Social life in Malawi: To tip or not to tip

While offering a tip is the norm in most Western cultures and in some African Countries like South Africa, in Malawi things are a little different. Hardly will people give tips for services such as being waited on at a restaurant.

It is simply not part of the culture.

In the advent of global media, technology such as social media and movies, Malawians have adopted many aspects of western culture such as dress and fast foods.

Tipping however is one of those things that are slipping into Malawian social life more slowly. A few people in Cities such as Lilongwe, the Capital and Blantyre will give a tip of say K50 an equivalent of a few cents for having their trolley pushed to the car park from inside a shopping complex.

However, most people don’t tip.

Some people, I talked to, feel that they do not have enough money to go around dishing for services they have already paid for.

Others feel tipping would be perceived as trying to bribe the service provider.

Rarely a waiter at a fast food joint will be told to “keep the change” of more than K350 the equivalent of one US dollar.

Simply put, in Malawi, you can tip whatever amount whenever you feel like it. If the service impresses you, go on and tip. It is not the norm but it is also not unacceptable. A tip, whatever the magnitude will always be highly appreciated.