ABSTRACT
Although the history of Malawi in the twentieth century is inextricably linked to that of Zimbabwe and Zambia, the development of its economy differed substantially. The area was brought under British control in the late nineteenth century; however, the lack of significant mineral wealth, the prevalence of malaria and the distance from the Cape limited its attractiveness to European settlers. Limited commercial farming was established; however, Malawi soon became a key provider of migrant workers for the regional economy. There was little development of secondary industry during the colonial period and economic opportunities for the majority of the population were further impeded during the period of one party rule under Dr Hastings Banda’s Malawi Congress Party. A further key difference is that despite its comparatively large population Malawi never underwent the urbanisation experienced by Zimbabwe and Zambia. This had the effect of stalling economic activities outside of the agricultural sector. This chapter provides an overview of the main economic and political developments in Malawi from 1900 to 2000. It provides the background to the more detailed chapter on labour and labour relations that follows.
