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Malawi’s relations with Scotland can be traced back to 1859, when David Livingstone first reached Lake Malawi (then known as Lake Nyasa). Livingstone mapped the lake and wrote extensively and passionately against the East African slave trade, which was at its height in the mid-nineteenth century. Contrary to popular myth he did not manage to end the slave trade, but his time in Malawi had two important effects. It alerted people in Britain to the existence and horrors of the slave trade, and following Livingstone’s death in 1873 it encouraged Scots to set up two missions in his memory. Both the Livingstonia and Blantyre missions played a major part in the development of the country, which became a British Protectorate in 1891. While accepting the need for a British colonial presence in Malawi, the Scots missionaries also established a reputation for opposing colonial policies which they perceived to be against African interests – being described sarcastically by one colonial official as ‘Her Majesty’s Official Opposition’.
Known at first as British Central Africa, and then as Nyasaland, the country gained its independence as Malawi in July 1964. Several Scots were politically active in the movement for independence, and Scottish relationships with Malawi have remained strong ever since. In 2005 First Minister Jack McConnell signed a co-operation agreement with the Malawi government and the non-governmental charity the Scotland-Malawi Partnership works to encourage Scottish partnership and co-operation between the peoples of the two countries – most recently with its sister organisation in Malawi, the Malawi-Scotland Partnership.
Aithnichte mar Alba ann am Fògradh air cladaichean Loch Mhalàbhaidh [Nyasa], tha dualchas an nàisein gu tur Albannach. Bha am Misean Albannach air a thighinn a Mhalàbhaidh an dèidh do Dhaibhidh Mac an Lèibhe cur às do mhalairt nan tràillean, agus gu pròiseil a’ togail an cliù mar Dhùbhlan Oifigeil a Mòrachd. Is e stèisean misein air leth sònraichte a th’ ann an Livingstonia a chaidh a chur air bhonn ann an 1894 le Eaglais Shaor na h-Alba, agus a tha beag air bheag air fàs gu bhith na bhaile beag. B’ e Raibeart Laws am miseanaraidh a bha a’ stiùireadh airson 52 bliadhna, agus a stèidhich an sgoil a b’ fheàrr airson na sgìre air fad. Thàinig mòran a cheumnaich aiste leithid Coinneach Kaunda gu bhith buadhach nam beatha. Bha An Dr Laws ag iarraidh gun leasaicheadh Livingstonia gu bhith na Oilthigh agus ged a chaidh bacadh fada air an seo, thàinig an t-aisling aige gu bith ann an 2003. Chaidh Ospadal Dhaibhidh Gòrdain a stèidheachadh ann an 1911 ann an Livingstonia agus gu làithreach tha e a’ frithealadh sgìre de 60,000 den àireamh-sluaigh.
Tha gnìomhachdan na 21mh linn air am brosnachadh, a’ faotainn taic agus air an co-òrdanachadh leis a’ Chom-pàirteachas Alba-Malàbhaidh stèidhichte ann an Dùn Èideann fo Chùl-taic na Bana-phrionnsa Anna agus Ceann-suidhe Mhalàbhaidh, le àireamh mhòr de phrògraman a tha a’ gabhail a-steach beathachadh, uisge, iomlaid sgoilearach, ceannas creideamhach agus cùram slàinte chloinne. Thadhail Ciad Ministear Alba, Seac McConnell ann am Malàbhaidh ann an 2005 agus tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil buidseat taic ri fhaotainn dhaibh gach bliadhna. Tha Subhachasan Neo-eisimeileachd Mhalàbhaidh gan cumail ann an Alba gach bliadhna timcheall air 6 Iuchair gus neo-eisimeileachd Mhalàbhaidh bhon Rìoghachd Aonaichte ann an 1964, a chomharrachadh.