Independence:
6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Republic 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; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May
2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
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 20 May 2004 (next
to be held May 2009)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of
vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (UDF) 35.9%, John TEMBO (MCP) 27.1%,
Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MC) 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA (NDA) 8.7%,
Justin MALEWEZI (independent) 2.5%
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 and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Congress for
National Unity or CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu
wa MUTHARIKA]; 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
[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP,
PETRA, PPM, RP); Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE
[Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown
MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; 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
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA