Barriers to development
Full name: The Republic of Malawi
Population: 15.9 million (UN, 2012)
Capital: Lilongwe
Area: 118,484 sq km (45,747 sq miles)
Major languages: English, Chichewa (both official)
Major religions: Christianity, Islam
Life expectancy: 55 years (men), 55 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Malawi kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala
Main exports: Tobacco, tea, sugar, cotton
GDP per capita: US $268 (World Bank, 2011)
The single tracked railway through Mozambique is the best trade route – it’s slow and expensive!
Many goods, medical supplies and resources struggle to arrive and depart.
Barriers - the reasons Malawi struggles to develop.
Malawi's major exports are raw materials. These are inexpensive and do not produce a great deal of money for the country.
Malawi is also highly dependent on one product which means if that product falls in value globally, Malawi will lose a lot of money.
Malawi has a huge HIV problem. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, and weakens the body's ability to fight infections and disease. The final stage, when the body can no longer fight life-threatening infections, is AIDS. There's currently no cure for HIV but there are treatments that enable most people with the virus to live a long and healthy life
20% of adults infected
10,000s deaths per year – low life expectancy
Most deaths in 20-30 year olds (economically most active!)
Why is HIV/AIDS a barrier for development?
•As people become weaker they are unable to work
•High costs of drugs
•Death of wage earner pushes families into poverty
•Orphans often live with economically inactive grandparents.
Other barriers:
Landlocked – Trade can be difficult and very expensive. No access to seaports means fewer opportunities for export through containerisation and receiving aid is difficult.
Change of government – different policies may be brought in which will take time to implement. This can slow down progress.
Less money spent on health care due to debt repayments – people will struggle even more than usual to see doctors (as there may not be as many). Hospitals may close, vaccinations may not be able to be issued etc. People may not be able to work and children may have to leave school.
Lack of agricultural subsidy due to World Bank loan conditions – means poorer farming conditions and yields which could lead to less income from exports or less food for subsistence farmer.