Getting into Malawi was quite a logistical journey. A 14-hour bus from Dar Es Salaam > 2-hour shared taxi > 10-minute bike ride > border crossing > 1-hour shared taxi > 2-hour shared taxi.
Mind you, these shared taxis try to double the normal occupancy of the vehicle. A 15-seater van will squeeze in 25 people and maybe some livestock. A 6-person hatchback? Let’s fit 12 into it! Don’t expect personal space in these vehicles. You will have a memory of a lifetime!
Malawi, a poor country relies heavily on foreign aid. In 2024 $3.35 billion will be lent to further programs in agriculture, healthcare, education, sanitation, and more. We met countless foreigners who’d come to Malawi 5-10 years ago for volunteer work and never left. It makes sense why. The locals are kind, giving, and willing to lend a hand. A fitting title for this country, ‘the warm heart of Africa.’
Given the economic state of affairs, it was no surprise that the infrastructure was lacking. The Malawian Kwacha has seen better days. In 2022 the Central Bank of Malawi devalued the Kwacha by 25% and in 2024 a further 44%! Imagine waking up one day and realizing your money is worth 44% less than the previous night.
The country’s crowning jewel, Lake Malawi, is the 3rd largest freshwater lake in Africa, and 5th in the world (by volume). It’s the lifeline for the country providing food and water. With nearly 1000 species of fish, this is the most species-rich lake in the world. We had the opportunity to visit a lakeside community and were shocked to see how clean it was. The roads had plastic and garbage but the lake was pristine! A few factors were at play, natural filtration by the lake, limited industrial activity, and general awareness of the community to reduce waste to avoid polluting their primary food source.
A bitcoin community in Malawi (Bitcoin Boma) is building awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of bitcoin for Malawi. We had the opportunity to meet the local bitcoin community (Bitcoin Boma) at their monthly event. Similar themes from the previous countries emerged. Their currency is losing too much value, things are unaffordable and students are losing hope in securing a brighter future for themselves. There are no easy answers to these tough problems. At the very least they have access to monetary technology that does not discriminate and is open to all.
Malawi was the last place on earth we’d imagine getting a tattoo. An artist came highly recommended and we did it! His shop now accepts bitcoin joining an Airbnb host within the community.
Off to Zambia next.
Sources:
- Malawi overview. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/malawi/overview#2
- Malawi kwacha gets 25% weaker. Africanews. https://www.africanews.com/2022/05/27/malawi-kwacha-gets-25-weaker/
- Malawi kwacha 44% drop. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67367983
- Lake Malawi. Africa Geographic. https://africageographic.com/stories/lake-malawi/
- Bitcoin Boma. Bitcoin Boma on X. https://x.com/BitcoinBoma