Politics
In the 1st century AD Bantu tribes invaded the region already inhabited by Twa and Fulani tribes. More migrations happened in the 13th to 15th centuries. These Bantu settlers worked with iron so they dominated the earlier ‘stone-age’ inhabitants. These Bantu tribes united in a confederate called Maravi that included most of Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi.

In the 17th century the first Europeans, Portugese explorers, arrived from the coast of Mozambique. Slave trade increased dramatically around this time, followed by explorers, traders, settlers and missionaries. The missionaries banished slave traders and set up buildings and commerce. The Portugese attempt to colonise Malawi in 1890 was stopped by Britain who established the Nyasaland and District Protectorate in 1891.

Britain ruled Malawi as a colony from 1878 until 1964. Rising nationalism in the 1940s and 1950s lead to the country becoming independent. President Hastings Kamuu Banda ruled as a dictator and declared himself president for life in 1971. After a referendum, Malawi became a democracy in 1994 with an elected government lead by President Bakili Muluzi of the United Democratic Front.
In May 2004 the United Democratic Front candidate Bingu wa Mutharika was elected as President.

Democratic multi-party elections are held every five years. The elected chief of state (president) is also head of government (prime minister).

Links to BBC news - Malawi country profile and timeline
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1068913.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/2982250.stm