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 on 16 May 2019, with a historic court-ordered fresh presidential election held on 23 June 2020 following a successful legal challenge to the original results. The next general elections are scheduled to be held in 2025. Election results: Seats by party following the 2019 elections — Malawi Congress Party (MCP) 55, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 62, United Transformation Movement (UTM) 4, United Democratic Front (UDF) 10, People's Party (PP) 5, Independents 55, others 2.

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 Lazarus CHAKWERA

Head of Government

President Lazarus CHAKWERA

Cabinet

46-member Cabinet named by the president

Elections

Last held on 16 May 2019, with a historic court-ordered fresh presidential election held on 23 June 2020 following a successful legal challenge to the original results. The next general elections are scheduled to be held in 2025.

Election Results

Seats by party following the 2019 elections — Malawi Congress Party (MCP) 55, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 62, United Transformation Movement (UTM) 4, United Democratic Front (UDF) 10, People's Party (PP) 5, Independents 55, others 2.

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