GOVERNMENT

On 17 May, 1994 eligible Malawians went to the polls to vote in the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections after the constitution had been changed to enable more than one political party to operate in the country. The outcome to those elections was the election of Dr. Bakili Muluzi of the United Democratic Front as the country's President in the first multiparty government in more than 30 years. Dr. Muluzi was sworn-in to the presidency of the Second Republic at a colourful ceremony held at Chichiri Stadium on 21 May, 1994. Dr. Muluzi was sworn in along with the Right Honourable Justin Malewezi, a former civil servant, as his Vice President.The duo was re-elected for a second term on 15th June 1999.

The Malawi Government currently comprises the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. The Legislature consists of a one-chamber parliament of 193 elected members. Unlike in the First Republic, the Head of State no longer appoints the Speaker of Parliament himself. The Speaker is chosen from among persons who are members of the Assembly and are qualified to be named as such.

The Executive consists of the Head of State and the Cabinet appointed from within and outside the National Assembly. Before the advent of political pluralism, Malawi had a two-tier judicial system. One tier was the High Court of Malawi and the Supreme Court of Appeal. The other system, which has since been scrapped, consisted of traditional courts at the area, district and national levels. The new Malawi Constitution, drafted during the time of political transition, became effective on 18 May, 1995.

Malawi's capital was moved to Lilongwe from Zomba in 1975. This meant the move of the central government offices from Zomba to an area where future expansion was possible. The shifting of the capital to Lilongwe also meant the possibility of constructing an international standard airport outside the city catering for all kinds of air traffic.

The national crest has the rising sun at the top and bottom, representing the dawn of freedom in Africa. The fish eagle and wavy bands on the shield symbolise Lake Malawi while the lion and the leopard guard the crest as a whole. The land at the base is the rugged Mulanje mountain. The crest bears the motto 'Unity and Freedom'.

The national flag has three horizontal bands of black, red and green. The rising sun is superimposed on the centre of the black stripe. The black represents the people of Africa while the red represents the blood the martyrs for African freedom. The green represents the ever-green nature of Malawi.

1. Oh! God, bless our land of Malawi
Keep it a land of peace
Put down each and every enemy
Hunger, disease, envy
Join together all our hearts as one
That we be free from fear
Bless our leader, each and every one
And Mother Malawi.

2. Our own Malawi, this land so fair
Fertile and brave and free
With its lakes, refreshing mountain air
How greatly blessed are we
Hills and valleys, soil so rich and rare
Give us a bounty free
Wood and forest, plains so broad and fair
All beauteous Malawi.

3. Freedom ever, let us all unite
To build Malawi
With our love, our zeal and loyalty
Bringing our best to her
In time of war, or in time of peace
One purpose and one goal
Men and women serving selflessly
In building Malawi.