Executive Branch
Chief of State
H.E. Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika
​President of the Republic of Malawi
Note
The President is the Chief of State and Head of Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of Malawi
Head of Government
H.E. Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika
President of the Republic of Malawi
Cabinet
Members of the Cabinet named by the President
Elections
President elected by 50 percent plus one of the electorate through direct, universal and equal suffrage for a five-year term.
Cabinet
- President of the Republic of Malawi, Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force - His Excellency Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika.
- First Vice President - Right Honourable Dr. Jane Ansah, SC, JA Rtd.
- Second Vice President - Right Honourable Enoch Kamzingeni Chihana.
- Minister of State - Honourable Alfred Ruwan Gangata.
- Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation -Honourable Joseph Mwanamveka, MP.
- Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development - Honourable Roza Fatch Mbilizi , MP.
- Minister of Education, Science and Technology - Honourable Bright Msaka, SC.
- Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs - Honourable Charles Mhango.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation - Honourable George T. Chaponda, MP.
- Minister of Health and Sanitation - Honourable Madalitso Baloyi, MP.
- Minister of Local Government and Rural Development - Honourable Ben Malunga Phiri, MP.
- Minister of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism - Honourable George Patridge.
- Minister of Transport and Public Works - Honourable Feston Kaupa, MP.
- Minister of Homeland Security - Honourable Peter Mukhito.
- Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare - Honourable Mary Navicha, MP.
- Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining - Honourable Jean Mathanga, MP.
- Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development - Honourable Jappie Mhango, MP.
- Minister of Labour Skills and Innovation - Honourable Joel Chigona, MP.
- Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture - Honourable Patricia Wiskies, MP.
- Minister of Information and Communications Technology - Honourable Shadrick Namalomba, MP.
- Minister of Defence - Honourable Chimwemwe Chipungu, MP.
- Deputy Minister of Homeland Security (Operations) - Honourable Norman Chisale, MP.
- Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare- Honourbale Martha Ngwira, MP.
- Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology - Honourable Francis Foley, MP.
Country name
Conventional long form
Republic of Malawi
Former
British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland
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.
Government type
Multiparty Democracy
Administrative divisions
32 districts
Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
National holiday
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Legislative branch
• All legislative powers of the Republic of Malawi are vested in Parliament and the Act of Parliament has primary over other forms of law, but is subject to the Constitution.
• Unicameral National Assembly (229 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 16th September, 2025
Independence
6 July 1964 (from the UK)
Capital
Name
Lilongwe
Geographic coordinates
13 59 S, 33 47 E
Time difference
GMT+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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
National anthem
Name
"Mulungu dalitsani Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)
Note
adopted 1964
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
