Malawi |
South Africa |
Malawian-South African relations refers to the bilateral relationship between the Malawi and the South Africa. South Africa's first formal relationship with an independent African country was established with Malawi, beginning in 1967.[1]
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The colonial structures were set up in a way that Malawi exported labour to South African mines prior to 1964
The colonial structures of Malawian labour export to South African mines continued after Malawi achieved independence in 1964. Led by dictator Hastings Banda, Malawi was the only African ruled country to maintain close relations with White-ruled South Africa until the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela. Malawians were viewed as important workers in the South African mines due to their "skills, work discipline and lack of militancy"[2]
Since Malawi was the only country in Africa to maintain diplomatic relations with South Africa during the apartheid era.[3] He was the first black President ever to visit South Africa in 1971 and the first chief of any foreign state to come since England's King George VI's visit in 1947.[4] During his visit,he received a 21 gun salute and an official welcom from President Jim Fouche.[4] White students at the University of Stellenbosch applauded him and sang accolades.[4] Following a state visit by south African Prime Minister Balthazar Vorster to Malawi the previous year in 1970, Banda was quoted to have said " We have to start talking to each other. I go to South Africa. You come here. I allow your people to come here and see how the people live. This might not solve the problem today, next month, in five years, ten years, or even twenty years. But I honestly believe that this in the end is the only solution.".[5] His position on south Africa was that" It is only contact like this [between South Africa and Malawi] that can reveal to your people that there are civilised people other than white...".[5] However his non-isolationist approach to the National Party ruled apartheid government alienated him form other African countries and Pan Africanist leaders that had just gained independence.[6] By visiting South Africa, he had defied the 41 member Organisation of African Unity.[4] Tanzania's government paper called on the O.A.U. to expel Malawi in order to alienate Banda and, "further alienate Banda from all those who believe in the equality of man.".[4] Kenyan Newspaper, the Daily Nation, thought his visit would "set into motion a train of diplomatic events that may well make nonsense of Africa's commitment to the liberation of the millions of black people who still live under colonial or racist subjugation." if other African leaders followed suit. But Banda called African leaders hypocrites highlighting that they oppressed their own people but preached unity and equailty.[4]
During the transition period for both Malawi (transitioning from one party to multi-party democracy) and South Africa (transitioning from aparthied to a multi-party democracy), the Malawi government's future relations with South Africa were not not secure due to Malawis past relationship with the Apartheid government. Some leaders of the anti-apartheid movement did not support the Banda government or retaining ties with Malawi. South Africa was Malawi's largest trading partner and host to many Malawian labourers so relations with South Africa was still vital to Malawi. From 1988 to 1992, around 13,000 Malawian migrant labourers were forcefully repatriated out of South Africa. Officially, this was because 200 Malawians had tested positive for HIV in the previous two years, but many believe that it was due the need for retrenchment of labourers during a crisis in South Africa's mining industry.[2]
The Malawi government made efforts to set straight its stance on South Africa by hosting ANC leader Nelson Mandela. A visit which was made possible due to efforts by Malawian diplomats resident in South Africa, including acting Ambassodor Percy Kachipande. It was revealed shortly afterwards,that Kamuzu Banda had been secretly assisting the ANC during the apartheid era. The Malawi government pledged election support and continued support to the ANC government and diplomatic relations continued between the two countries.
In a submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by former South African president F W De Klerk of the National Party, De Klerk noted that sanctions and isolation against South Africa by the international community were a factor in dismantling apartheid but "more often than not, they served to retard reform rather than stimulate it."[7] De Klerk notes that,
Since both South Africa and Malawi had their first multiparty democratic elections in 1994, Malawi and South Africa have enhanced relations. In 2008, the two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to enhance the relationship between the two countries through enhanced security cooperation.[8] Skilled Labor competition and the issuance of work permits from Malawi became problematic as Soouth Africa tried to create jobs for local South Africans.[9]
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