Malawi Country & Tourist Information

Location
Southeast Africa.

Area
118,484 sq km (45,747 sq miles).

Population
13.6 million (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density
114.8 per sq km.

Capital
Lilongwe.
Population:  597,619 including suburbs (2003).

Government
Republic since 1966. Gained independence from the UK in 1964.

Language
English and Chichewa are both official. Chichewa is widely spoken but the language of the business community is English.

Religion
80% are Christian, 13% Muslim. A recorded 4.3% of the remaining 7% have no religion (1998 census).

Time
GMT + 2.

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. The standard plug is square three-pin.

Head of State
President Bingu Wa Mutharika since 2004.

Telephone
Country code: 265.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements currently exist with many international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in urban areas.

Internet
Services are available in business centers in hotels, and there are a few Internet cafes.

Media
Radio is the chief source of information and state-run MBC is the main national broadcaster. Television was introduced in 1999. Privately owned publications present a range of opinions, although the government has used libel and other laws to put pressure on newspaper journalists.

Post
Letters take about seven to 10 days to reach Europe by airmail.

Post office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1300-1700. Post offices in some of the larger towns may be open Sun 0900-1000, but only to sell stamps or to accept telegrams.

Press
• There are two main daily English-language newspapers, The Daily Times and The Nation.
• The Malawi News is published weekly.
• Boma Lathu is a monthly, Chichewa-language publication.

Radio
• Malawi Broadcasting Corporation operates national networks Radio One and Radio Two.
• Capital Radio is privately owned.
• Radio Maria is a Catholic station.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
15 Jan Chilembwe Day.
3 Mar Martyrs' Day. 
10-13 Apr Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
14 Jun Freedom Day.
6 Jul Republic Day.
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
13 Oct Mothers' Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
15 Jan Chilembwe Day.
3 Mar Martyrs' Day.
2-5 Apr Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
14 Jun Freedom Day.
6 Jul Republic Day.
11 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
13 Oct Mothers' Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

Note
If a public holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding day will be a holiday; if on a Sunday, the next day will be a holiday. Ad hoc public holidays or extensions may also be declared, sometimes at short notice.

Contact Information:

High Commission for the Republic of Malawi
70 Winnington Road, London N2 OTX, UK 
Tel: (020) 8455 5624. 
Website: www.malawihighcom.org.uk 
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1600.

Malawi Tourism Association in the UK
4 Christian Fields, London SW16 3JZ, UK
Tel: (0115) 982 1903.
Website: www.malawitourism.com

Embassy of the Republic of Malawi in the USA
2408 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 721 0274.


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