Key developments
since March 1999: The Malawi Army told Landmine Monitor that it has no AP
mine stockpile, only inert dummy mines for training purposes. Malawi has not
submitted its Article 7 transparency report, due by 27 August 1999. There were
no reported landmine incidents in Malawi.
Mine Ban Policy
Malawi signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December
1997 and ratified on 13 August 1998. It has not yet submitted its Article 7
transparency report, due by 27 August 1999. Landmine Monitor was told this is
due to a shortage of personnel in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare the
report;[1] but Malawi is aware of
its obligation under the
treaty.[2] The same reason was
given for the current lack of domestic implementation
legislation.[3]
Malawi was absent during the vote on the pro-Mine Ban Treaty UN General
Assembly resolution in December 1999, but had voted for pro-ban resolutions in
1996, 1997, and 1998. It attended the First Meeting of States Parties in Maputo
in a delegation led by Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ziddy Kingi Medi. In a
statement to the plenary Medi called on all states that have not yet signed and
ratified the treaty to do so and stated, “Malawi will also cooperate with
other states in the region to ensure that the region and indeed the continent of
Africa and the world at large is free of
landmines.”[4] Malawi has
not participated in intersessional meetings of the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva due
to a lack of funds.[5]
Malawi has appealed to states to join the treaty and has discouraged
continued manufacture, use, and stockpiling of landmines, as well as encouraged
other countries to assist in
demining.[6] Malawi has
participated in various meetings examining the need to establish an effective
information management computer network
system.[7]
NGOs in the Malawi Campaign to Ban Landmines (MCBL) have remained active in
the monitoring of implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty by holding meetings with
officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Defence, including
the Malawi Army.
Malawi is not a party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons. It is not a
member of the Conference on Disarmament.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling, Use
In May 1999, Malawi’s Secretary for Foreign
Affairs stated that Malawi “does not manufacture, own or stock”
antipersonnel mines.[8] The
Malawi Army told Landmine Monitor that it does not have an AP mine stockpile,
only inert dummy mines for training
purposes.[9] Malawi denies having
acquired landmines from the U.S. as reported in Landmine Monitor Report
1999 and states that it acquired mine detection equipment from the U.S. to
facilitate continued use of the rail traffic in the Nacala Corridor during the
Mozambique civil war.[10]
Information on the presence of mines and any demining along the Nacala Corridor
was unavailable to Landmine Monitor as the Malawi Army regards this as
classified information from a foreign country, which should be handled by
Mozambique.[11]
Mine Action
Malawi officials still insist that Malawi does not
have a mine problem despite some incidents along the border with Mozambique.
The Nacala Corridor is economically important to Malawi and while it was heavily
mined during the civil war in Mozambique, it is now said to be
cleared.[12] Officials state that
the country is ready to assist in demining along its border with Mozambique, as
long as resources can be made available from
donors.[13] The Malawi Army has
expertise and equipment to detect mines, but requires financial and logistical
support.[14] In the past year,
there have been no reported landmine incidents in Malawi.
[1] Letter from Mr. M.D. Chibwana, Principle
Foreign Service Officer for Political Affairs (UN matters), Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Lilongwe, 28 February 2000. [2]
Interview with Ernest Mungo Makawa, Treaties Officer, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Lilongwe, 12 May 2000. [3]
Ibid. [4] Statement by Z. K. Medi to the
FMSP, Maputo, 3 May 1999, pp. 4-5. [5]
Interview with Ernest Mungo Makawa, Treaties Officer, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Lilongwe, 12 May 2000. [6]
Ibid. [7] Interview with Brigadier N.W.
Banda PSC, Army Chief of Staff and Col. H.L. Odilo, Deputy Chief of Staff,
Kamuzu Barracks, Lilongwe, 20 January
2000. [8] Statement by Z. K. Medi to the
First Meeting of States Parties, Maputo, 3 May
1999. [9] Interview with Brig. Banda, Army
Chief of Staff, and Col. Odilo, Deputy Chief of Staff, Lilongwe, 20 January
2000. [10] Ibid.; see also Landmine
Monitor Report 1999, p. 39. [11] Interview
with Col. H.L.Odilo, Lilongwe, 10 April
2000. [12] Interview with Col. R. Chimowa,
Spokesman, Ministry of Defense, Lilongwe, 11 May
2000. [13] Interview with Col. R.
Chimowa, Spokesman, Ministry of Defense, Lilongwe, 11 May
2000. [14] Ibid.
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