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Malawi Government

Malawi Government: A summary of information about Malawi Government, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.

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Malawi: Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: Nyasaland

Data code

MI

Government type

multiparty democracy

Capital

Lilongwe

Administrative divisions

24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,
Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe, Machinga
(Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata
Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
note: there may be three new districts named Balaka, Likoma, and
Phalombe

Independence

6 July 1964 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day 6 July (1964); Republic Day 6 July
(1966)

Constitution

18 May 1995

Legal system

based on English common law and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: 28-member cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Bakili MULUZI reelected president; percent of vote -
Bakili MULUZI (UDF) 51.4%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MCP-AFORD) 44.3%

Legislative branch

National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDF 48%, MCP 34%, AFORD
15%, others 3%; seats by party - UDF 93, MCP 66, AFORD 29, others 4,
vacancy 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court, chief justice
appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of
the Judicial Service Commission; magistrate's courts

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD
; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Gwanda
CHAKUAMBA, president, John TEMBO, vice president]; Malawi Democratic
Party or MDP ; Social Democratic Party or
SDP ; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili
MULUZI] - governing party

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:  (202) 797-1007

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Ellen SHIPPY
embassy: address NA, in new development area in Lilongwe
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone:  783 166
FAX:  780 471

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red,
and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Government - note

the executive exerts considerable influence over
the legislature