Lilongwe

Capital of Malawi, on the Lilongwe River, lying on a plateau at an altitude of 1,100 m/3,600 ft; population (2001 est) 473,000. It is a commercial and communications centre for a fertile agricultural region, producing ground nuts and tobacco. With hydroelectric power from a dam on the Lilongwe River, it has become a centre for light industry, including engineering, clothes, and the processing of agricultural goods; tourism is also important.

History
The city was founded in 1947 and chosen to be the future capital of the country in 1964. In 1968 the construction of government buildings started at Capital Hill, 5 km/3 mi from the original city. Lilongwe began to function as the capital in 1975.