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
- President of the Republic of Malawi, Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force - His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.
- Vice President of the Republic of Malawi - Right Honourable Dr. Michael Bizwick Usi
- Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs - Hon. Simplex Chithyola Banda, MP.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs – Hon. Nancy Tembo, MP.
- Minister of Agriculture – Hon. Sam Kawale, MP.
- Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change – Right Hon. Michael Bizwick Usi.
- Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture – Hon. Richard Chimwendo Banda, MP.
- Minister of Justice – Hon. Titus Mvalo.
- Minister of Homeland Security – Hon. Dr. Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, MP.
- Minister of Health – Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP.
- Minister of Trade and Industry – Hon. Sosten Gwengwe, MP
- Minister of Youth and Sports – Hon. Uchizi Mkandawire, MP.
- Minister of Education – Hon. Madalitso Wirima Kambauwa, MP.
- Minister of Transport and Public Works – Hon. Jacob Hara, MP.
- Minister of Mining – Hon. Monica Chang’anamuno, MP.
- Minister of Tourism – Hon. Vera Kamtukule.
- Minister of Gender – Hon Jean Muonaowauza Sendeza, MP.
- Minister of Labour – Hon. Agnes Makonda Nyalonje.
- Minister of Defence – Hon. Harry Mkandawire.
- Minister of Water and Sanitation – Hon. Abida Mia, MP.
- Minister of Energy – Hon. Ibrahim Matola.
- Minister of Lands – Hon. Deus Gumba, MP.
- Minister of Information – Hon. Moses Kunkuyu Kalongashawa.
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- Deputy Minister of Local Government - Unity, and Culture – Hon. Owen Chomanika, MP.
- Deputy Minister of Health – Hon. Halima Alima Daud, MP.
- Deputy Minister of Education – Hon. Nancy Chaola Mdooko, MP.
- Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation – Hon. Liana Kakhobwe Chapota, 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 (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
