| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Malawi
conventional short form:
Malawi
former:
British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland
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| Government type: |
multiparty democracy
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| 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
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| Independence: |
6 July 1964 (from UK)
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| National holiday: |
Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
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| Constitution: |
18 May 1994
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| 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%
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| Flag description: |
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
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| Government - note: |
the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature
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