Meeting Our Second Support Group!

We had another early start today as we went again to the 49^th district of Lilongwe but to a different area called “Mstiliza.”  This area is off of a main road down a long dirt path, and the circumstances appear to be worse off than the previous area we visited.  We met our second HIV/AIDS support group in a classroom there.  The group was mostly female with a few men.  The majority of members could not understand any English, but similarly to the previous group, were able to pick up instruction easily by use of visuals.  We taught a few members with no experience how to knit, and, for the rest, introduced them to more advance patterns and helped them with difficulties they had with their garments.  Again, we saw great potential as the members showed interest in selling the knitted items in the market.  We’ll meet with them again on Thursday and will take the opportunity to get to know them better and teach them additional patterns.  See below for a picture of the good looking group!

Also, I wanted to respond in today’s post to a question posted the other day regarding how long Malawi has been politically stable and peaceful  and take the time to give a brief description of the role of politics here.  Malawi has been fortunate not to endure the amount of violence, war, and ethnic cleansing so many other African countries have been ravaged by.  Instead, after it became an independent democracy and renamed from Nyassaland to Malawi in 1964, it has endured a peaceful existence and an interesting political history, although obviously a troublesome economy as well.  While it has been politically stable, that is also not to say it has been without problems.  Dr. Banda, the first president of Malawi led the country to independence, but he was also responsible for making sure the Constitution declared the country have a single party system and he suppressed political opposition.  He was able to rule for nearly three decades and declared himself President-for-life.  Banda finally had to give way to public support for a multi-party system in 1993 and he was unseated in 1994.  In 2011, following in line with protests elsewhere on the continent, there were protests in Malawi as a result of poor economic conditions, and they did involve violence.  Fortunately, though, such incidences have not been common in Malawi’s past. 

Currently, the President is Joyce Banda (no relation to Dr. Banda), and the next election is forthcoming in 2014.  It is evident from talking to numerous locals that there is an active electorate here and a very active multi-party system.  There are dozens of political parties operating in the country who have conventions similar to our own to choose their candidates.   It seems that Banda is revered well, but the younger generation is looking for change.  So, it should be an interesting election to watch!  

Banda’s picture is hung all over town. As you see below, influences from British rule still linger as the signs declare her as "Her Excellency."