The Government and Political System in Malawi

The Republic of Malawi has a democratic, multi-party government based on the Constitution of May 18, 1995. It is run through the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches for national government administration, and though the administrative regions and districts for local government administration. The Executive Branch consists of the President, who is both chief of state and head of government, and is elected for a 5-year term; a 1st Vice-President who is elected with the President; a 2nd Vice-President who is appointed from a different party; and a Cabinet appointed by the President.

The Legislative Branch is the unicameral National Assembly consisting of 193 members elected every five years. (The Constitution provides for an 80-member Senate but up to now the legislative body is still non-existing). The Judicial Branch is composed of the Constitutional Court, High Court, Supreme Court of Appeals, and the Magistrates Courts.

The country’s local government is administered by the Regional Administrators of the Northern, Central and Southern regions and 29 District Commissioners appointed by the Central government. The lowest rung of local government is run by 250 traditional authorities and 110 administrative wards throughout the country.

For its foreign relations, the country maintains an embassy in the United States, a permanent mission to the United Nations, an Honorary Consulate in Los Angeles, U.S.A. and membership in international organizations, such as the UN, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization, UNESCO and other important groups.