European

Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%,
traditional indigenous beliefs

Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), other
languages important regionally

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 56.4%
male: 71.9%
female: 41.8%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: Nyasaland

Data code: MI

Type of government: multiparty democracy

Capital: Lilongwe

Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,
Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe,
Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba,
Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima,
Thyolo, Zomba

Independence: 6 July 1964 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 6 July (1964); Republic Day 6
July (1966)

Constitution: 18 May 1995; most recent revision

Legal system: based on English common law and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Bakili MULUZI
(since 21 May 1994), leader of the UDF, was elected for a five-year
term by universal suffrage
cabinet: Cabinet was named by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: elections last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held
NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (177 total)
UDF 84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5; note - because of defections and
a bi-election of 18 December 1995, the seats in the National
Assembly were held at the end of the year as follows: UDF 87, MCP
55, AFORD 35
note: the constitution of 18 May 1995, in addition to reducing the
age at which universal suffrage is conferred from 21 to 18 years,
provided for a bicameral legislature; by 1999, in addition to the
existing National Assembly, a Senate of 80 seats is to be elected

Judicial branch: High Court; Supreme Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: United Democratic Front (UDF), Bakili MULUZI
opposition groups: Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Green MUNLO,
secretary general (top party position); Alliance for Democracy
(AFORD), Chakufwa CHIHANA; Christian Democratic Party (CDP), Eston
KAKHO