d over can read and write (1966)
total population:
22%
male:
34%
female:
12%
Labor force:
428,000 wage earners
by occupation:
agriculture 43%, manufacturing 16%, personal services 15%, commerce 9%,
construction 7%, miscellaneous services 4%, other permanently employed 6%
(1986)

*Malawi, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Malawi
conventional short form:
Malawi
former:
Nyasaland
Digraph:
MI
Type:
one-party republic
note:
a referendum to determine whether Malawi should remain a one-party state is
scheduled to be held on 14 June 1993
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)
Constitution:
6 July 1964; republished as amended January 1974
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
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
Political parties and leaders:
only party - Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Wadson DELEZA, administrative
secretary; John TEMBO, treasurer general; top party position of secretary
general vacant since 1983
Other political or pressure groups:
Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Chakufwa CHIHANA; United Democratic Front
(UDF) Bakili MULUZI; Malawi Democratic People (MDP), leader NA
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
President BANDA sworn in as President for Life on 6 July 1971
National Assembly:
last held 26-27 June 1987 (next to be held by June 1997); results - MCP is
the only party; seats - (141 total, 136 elected) MCP 141
Executive branch:
president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Dr. Hastings Kamuzu BANDA (since 6 July 1966; sworn in as
President for Life 6 July 1971)

*Malawi, Government

Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS,
NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,