Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 195 KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1964 Population: 15,381,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$360 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 171 Geography Area: 118,484 sq km Coastline: none Capital: Lilongwe Malawi is a long, narrow south-east African country shaped by the dramatic Rift Valley, with Lake Malawi a dominant feature. It is bordered by Mozambique to the east, south and south-west, by Zambia to the north and north-west, and by the United Republic of Tanzania to the north and north-east. There are three regions: the northern (capital Mzuzu), the central (capital Lilongwe) and the southern (capital Blantyre). Constitution Status: Republic with executive President Legislature: Parliament of Malawi Independence: 6 July 1964 The present constitution was approved by the National Assembly in May 1994 and promulgated in May 1995. It provides for a multiparty democracy on the US model. It curtails the former sweeping and absolute powers of the President, contains a bill of human rights (although it retains the death penalty) and protects the independence of the judiciary. The Head of State is an executive President, who is elected every five years for a maximum of two terms by direct universal suffrage. The President is also head of the cabinet, whose maximum size is 24 members. Legislative authority is vested in the unicameral National Assembly, whose 193 members are directly elected for a five-year term by universal adult suffrage. The Senate was scheduled to follow the local elections that were eventually held in November 2000, but in January 2001 the National Assembly approved a constitutional amendment that removed the provision for a senate. Judicial system Supreme court: High Court of Malawi Ministry: Justice and Constitutional Affairs The 1994 constitution contains a bill of human rights (although it retains the death penalty) and protects the independence of the judiciary. The High Court sits in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba, and has original jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil or criminal proceedings. It is generally presided over by a single judge but for constitutional cases there are at least three judges. The Industrial Relations Court deals with labour disputes and other issues relating to employment. The magistrates’ courts have original jurisdiction to hear and determine most Malawi
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