eme Court of Appeal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21
May 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21
May 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government cabinet: by popular vote for a five-year term; election last
held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Bakili
MULUZI reelected president; percent of vote - Bakili MULUZI (UDF) 51.4%,
Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MCP-AFORD) 44.3%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 15
June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by
party - UDF 48%, MCP 34%, AFORD 15%, others 3%; seats by party - UDF 96,
MCP 61, AFORD 30, others 6

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

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa
CHIHANA, president]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Gwanda CHAKUAMBA,
president, John TEMBO, vice president]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP
[Kampelo KALUA, president]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI]
- governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Democratic Alliance
[Brown MPINGANJIRA]

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Paul Tony Steven KANDIERO FAX: [1] (202) 265-0976 telephone: [1] (202)
797-1007 chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Roger A. MEECE embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road mailing address:
P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] 773 166 FAX: [265]
770 471

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red,
and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Government - note: the executive exerts consid