Government and Politics of Malawi

Government Type

multiparty democracy

Administrative Divisions

27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 23 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; percent of vote - Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter MUTHARIKA (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.8%

Legislative Branch

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 74, MCP 60, Independents 24, RP 16, others 18, vacancies 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

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP, PETRA, PPM, RP) [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New Congress for Democracy or NCD [Hetherwick NTABA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA] - governing party

Head of State

President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA

Head of Government

President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA

Cabinet

46-member Cabinet named by the president

Elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)

Election Results

Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%

Constitution

18-May-94

Independence

6 July 1964 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)

International Organization Participation

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

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDE chancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David GILMOUR embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] (1) 773 166 FAX: [265] (1) 770 471

Capital City

Lilongwe

Location

13 58 S, 33 47 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

named after the Lilongwe River that flows through the city

U.S. Embassy Lilongwe Area 40, City Center Lilongwe, Malawi Mailing Address: PO Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi Telephone: (265) 1-773-166, 1-773-342 and 1-773-367 (if dialing within Malawi add "0" before the "1"); fax (265) 1-774-976 (if dialing within Malawi add "0" before the "1"). In case of emergency, you may call the Embassy 24 hours a day and request extension 3443. In case the landlines are malfunctioning, you may also dial (265) (0)999-591024 or (265) (0) 888-734-826.

Military Branches

Malawi Defense Forces (MDF): Army (includes Air Wing, Marine Unit)

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; high school equivalent required for enlisted recruits and college equivalent for officer recruits; initial engagement is 7 years for enlisted personnel and 10 years for officers