most
of which are roadstead ports, with lighterage necessary between vessels at
anchor and shore facilities.
Civil air?The Central African Airways Corp. (CAA), with headquarters
at Salisbury, Rhodesia, is the designated international carrier for Malawi,
Rhodesia, and Zambia and is jointly owned by the three countries. Air
Malawi? the CAA subsidiary in Malawi, serves six domestic points and
operates regional services to Zambia, Mozambique, and Rhodesia. Control of
civil aviation is vested in the Department of Civil Aviation. The department
establishes and publishes regulations governing civil aviation and licenses
aircraft and airfields. There are no major maintenance facilities in Malawi.
Major maintenance and overhaul is carried out by CAA facilities; minor
repairs can be performed by Air Malawi or by Leopard Air, a small charter
line. Of the 13 usable airfields in Malawi, 12 are civil and one is private. The
air facilities system is generally inadequate for all-weather operations because
of a lack of electronic navigational aids. Airfield maintenance is generally
poor because of a lack of equipment and trained personnel. A new, modern
airport is being included in the construction plans for the new capital at
Li longvve.
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Telecommunications?Malawi's telecommunications system is equal to
that of many emerging nations but ranks below Rhodesia and Zambia.
Malawi has about 9,000 telephones, of which about 90% are connected to
automatic exchanges. Blantyre, the largest city, has the major exchange.
Telephone service is generally of good quality, but only a few of the
principal towns are interconnected. Telecommunications are administered by
the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Trans-
port and Communications. The Malawi Broadcast Corp. is the radiobroadcast
organization.
The most important element of the domestic system is an open-wire
network, supplemented on main routes by VHF radio-relay links, mainly
concentrated in the southern and central parts of the country. International
connections are made primarily by high-frequency radio from Zomba to
Nairobi, Kenya, and from there to the rest of the world. Radiobroadcast AM
stations are located in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Fort Johnson, and Karonga.
There are about 80,000 radio receivers. There are no FM or TV stations.
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III. POLITICAL SITUATION AND TRENDS
Historicall background
Western contact with Malawi dates back to the discovery of Lake Nyasa
in 1859 by the famous explorer-missionary Dr. David Livingstone. Although
waves of missionaries, traders, merchants, and planters followed Dr. Living-
stone, the British Government did not send a representative until 1883 when
a consul was accredited to the "Kings and Chiefs of Central Africa."
Malawi became a protectorate in 1891 and in 1953 was joined with
Northern and Southern Rhodesia in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasa-
land until self-government was achieved in 1963. Independence was granted
by Great Britain on 6 July 1964 and two years later Malawi became a
republic. Dr. Hastings Kamuza Banda, who led the movement for inde-
pendence, has been president since 1964.
Shortly after independence Banda's autocratic rule precipitated a chal-
lenge by several young cabinet ministers who sought to lessen presidential
control. Banda forced them out of the government and into exile, where
they temporarily sought foreign assistance to overthrow the president. Two
attempts to foment rebellion?in February 1965 and October 1967?were
dispersed by government forces, however, and since 1967 Banda has tight-
ened his hold on the government.
Government structure and functioning
Executive?The Constitution of Malawi, adopted in 1966, gives the
president complete authority over all executive components of the govern-
ment. The president appoints and dismisses cabinet ministers at his own
discretion, presides over the cabinet, and has the authority to reorganize the
executive ministries or to delegate executive functions to officials other than
cabinet members. The president is designated the commander in chief of the
armed forces and the Office of the President retains administrative control of
the army and the police.
Although the constitution sets the president's term of office at five
years, Banda was sworn in as president for life in July 1971. This gesture,
however, did little more than formalize an existing situation since the
presidential incumbent is the only candidate for election at the expiration of
the term of office. Malawi has no vice president. In the event of the
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president's death or resignation, a successor is chosen by the legislature
acting as an electoral college. Because of Banda's one-man band style of
governing, no heir apparent to the presidency has emerged and Banda has
failed to designate a successor. Banda himself is probably some years older
than his estimated age of 65 and the question of who will succeed him is
likely to become a crucial one for Malawi in the near future.
Legislature?A 50-member National Assembly was established in 1964
as Malawi's legislative body. Amendments passed in 1970 increased the
membership to 75, 15 of whom are appointed by the president to represent
minority groups, including Europeans, and special interests. As of mid-1971,
however, many of these additional members had not been appointed.
The National Assembly is so dominated by the president that its
legislative prerogatives have been reduced to formalities. Candidates to the
assembly must be members of the Malawi Congress Party?the country's sole
political party, of which Dr. Banda is also life president?and must declare
their allegiance to the president before running for an assembly seat.
Although constitutional provisions for the enactment of laws are based
on a theoretical division of power between the legislature and the executive,
in reality the balance is tipped to assure control by the president. All
legislation requires presidential assent and, although a presidential veto may
be challenged within the National Assembly, such moves invite dissolution of
the assembly and expulsion of the challenging members.
Judiciary?Judicial reforms carried out in 1970 under the direction of
President Banda?who is also minister of justice?gave broader jurisdiction
and increased powers to Malawi's Traditional Courts, or courts of African
origin. Prior to 1970, jurisdiction had been more or less shared by courts of
British origin and local courts based on indigenous customary law, with the
former having sole jurisdiction over criminal cases. The controversial acquit-
tal of five accused murderers by a British High Court Justice in September
1969 led Dr. Banda to give Traditional Courts jurisdiction over criminal cases
also. Malawi thus has two parallel and unlinked court systems, and decisions
in one cannot be appealed in the other. The Traditional Courts are a curious
mixture of British and local systems and are staffed by both tribal chiefs and
trained barristers. Despite renewed emphasis on the Traditional Courts,
Banda has made it clear that he intends to retain the British court system
and in the fall of 1970 appointed a new British chief justice. All judges are
appointed by Banda and may be either trained in British law or steeped in
customary law.
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Local government?The basic units of local government are 23 districts,
18 of which were formed during the colonial period. Above the districts are
the three regional administrative units?the Northern, Central, and Southern
regions?which act as intermediate administrative units between the districts
and the central government. Regional and district commissioners are ap-
pointed by President Banda. Each district has a district council made up of
local tribal representatives who elect their own chairman. Relations between
the councils and the district commissioners have often been strained and
President Banda is faced with the recurring task of balancing the commis-
sioners' authority with that of the councils. There are only three urban units
in Malawi: the city of Blantyre, and the townships of Lilongwe and Zomba,
the capital. Blantyre acts as a semiautonomous unit with a popularly elected
city council and a mayor selected from its own members. The townships of
Lilongwe and Zomba are under the direct management of the districts in
which they are situated.
Although Zomba is the official capital, Blantyre because of its more
attractive location is the seat of government and all official business is
conducted there. Banda wishes to move the capital to Lilongwe, some 150
miles to the northwest, however, and in 1968 he secured an $11-million loan
from South Africa to begin construction of a modern capital city. The entire
project is expected to cost upward of $50 million. Banda is convinced that
moving the capital will begin the development of central and northern
Malawi and improve communications and transportation between the capital
and the rest of the country.
Political dynamics
The Banda Government?President Banda has completely dominated
Malawi politics since the country became independent in 1964. Through a
careful blend of paternalism and autocratic rule, Dr. Banda has fashioned a
stable, one-party state in which he exercises complete control over all
political activity. All major decisions, and many minor ones, are made by Dr.
Banda. In addition to being president for life, he is also minister of justice,
minister of external affairs, and life president of the Malawi Congress Party
(MCP), the sole political party. Banda's authoritarianism and his manipula-
tion of political forces have tended to preclude the growth of political
activity within the country and to deprive the next generation of African
leaders of any significant political role.
Tribalism?The tribe and the clan remain the focal points of life. No
single tribe is large or powerful enough to exercise direct political influence,
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however, and tribal loyalties are less of a national political force in Malawi
than in some other African countries. Nevertheless, the Banda government is
aware of the deep loyalties commanded by tribal chiefs and is careful to
maintain a semblance of reliance upon them. Although Banda appoints and
removes all tribal chiefs, he exercises this prerogative with discretion and is
careful not to offend tribal sensitivities. Since independence Banda has
sought to broaden the representative role of the chiefs in national affairs in
order to offset years of friction between tribal leaders and colonial district
representatives of the central government. Banda himself moves easily be-
tween the roles of modern head of state and paramount chief - great father.
Political organizations?Malawi's sole political party is the Malawi Con-
gress Party (MCP), established in 1959 as the vehicle for the independence
movement. The party is defined by its constitution, adopted in 1965, as a
mass organization providing the nexus between the grass roots and the
central government. Membership is open to all Malawians who are at least 16
years of age. All government officials and functionaries must be members of
the party. According to the national constitution, the MCP is ascribed
supremacy over the governmental structure. The party's hold on patronage is
a major source of its power and is used to enforce obedience and reward
loyalty.
For many years immediately following independence the MCP was
Are
marked by/ internal friction. In recent years,
25X6 however, President Banda has taken steps to reform the MCP, and the party's
annual convention in 1970 passed a number of resolutions designed to
tighten central control over the party and to strengthen its political and
economic .positions. Nevertheless, it has failed to develop the monolithic
proportions planned for it and has failed to produce national leaders.
The MCP has two auxiliaries, the League of Malawi Women (LMW) and
the League of Malawi Youth (LMY). Both have organizational structures
paralleling the MCP, although they are directly subordinate to the party's
national executive. They are designed to provide a monolithic structure
linking grass roots and central government, with the added responsibility in
the case of the LMY of providing training and indoctrination to prepare
youth for participation in adult units of the MCP. The general unruliness of
the LMY, however, often bordering on state-sanctioned hooliganism, has
weakened its credibility as a national organization.
Foreign residents?The 1,000 or so British nationals working within the
Malawi Government have helped further a nonpartisan tradition character-
istic of the British civil service and have often acted as a moderating
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influence upon Banda. Their presence, however, has produced some resent-
ment among African civil servants who feel that President Banda is not
moving rapidly enough to promote Africans into British-held positions.
Approximately 11,000 Asians and a smaller number of Europeans exert a
small measure of political influence because of their solidarity as an eco-
nomic group. Foreign missionaries, numbering about 1,000 Catholics and
Protestants in 1971, are less a political force now than prior to independence
when Protestant missionaries in particular contributed to the rise in nation-
alist sentiment. Since independence, however, the government has ensured
that missionaries restrict their activities to medical and educational works.
Electoral system?The Malawi Congress Party is the key to the coun-
try's electoral system. The MCP nominates candidates for the National
Assembly from each of the assembly constituencies. Of the several can-
didates, President Banda selects one from each constituency. Unless opposi-
tion candidates are forthcoming?a highly unlikely eventuality?the can-
didates are declared elected without actual balloting. Although the constitu-
tion provides the franchise to all Malawians of at least 21 years of age who
are duly registered and who have not had their civil rights revoked,
Malawians have yet to participate in the balloting process. Candidates for the
parliamentary elections of 1964 and 1971 and all intervening by-elections
for individual seats were declared elected. Malawi officials defend this
process on the grounds that the nominating process itself?in which three to
five candidates per assembly seat are evaluated?is sufficient to pick the most
representative and most qualified candidate and therefore elections are
superfluous.
Security system
The Malawi Police, numbering about 3,000 men, bears primary respon-
sibility for the maintenance of law and order, counterintelligence, control of
riots and disorders, and immigration control.
Like the army, the police are British-trained, and British officers hold
most key staff positions. In July 1971, however, a Malawian was appointed
police commissioner to replace the outgoing British commissioner. This
appointment did much to undercut the criticism of President Banda's slow-
paced Africanization program.
Malawi
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Another organization within the security system is the Malawi Young
Pioneers, which has carried out certain security responsibilities since 1965 at
some expense to the authority of the police. Several hundred pioneers have
been given various types of military and police training and have been
assigned to help the police, particularly in thinly populated and remote parts
of the country. The police force has no jurisdiction over the pioneers, who
are directly under the control of the president or his appointed delegate.
Although the autonomy of the pioneers has been trimmed somewhat in
recent years because of their excessive zeal, both the police and the army
resent the pioneers' activities as political intrusion.
Malawi
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IV. SUBVERSION
The Banda government is in no immediate danger from internal sub-
versive elements. Organized opposition to the government was crushed by
Banda in early 1965 following a cabinet crisis and two abortive revolts led by
several dissident ministers. Since then the only political organizations exist-
ing in Malawi have been the ruling party and its ancillary organizations.
There is no Communist party in Malawi and there are no indications of
local Communist activity or influence. President Banda himself is staunchly
anti-Commu nist.
A potential source of unrest is a Mozambique nationalist organization,
the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), which maintains a modest
presence within Malawi. Banda has allowed FRELIMO to use Malawi as a
rest area but has restricted the passage of arms through Malawi or the staging
of raids into Mozambique from Malawian territory. Nevertheless, Malawi's
capabilities for controlling these armed militants, especially in the border
regions, are limited, and an increase in the presently low level of FRELIMO
operations from Malawi could lead to Portuguese reprisals which could
eventually spread popular unrest throughout southern Malawi. So far, how-
ever, both FRELIMO and the Portuguese have refrained from escalating
operations in the border area, and both sides realize it is to their advantage
to maintain the status quo.
Malawi Nov 71
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VI. ARMED FORCES
Organization and manpower
The armed forces of Malawi consist solely of an all-volunteer army of
approximately 1,100 men. It is organized into a headquarters company, five
rifle companies, and support elements. The government does not maintain a
defense ministry; President Banda exercises direct control of the army
through the army commander, a brigadier seconded from the British Army.
The Malawi Army has approximately 25 British officers and noncommis-
sioned officers, and British officers serve in key staff and command posi-
tions. The president is advised on defense matters by three separate organiza-
tions?the Army Council, the Malawi Operations Committee, and the
National Intelligence Committee. All are composed of civilian, military, and
police personnel.
Mission and capabilities
The missions of the army are the protection of Malawi's borders and, in
conjunction with the police, the maintenance of internal security. The army
is capable of small-unit tactical operations and maintains a high state of
readiness primarily due to the rigid training standards set by the British.
Because of its small size, however, the army could not combat an incursion
by a sizable force. Its defensive operations would be hampered by its small
size in relation to the large land area to be protected. Moreover, because it
has no reserve component, mobilization of additional personnel into the
army would be slow.
Foreign support
With the exception of basic quartermaster items, Malawi is completely
dependent upon the United Kingdom for support of its army. Because the
need for modern, sophisticated equipment is limited, the army's logistical
system is simple and its military budget small, averaging between 2% and
2.5% of the annual national budget. The defense budget is prepared by the
government and submitted to the British High Command for approval.
Malawi has no defense agreements with other countries.
Africanization and morale
The presence of seconded and contract British personnel in major staff
and command slots in the army has brought about a degree of resentment
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among Malawian officers and noncommissioned officers. Although President
Banda is determined to bring about the eventual replacement of all British
personnel, he is hampered by the lack of qualified Malawians and has
repeatedly emphasized that he will not observe "Africanization for Afri-
canization's sake." Resentment is blunted somewhat by the fact that the
deputy commander is a Malawian. Moreover, careful screening of British
personnel for secondment and the general excellence of British training has
averted a morale crisis and has instilled a feeling of loyalty within the army.
Army personnel enjoy a favorable social status and maintain good relations
with the general public.
Malawi
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VII. FOREIGN RELATIONS
Basic objectives
Malawi's foreign policy is determined by President Banda, who also
serves as minister of external affairs. In making policy decisions Banda is
guided by Malawi's location and economic limitations as well as his own
desire to become a great African statesman. Banda realistically tailors his
policy to consider his nation's dependence on British financial and technical
assistance, on the rail line through Mozambique, and on employment oppor-
tunities in neighboring countries for Malawi's chronic excess of manpower.
Banda has also become black Africa's foremost advocate of reconciliation
between black Africa and the white-ruled states of southern Africa, a
position that has earned him the title "Odd Man Out" in Africa.
African states
Banda's espousal of open cooperation with South Africa, Rhodesia, and
Portuguese Mozambique has made him a controversial figure in African
diplomacy. Nevertheless, he is convinced that open cooperation is more
realistic and practical than boycott, isolation, and violent confrontation, as a
means of bringing about change in southern African racial policies. Malawi is
the only black African country with diplomatic relations with southern
Africa. There is a Malawi ambassador in Pretoria, and a government repre-
sentative in Rhodesia. Consular relations are maintained with Portuguese
Mozambique, and a nonresident ambassador is accredited to Lisbon. In
August 1971, Banda made a highly successful five-day state visit to South
Africa, an accomplishment he believes was a major step forward in his goal
of eventually bringing about a moderation of that state's racial policies.
Malawi's open relations with its white neighbors have strained relations
with most other black African countries, however. Criticism has been most
severe from neighboring Zambia and Tanzania. Although Malawi is
nominally a member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), its
contacts with most of the OAU member states have gradually worsened both
because of Banda's policy and his often caustic criticism of the organiza-
tion's support for militant action against southern African racial policies.
Western states
Malawi has close relations with the West. The strongest ties are reserved
for the UK, and Malawi is a firm supporter of the Commonwealth. Malawi
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strongly supports the US and has consistently backed the US on interna-
tional issues. Although US assistance and private investment in Malawi are
modest, President Banda looks toward aid from the US and other Western
states as a means of overcoming Malawi's excessive dependence on the UK.
In addition to the US, financial assistance has come from France, Canada,
the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of China, Israel, the World
Bank, and several UN agencies.
Communist states
Malawi has no formal diplomatic relations with any Communist state
although it maintains unofficial contacts with the USSR through Soviet
diplomats in neighboring countries. A handful of Malawian students are
studying in the Soviet Union, and the USSR has indicated that it might be
willing to provide assistance for the construction of Malawi's new capital at
Lilongwe. Banda is especially wary of the Chinese Communist presence in
Africa, particularly in Tanzania. Banda is convinced that the Chinese Com-
munist Embassy in Dar es Salaam has been a major supporter of anti-Banda
exiles in Tanzania.
Malawi
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Aid and investment
VIII. US INTERESTS
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The US maintains a limited economic aid program in Malawi designed
to complement UK and international efforts to facilitate Malawi's develop-
ment cif a modern economy. Since 1960, US aid, primarily in the form of
development loans and grants and contributions to international groups such
as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has
gradually been increasing. Grants and loans from the Agency for Interna-
tional Development authorized for FY 1970 totaled some $50,000. Esti-
mated US contributions to UN agencies and the IBRD were slightly over $2
million.
Trade
Trade between the US and Malawi is modest, reflecting the preferential
tariff for UK goods, traditional British trade ties, and lower transportation
costs from South Africa and Rhodesia. Imports to and exports from Malawi
ran about 4% of Malawi's trade in 1970.
Residents
US citizens residing in Malawi as of mid-1971 included approximately
20 US Embassy personnel plus dependents and about 400 missionaries
including dependents.
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POPULATION
Persons-per square mile
O /00 200 and over
O 39 77 and over
Persons per square kilometer
a
5.0
190
CONOM C ACTIVITY
Textiles
^ Furniture
Cement plant
Bauxite
=1 Coal
lit Hydroelectric
powerplant
Tobacco
Tea
Tung
Coffee
Cotton
Cattle
Fishing
150 Miles
0 50 100 150 Kilometers
VEGETATION
= Forest
Woodland and grassland
M Savanna
Game reserve
72? Mean annual rainfall (in inches)
SECRET
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STRATEGIC AREA, INTERNAL ROUTES,
AND APPROACHES
Lake
Zomba
Lake
Shinua
attic
LOCATION AND
COMPARATIVE AREAS
Li Bantu
Tribename
11 Strategic area
Approach
11MliM Internal route
(old[ihspienrdsiicnagtefsrorn relative m
e:tee)
Railroad
Road
AREA BRIEF
LAND
Area: 46,000 sq. mi. including more than 9,000 sq. mi. of Lake Nyasa; 31%
arable (44% cultivated), 24% wood and forest, 6% meadow, 39% other
PEOPLE
4,042,000 (1966 census), about 109 per sq. land mile
Ethnic divisions: Nyanja, Yao, Chewa, Ngoni, Tonga, Lomwe, Tumbuka are
principal tribes; 11,000 Asians, 7,000 Europeans, 1,000 other foreigners
Religion: About two-dards animists, remainder Christians and Muslims
Males 15-49: 943,000, about 50% fit for military service
Labor: Labor force 700,000; 131,000 domestic wage earners, 200,000 earn
wages outside of country
Literacy: 5-10% literate in English; official languages are English, Nyanja,
Tumbuka
GOVERNMENT
Constitutional republic with political power concentrated in Presidency; Cabinet
appointed by President; unicameral National Assembly; separate judiciary
Country divided in 23 districts
Hastings Kamuzu Banda is President, and undisputed head of single political
party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP)
Adult suffrage
Elections were scheduled for 1964 but not held since MCP candidates were
unopposed
Member of United Nations, Organization of African Unity, British Commonwealth
ECONOMY
Food: Generally self-sufficient, corn principal food crop, low protein consumption
Electric power: 30,200 kw. capacity (including 10,500 kw. standby), 52.8 million
kw.-hr. produced (1965)
Industry: Agricultural processing, small plants producing import substitutes
Exports: Tobacco, tea, peanuts, cotton, tung oil; LISS40.3 million (f.o.b.) 1965
Imports: Machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, food;
US$57.1 million (f.o.b.) 1965
Exchange rate: 1 Malawi pound=US$2.80
Fiscal year: Calendar year
COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 289 mi., 3'6" narrow gage, single track
Highways: About 6,400 mi.; 290 mi. bitumen surfaced, 375 mi. crushed stone
or gravel, roughly 5,700 mi. earth and light gravel
Inland waterways: 890 mi. navigable; 800 route mi. on Lake Nyasa, 90 mi.
on Shire River
Civil air: 2 DC-3 registered
Airfields: 13 usable (2 with permanent-surfaced runways); 1 seaplane station
Telecommunications: Adequate for current needs; Blantyre and Zomba main
centers; about 7,400 telephones
ARMED FORCES
Personnel: Army, 1,060
Supply: Limited to foodstuffs and basic quartermaster items; remainder from
United Kingdom
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Secret
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