Short facts about the government of Malawi

Country name:

conventional long form:  Republic of Malawi conventional short form:  Malawi former:  British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

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)

Constitution:

18 May 1994

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:  36-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:

unicameral 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 94, MCP 66, AFORD 29, others 4

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 [Chakufwa CHIHANA, president]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Gwanda CHAKUAMBA, president, John TEMBO, vice president]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA, president]; National Independence Party; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eston KAKHOME, president]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI] - governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

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 Paul Tony Steven KANDIERO chancery:  2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:  [1] (202) 797-1007

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Roger A. MEECE embassy:  Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road mailing address:  P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone:  [265] 773 166 FAX:  [265] 770 471

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

Source: World Factbook