Malawi Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Government and politics== {{Main|Politics of Malawi}} {{See also|Elections in Malawi|Judiciary of Malawi|Malawian Defence Force}} Malawi is a [[unitary state|unitary]] [[presidential system|presidential]] republic under the leadership of President [[Lazarus Chakwera]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Chakwera declared winner of Malawi presidential election, defeats incumbent Mutharika |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/chakwera-declared-winner-of-malawi-presidential-election-defeats-incumbent-mutharika/ |access-date=27 June 2020 |publisher=Nyasa Times |date=27 June 2020}}</ref> The current constitution was put into place on 18 May 1995. The [[Separation of powers|branches]] of the government consist of [[Executive (government)|executive]], [[Legislature|legislative]] and [[Judiciary|judicial]]. The executive includes a President who is both [[Head of State]] and [[Head of Government]], first and second Vice Presidents and the [[Cabinet of Malawi]]. The President and Vice President are elected together every five years. A second Vice President may be appointed by the President if so chosen, although they must be from a different party. The members of the [[Cabinet of Malawi]] are appointed by the President and can be from either inside or outside of the legislature.<ref name="StateDept">{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/7231.htm|title=Background Note: Malawi|work=Bureau of African Affairs|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=11 January 2011|access-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> [[File:Parliament Building of Malawi.jpg|thumb|left|National Assembly building in Lilongwe]] The legislative branch consists of a [[unicameral]] [[National Assembly (Malawi)|National Assembly]] of 193 members who are elected every five years,<ref>{{cite web|title=Field Listing :: Legislative branch — The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/313.html|website=www.cia.gov|access-date=29 May 2020|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611183403/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/313.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and although the Malawian constitution provides for a [[Senate]] of 80 seats, one does not exist in practice. If created, the Senate would provide representation for traditional leaders and a variety of geographic districts, as well as special interest groups including the disabled, youth, and women. The [[Malawi Congress Party]] is the ruling party together with several other parties in the Tonse Alliance led by Lazarus Chakwera while the Democratic Progressive Party is the main opposition party. [[Suffrage]] is universal at 18 years of age, and the central government budget for 2021/2022 is $2.4 billion from $2.8 billion for the 2020/2021 financial year.<ref name="StateDept" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Malawi Budget revised to K2.3 trillion {{!}} Malawi 24 – Malawi news |url=https://malawi24.com/2021/02/26/malawi-budget-revised-to-k2-3-trillion/ |work=[[Malawi24]] |date=26 February 2021}}</ref> The independent judicial branch is based upon the [[English law|English]] model and consists of a Supreme Court of Appeal, a High Court divided into three sections (general, constitutional, and commercial), an Industrial Relations Court and Magistrates Courts, the last of which is divided into five grades and includes Child Justice Courts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.judiciary.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=102 |title=Jurisdiction |publisher=Malawi Judiciary |access-date=12 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029183757/http://www.judiciary.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=102 |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref> The judicial system has been changed several times since Malawi gained independence in 1964. Conventional courts and [[Traditional Courts in Malawi|traditional courts]] have been used in varying combinations, with varying degrees of success and corruption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jurist.org/dateline/2011/08/megan-crouch-local-courts-malawi.php|title=Improving Legal Access for Rural Malawi Villagers|author=Crouch, Megan|date=18 August 2011|access-date=12 August 2013|publisher=Jurist}}</ref> Malawi is composed of three regions (the Northern, Central, and Southern regions),<ref name="Benson1">{{cite web|title=Chapter 1: An Introduction|work=Malawi: An Atlas of Social Statistics|format=PDF|author= Benson, Todd|page=2|url=http://www.ifpri.org/publication/malawi|publisher=National Statistical Office, Government of Malawi| access-date=24 August 2008}}</ref> which are divided into 28 [[Districts of Malawi|districts]],<ref name="CIA">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malawi/|title=Malawi|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=2 September 2019}}</ref> and further into approximately 250 traditional authorities and 110 administrative wards.<ref name="Benson1" /> Local government is administered by central government-appointed regional administrators and district commissioners. For the first time in the multi-party era, local elections took place on 21 November 2000, with the UDF party winning 70% of the available seats. There was scheduled to be a second round of constitutionally mandated local elections in May 2005, but these were cancelled by the government.<ref name="StateDept" /> In February 2005, President Mutharika split with the United Democratic Front and began his own party, the [[Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)|Democratic Progressive Party]], which had attracted reform-minded officials from other parties and won by-elections across the country in 2006. In 2008, President Mutharika had implemented reforms to address the country's major corruption problem, with at least five senior UDF party members facing criminal charges.<ref name="Africa08">Dickovick, ''Africa 2008'', p. 278</ref> In 2012, Malawi was ranked 7th of all countries in [[sub-Saharan Africa]] in the [[Ibrahim Index of African Governance]], an index that measures several variables to provide a comprehensive view of the governance of African countries. Although the country's governance score was higher than the continental average, it was lower than the regional average for southern Africa. Its highest scores were for safety and rule of law, and its lowest scores were for sustainable economic opportunity, with a ranking of 47th on the continent for educational opportunities. Malawi's governance score had improved between 2000 and 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/downloads/press-releases/iiag-launch-malawi.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331113617/http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/downloads/press-releases/iiag-launch-malawi.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 March 2014|title=2012 Ibrahim Index of African Governance: Malawi ranks 7th out of 12 in Southern Africa|date=15 October 2012|access-date=12 August 2013|publisher=Mo Ibrahim Foundation}}</ref> Malawi held [[2019 Malawian general election|elections]] in May 2019, with President Peter Mutharika winning re-election over challengers Lazarus Chakwera, Atupele Muluzi, and Saulos Chilima.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mec.org.mw/elections/#/|title=Malawi Electoral Commission: 2019 Tripartite Election Results|date=June 2019|website=Malawi Electoral Commission|access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref> In 2020 Malawi Constitutional Court annulled President Peter Mutharika's narrow election victory last year because of widespread fraud and irregularities. Opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera won [[2020 Malawian presidential election]] and he became the new president.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-06-27|title=Malawi opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera wins historic poll rerun|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53207780|access-date=2021-05-27}}</ref> ===Administrative divisions=== {{Districts of Malawi Image Map}} {{Main|Regions of Malawi|Districts of Malawi}} Malawi is divided into 28 districts within three regions: {| style="margin:auto;" | | | | |- | style="padding-right:1em; vertical-align:top;" | '''[[Central Region, Malawi|Central Region]]''' ---- * 1{{spaced ndash}}[[Dedza District|Dedza]] * 2{{spaced ndash}}[[Dowa District|Dowa]] * 3{{spaced ndash}}[[Kasungu District|Kasungu]] * 4{{spaced ndash}}[[Lilongwe District|Lilongwe]] * 5{{spaced ndash}}[[Mchinji District|Mchinji]] * 6{{spaced ndash}}[[Nkhotakota District|Nkhotakhota]] * 7{{spaced ndash}}[[Ntcheu District|Ntcheu]] * 8{{spaced ndash}}[[Ntchisi District|Ntchisi]] * 9{{spaced ndash}}[[Salima District|Salima]] | style="padding-right:1em; vertical-align:top;" | '''[[Northern Region, Malawi|Northern Region]]''' ---- * 10{{spaced ndash}}[[Chitipa District|Chitipa]] * 11{{spaced ndash}}[[Karonga District|Karonga]] * 12{{spaced ndash}}[[Likoma District|Likoma]] * 13{{spaced ndash}}[[Mzimba District|Mzimba]] * 14{{spaced ndash}}[[Nkhata Bay District|Nkhata Bay]] * 15{{spaced ndash}} [[Rumphi District|Rumphi]] | style="padding-right:1em; vertical-align:top;" | '''[[Southern Region, Malawi|Southern Region]]''' ---- * 16{{spaced ndash}}[[Balaka District|Balaka]] * 17{{spaced ndash}}[[Blantyre District|Blantyre]] * 18{{spaced ndash}}[[Chikhwawa District|Chikwawa]] * 19{{spaced ndash}}[[Chiradzulu District|Chiradzulu]] * 20{{spaced ndash}}[[Machinga District|Machinga]] * 21{{spaced ndash}}[[Mangochi District|Mangochi]] * 22{{spaced ndash}}[[Mulanje District|Mulanje]] * 23{{spaced ndash}}[[Mwanza District|Mwanza]] * 24{{spaced ndash}}[[Nsanje District|Nsanje]] * 25{{spaced ndash}}[[Thyolo District|Thyolo]] * 26{{spaced ndash}}[[Phalombe District|Phalombe]] * 27{{spaced ndash}}[[Zomba District|Zomba]] * 28{{spaced ndash}}[[Neno District|Neno]] |} ===Foreign relations=== {{Main|Foreign relations of Malawi}} Former President [[Hastings Banda]] established a [[pro-Western]] [[foreign policy]] that continued into early 2011. It included good diplomatic relationships with many Western countries. The transition from a one-party state to a multi-party democracy strengthened Malawian ties with the United States. Significant numbers of students from Malawi travel to the US for schooling, and the US has active branches of the [[Peace Corps]], the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]], the [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|Department of Health and Human Services]] and the [[United States Agency for International Development|Agency for International Development]] in Malawi. Malawi maintained close [[Malawi–South Africa relations|relations with South Africa]] throughout the [[Apartheid in South Africa|Apartheid]] era, which strained Malawi's relationships with other African countries. Following the collapse of apartheid in 1994, diplomatic relationships were made and maintained into 2011 between Malawi and all other African countries. In 2010, however, Malawi's relationship with Mozambique became strained, partially due to disputes over the use of the Zambezi River and an inter-country electrical grid.<ref name="StateDept" /> In 2007, Malawi established diplomatic ties with China, and Chinese investment in the country has continued to increase since then, despite concerns regarding the treatment of workers by Chinese companies and competition of Chinese business with local companies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2011/may/07/china-puts-mark-malawi-presence|title= China puts its mark on Malawi|date=7 May 2011|author=Ngozo, Claire|access-date=20 July 2011|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> In 2011, relations between Malawi and the United Kingdom were damaged when a document was released in which the British ambassador to Malawi criticised President Mutharika. Mutharika expelled the ambassador from Malawi, and in July 2011, the UK announced that it was suspending all budgetary aid because of Mutharika's lack of response to criticisms of his government and economic mismanagement.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://blogs.forbes.com/mfonobongnsehe/2011/07/17/u-k-stops-budgetary-aid-to-malawi/|title=U.K. Stops Budgetary Aid To Malawi|date= 17 July 2011|access-date=20 July 2011|last=Nsehe|first=Mfonobong|magazine=Forbes}}</ref> On 26 July 2011, the United States followed suit, freezing a US$350 million grant, citing concerns regarding the government's suppression and intimidation of demonstrators and civic groups, as well as restriction of the press and police violence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/world/africa/27malawi.html|title=U.S. Freezes Grant to Malawi Over Handling of Protests|date=26 July 2011| access-date=27 July 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|last=Dugger|first=Celia W.}}</ref> [[File:Diplomatic missions of Malawi.png|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Locations of Malawian diplomatic embassies or high commissions {{As of|2012|lc=y}}]] Malawi has been seen as a haven for refugees from other African countries, including Mozambique and [[Rwanda]], since 1985. These influxes of refugees have placed a strain on the Malawian economy but have also drawn significant inflows of aid from other countries. Donors to Malawi include the United States, Canada, Germany, Iceland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, the UK and Flanders (Belgium), as well as international institutions such as the [[World Bank]], the [[International Monetary Fund]], the [[European Union]], the [[African Development Bank]] and UN organizations. Malawi is a member of several international organizations including the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], the UN and some of its child agencies, the IMF, the World Bank, the [[African Union]] and the [[World Health Organization]]. Malawi tends to view economic and political stability in southern Africa as a necessity and advocates peaceful solutions through negotiation. The country was the first in southern Africa to receive [[peacekeeping]] training under the [[African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance|African Crisis Response Initiative]].<ref name="StateDept" /> ===Human rights=== {{See also|Human rights in Malawi}} {{As of|2017}}, international observers noted issues in several human rights areas. Excessive force was seen to be used by police forces, security forces were able to act with impunity, mob violence was occasionally seen, and prison conditions continued to be harsh and sometimes life-threatening. However, the government was seen to make some effort to prosecute security forces who used excessive force. Other legal issues included limits on [[Freedom of speech|free speech]] and [[freedom of the press]], lengthy pretrial detentions, and [[arbitrary arrest]]s and detentions. Societal issues found included [[violence against women]], [[human trafficking]], and [[child labour]]. Corruption within the government is seen as a major issue, despite the Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) attempts to reduce it. The ACB appears to be successful at finding and prosecuting low level corruption, but higher level officials appear to be able to act with impunity. Corruption within security forces is also an issue.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/af/154356.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110414011935/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/af/154356.htm|url-status= dead|archive-date= 14 April 2011|title=2010 Human Rights Report: Malawi|date=8 April 2011|access-date=21 July 2011|publisher=US Department of State}}</ref> Malawi had one of the highest rates of [[child marriage]] in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-03-14|title=WHO | Child marriages: 39,000 every day|url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2013/child_marriage_20130307/en/|access-date=2023-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314073138/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2013/child_marriage_20130307/en/ |archive-date=14 March 2013 }}</ref> In 2015 Malawi raised the legal age for marriage from 15 to 18.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Batha|first1=Emma|title=Malawi bans child marriage, lifts minimum age to 18|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-malawi-childmarriage-law-idUKKBN0LK1Y920150216|access-date=19 June 2015|work=Reuters|date=16 February 2015}}</ref> Other issues that have been raised are lack of adequate legal protection of women from sexual abuse and harassment, very high [[maternal mortality]] rate, and abuse related to accusations of [[witchcraft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/ngos/WLSAMalawi45_session.pdf |title=WOMEN AND LAW IN SOUTHERN AFRICA RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL TRUST (WLSA MALAWI) |website=Ohchr.org |access-date=9 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1398&context=faculty_scholarship |format=PDF |title=WITCHCRAFT ACCUSATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS: CASE STUDIES FROM MALAWI |website=Ir.lawnet.fordham.edu |access-date=9 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Whiting|first1=Alex|title=Attacks On Albinos Grow In Malawi As Body Parts Are Sold For Witchcraft|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/attacks-albinos-malawi-amnesty_us_57571410e4b07823f9517df2|access-date=10 December 2016|agency=Thomson Reuters Foundation|work=Huffington Post|date=6 July 2016}}</ref> {{As of|2010}}, [[LGBT rights in Malawi|homosexuality]] has been illegal in Malawi. In one 2010 case, a couple perceived as homosexual (a [[cis man]] and a [[trans woman]]) faced extensive jail time when convicted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aegis.org/default.asp?req=http://www.aegis.org/news/ap/2010/AP100509.html|title=Gay couple convicted in Malawi faces 14-year term|last=Tenthani|first=Rafael|date=18 May 2010|access-date=22 September 2010|publisher=Aegis|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503184110/http://www.aegis.org/default.asp?req=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aegis.org%2Fnews%2Fap%2F2010%2FAP100509.html|archive-date=3 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The convicted pair, sentenced to the maximum of 14 years of hard labour each, were pardoned two weeks later following the intervention of [[United Nations Secretary General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Malawi pardons jailed gay couple|newspaper=Irish Times|date=29 May 2010|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0529/breaking26.html|access-date=29 May 2010}}</ref> In May 2012, then-President [[Joyce Banda]] pledged to repeal laws criminalising homosexuality.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/18/malawi-president-vows-legalise-homosexuality |title=Malawi president vows to legalise homosexuality |author1=David Smith |author2=Godfrey Mapondera |newspaper=The Guardian |date=18 May 2012 |access-date=18 May 2012}}</ref> It was her successor, [[Peter Mutharika]], who imposed a moratorium in 2015 that suspended the country's anti-gay laws pending further review of the same laws.<ref name="Malawi24">{{cite news |title=Breaking: Malawi holds first Gay pride parade {{!}} Malawi 24 – Malawi news |url=https://malawi24.com/2021/06/26/breaking-malawi-holds-first-gay-pride-parade/ |work=[[Malawi24]] |date=26 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Malawi 'suspends' anti-homosexual laws |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35151341 |work=BBC News |date=21 December 2015}}</ref> On 26 June 2021, the country's [[LGBT]] community held the first [[Pride parade]] in Lilongwe.<ref name="Malawi24"/> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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