Formerly Nyasaland, Malawi was once named Maravi, or ‘reflected light’, perhaps referring to the brilliant glitter on Lake Malawi as the sun shines on it. The shores of Lake Malawi have been inhabited for thousands of years and recent archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of settlements dating back to the late Stone and Iron Ages. The majority of the present population descend from Bantu tribes (ancestors of the present Chewa, Nyanja, Lomwe, Yao, Tumbuka, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni and Ngonde tribes) who arrived in the region some time before the first Arab slave traders and Portuguese explorers. British colonial settlers and missionaries, men such as the famous Dr David Livingstone, moved into the area in the late 1850s.

With the growth of commerce and expanding plantations of successful cash crops, Malawians migrated towards settlers’ estates in search of work. Colonial domination became inevitable and, in 1891, the British declared the country the British Protectorate of Nyasaland. In 1953, the British federated Nyasaland with Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe), but Nyasaland seceded in 1963, following elections which gave Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) a majority in the Legislative Council. Banda had previously enjoyed a diverse career, including as a medical practitioner, before entering politics. In 1964, Nyasaland became independent as Malawi and, two years later, Dr Banda declared it a republic and a one-party state.

In 1971, Dr Banda became President for Life, and during his subsequent reign retained a firm grip on all aspects of the country. Opponents of the regime were jailed or exiled. Banda’s foreign policy also attracted widespread criticism, especially his support of the apartheid regime in South Africa (Malawi was the only black-ruled African state to maintain diplomatic relations, including an embassy). His initial support (later reversed) for the South African-backed guerrillas in Mozambique was also unpopular among fellow African leaders. But by 1993, the ailing Banda was forced to concede political pluralism in Malawi and a referendum in June that year endorsed a transition to multi-party democracy. After the adoption of a new constitution, simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections were held in May 1994. Dr Bakili Muluzi won the latter and his party, the UDF, the former.

The ageing Banda and his chief henchman, the much-hated and feared John Tembo, were put on trial for their alleged role in the 1983 murders of four opposition politicians. They were acquitted in December 1995, although investigations into various financial misdemeanours continued. The prosecution of Banda ended with his death in November 1997 but Tembo was eventually convicted in September 2003.

Muluzi won a second term in office at the presidential election of June 1999, defeating his main opponent, Malawi Congress Party leader Gwanda Chakwanda, and taking 52 per cent of the poll. Simultaneous elections for the National Assembly gave the UDF 93 seats, just short of an absolute majority but enabling it to rule in alliance with the support of smaller parties and non-partisan elements. Despite expectations that Muluzi would alter the constitution in order to stand for a third term, he stood down at the elections in mid-2004. His successor is Bingu Wa Mutharika, also of the UDF - but his party failed to gain a majority in parliament. Forced into a coalition with opposition parties, the direction of the new government has yet to be revealed.

Abroad, Malawi has aligned itself with the post-liberation government in South Africa, the main political and economic force in the region. Domestically, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has been the dominant issue: in common with other governments in the region, the Malawians often seem overwhelmed by the scale of the problem. Malawi is one of the worst affected countries with an estimated one million people (just under 10 per cent of the total population) living with HIV/AIDS infection. Traditionally a very conservative society, strongly influenced by Scottish missionaries during the colonial era, Malawi has found it hard to come to terms with its plight.

The president is head of state, and holds all executive powers. Legislative authority is vested in the unicameral National Assembly with 112 members, elected for a five-year term.