Malawi - Barriers to progress

Question 1

What does colonialism have to do with Malawi ?

Answer 1

British colonial rule established the exploited tea and coffee plantations. Tea is sold to Britain for financial advantage. Colonialism also led in some discrimination to specific racial groups.

Question 2

What does neo-colonialism have to do with Malawi ?

Answer 2

Open economic policies allow TNC’s to own plantations. So workers don’t own land and are subsistence farmers. TNC’s offer lunch, housing, water and firewood.

Question 3

What does climate have to do with Malawi ?

Answer 3

Malawi has two main seasons, namely the cool dry season between May and October with mean temperatures of around 13°C in June and July and the hot wet season between November and April with temperatures between 30°- 35°C. These equatorial - tropical rainy conditions prevent the crops growing well as well as the thin soils and steep slopes, which result in less food and income . Floods of 2015 forced 336000 people from their homes and destroyed farmland

Question 4

Topography

Answer 4

the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area. Malawi is landlocked so the only way they export is by using the 200 km railway into Mozambique. 85 % of people live in rural areas as it is difficult to establish infrastructure in the rift valley.

Question 5

Systems of governance

Answer 5

Focus on exporting one commodity means variable prices and incomes fluctuate, which it makes it a challenge to plan spending. We can see corruption when a presidential jet was bought with money for infrastructure.

Question 6

International relations

Answer 6

The world trade organisation helps Malawi, while exports are of low value but imports are of great value. EU tariffs in high value roasted beans, so Malawi is forced to export low value un roasted beans.