GOVERNMENT
The Government
of Malawi has been a multi-party democracy since 1994. Under the
1995 constitution, the president, who is both chief of state and
head of the government, is chosen through universal direct suffrage
every 5 years. Malawi has a vice president who is elected with
the president. The president has the option of appointing a second
vice president, who must be from a different party. The members
of the presidentially appointed cabinet can be drawn from either
within or outside of the legislature. Malawi's National Assembly
has 193 seats, all directly elected to serve 5-year terms. The
constitution also provides for a second house, a Senate of 80
seats, but to date no action has been taken to create the Senate.
The Senate is intended to provide representation for traditional
leaders and the different geographical districts, as well as various
special interest groups, such as women, youth, and the disabled.
The constitution provides for an independent judiciary. Malawi's judicial system, based on the English model, is made up of magisterial lower courts, a high court, a Supreme Court of Appeal, and a constitutional court. Local government is carried out in 28 districts within three regions administered by regional administrators and district commissioners who are appointed by the central government. Local elections, the first in the multi-party era, took place in on November 21, 2000. The UDF party won 70% of the seats in this election. The second round of constitutionally-mandated local elections, originally scheduled for May 2005, was cancelled by the government and have yet to be held.
The
third multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections, originally
planned for May 18, 2004 were postponed by two days following
a High Court appeal by the main opposition Mgwirizano (Unity)
coalition. The run-up to the poll was overshadowed by opposition
claims of irregularities in the voters' roll. European Union and
Commonwealth observers said although voting passed peacefully,
they were concerned about "serious inadequacies" in
the poll.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika
First Vice President--Dr. Cassim Chilumpha
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security--Bingu wa Mutharika
Minister of Economic Planning and Development--Ted Kalebe
Minister of Finance--Godall Gondwe
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Joyce Banda
Minister of Health--Marjorie Ngaunje
Minister of Information--Patricia Kaliati
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs--Henry Phoya
Minister of Lands, Housing and Surveys--Ernest Malenga
Minister of Local Government--George Chaponda
Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture--Khumbo Kachali
Minister of State in the President’s Office--David Katsonga
Minister of Trade and Industry--Ken Lipenga
Minister of Transport and Public Works--Henry Mussa
Minister of Tourism--Calista Chimombo
Ambassador
to the United States--Ambassador Bernard Sande
Permanent Representative to the United Nations--Prof. Brown Chimphamba
Malawi maintains an embassy in the United States at 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005 (tel. 202-721-0270; fax 202-721-0288). Malawi's Permanent Mission to the United Nations is located at 866 UN Plaza, Suite 486, New York, NY 10017 (tel.: 212-317-8738/8718; fax: 212-317-8729; e-mail: Malawinewyork@aol.com or MalawiU@aol.com). Malawi also maintains an Honorary Consulate in Los Angeles at 44970 Via Renaissance, Temecula, California 92590 (office number, 951-676-2476; fax number, 951-676-1568; and e-mail, malawiconsul@yahoo.com).
Type: Multi-party democracy.
Independence: July 6, 1964.
Constitution: May 18, 1995.
Branches: Executive--president (the president is both chief of state and head of government), first and second vice presidents, cabinet. Legislative--unicameral National Assembly (193 members). Although the Malawian constitution provides for a Senate, in practice the legislative branch's upper house does not exist. Judicial--High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, subordinate Magistrate Courts.
Administrative subdivisions: 28 districts.
Political parties: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, ruling party) United Democratic Front (UDF), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), New Republican Party (NRP), National Democratic Alliance (NDA), People's Progressive Movement (PPM), People's Transformation Party (PETRA), and Congress for National Unity (CONU). MCP and UDF are the two main opposition parties in parliament.
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years of age.
Central government budget-- 2007/2008 budget is $1.2418 billion (MK 176.34 billion).
