Inland water transportation is reserved to locally registered vessels owned by (i) a citizen of Malawi or (ii) a body corporate incorporated in Malawi which is under effective control of citizens of Malawi.
"3. Application of the Act
(1) Unless otherwise expressly provided, this Act shall apply to—
(a) Malawi vessels wherever they may be;
(b) all other vessels alike in a port on, or place in, or within the inland waters; and
(c) any structure, in or on inland waters and used for exploration or production operations under the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, and to the person in charge of such structure.
[...]
[Cap. 61:02]5. Obligation to register
No person shall use or permit to be used on inland waters a vessel to which the provisions of this Part apply unless—
(a) such vessel has been surveyed and registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act; and
(b) there is in force in respect of such vessel a valid certificate of registration.
[...]
7. Declaration of ownership
(1) No application for the registration of a vessel shall be entertained unless there is attached to the application a declaration by the person applying for the registration of the vessel stating—
(a) that the vessel is owned by—
(i) a citizen of Malawi; or
(ii) a body corporate incorporated in Malawi which is under effective control of citizens of Malawi;
[...]
31. Licensing of vessels used for water transport
(1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall, except under and in accordance with the terms of a licence issued under this Act, use any vessel upon inland waters for the carriage of—
(a) any goods or any persons for hire or reward; or
(b) any goods for or in connexion with any trade or business:
Provided that fishing gear and fresh fish carried on board a fishing vessel shall not be considered to be goods for the purposes of this subsection.
(2) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, exempt any vessel or class of vessels from the provisions of this section.
[...]
43. Agreements with other countries
(1) The Minister may, under such conditions as he may deem necessary, conclude agreements with the government of any country which borders on any lake or river of which a part has been declared to be inland waters and in any such agreement may make arrangements— [...]
(b) for the use on inland waters of vessels registered in such country and the use on the inland waters of such vessels registered under this Act; [...]
(e) for access, by commercial vessels, to inland waters and ports of Malawi by vessels registered in such country and by Malawi vessels to inland waters and ports of such country; and[...]" (Inland Waters Shipping Act [Chapter 71:01] of 1996, as amended)
Inland Waters Shipping Act [Chapter 71:01] of 1996, as amended
[<a href="https://malawilii.org/akn/mw/act/1995/12/eng@2014-12-31#part_IV">Act</a>]