Embassy of the Republic of Malawi: Government and Politics

Executive Branch

Chief of state
H.E. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
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. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
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

1.    His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera,
President of the Republic of Malawi, Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence force and Minister of Defence

2.     Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima,
Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and also responsible for Public Sector Reforms

3.     Honourable Lobin Clarke Lowe, M.P.,
Minister of Agriculture

4.     Honourable Michael Bizwick Usi,
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife

5.     Honourable Sosten Alfred Gwengwe, M.P.,
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs

6.     Honourable Nancy Tembo, M.P.,
Minister of Foreign Affairs

7.     Honourable Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, M.P.,
Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change

8.     Honourable Patricia Annie Kaliati,
Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare

9.     Honourable Richard Chimwendo Banda, M.P.,
Minister of Youth and Sports

10.    Honourable Titus Songiso Mvalo,
Minister of Justice

11.      Honourable Agnes Makonda Nyalonje,
Minister of Education

12.      Honourable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, M.P.,
Minister of Health

13.      Honourable Timothy Pagonachi Mtambo,
Minister of National Unity

14.      Honourable Gospel Kazako,
Minister of Information and Digitalization

15.      Honourable Jean Muonaowauza Sendeza, M.P.,
Minister of Homeland Security

16.      Honourable Vera Kamtukule,
Minister of Labour

17. Honourable Abida Sidik Mia, M.P.,
Minister of Water and Sanitation

18.      Honourable Jacob Hara, M.P.,
Minister of Transport and Public Works

19.      Honourable Prof. Blessings Darlo Chinsinga,
Minister of Local Government

20.      Honourable Dr. Albert Mbawala, M.P.,
Minister of Mining

21.      Honourable lbrahim Matola,
Minister of Energy

22.      Honourable Mark Katsonga Phiri, M.P.,
Minister of Trade and Industry

23.      Honourable Samuel Dalitso Kawale, M.P.,
Minister of Lands

Deputy Ministers:

1. Honourable Harry Mkandawire, Deputy Minister of Defense.

2. Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma, M.P., Deputy Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare.

3. Honourable Nancy Chaola Mdooko, M.P., Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works.

4. Honourable Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, M.P., Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

5. Honourable Halima Alima Daud, M.P., Deputy Minister of Local Government.

6. Honourable Deus Gumba, M.P., Deputy Minister of Lands.

7. Honourable Enock Phale, M.P., Deputy Minister of Health.

8. Honourable John Bande, M.P., Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation.

9. Honourable Monica Chang’anamuno, M.P., Deputy Minister of Education.

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)

Constitution

18 May 1994

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 (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 21 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024)

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