Malawi

National Assembly

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Parliamentary mandate

Start and end of mandate

Start of the parliamentary mandate for newly elected members
At a fixed date
Start of the parliamentary mandate for appointed members
Not applicable
End of the parliamentary mandate
On the last day of the chamber’s term (including in the case of early dissolution)

Speaker

Mode of designation of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected from among the members of parliament/chamber

Sources: Constiution, art. 53(1)

Authority that designates the Speaker when the Speaker is designated from outside parliament.
Not applicable
Rank of the Speaker in the hierarchy of the State
Other

Notes: The First Vice-President assumes the role following the President. In case of the incapacity of the First Vice-President, a person appointed by the President shall assume the role, or the Cabinet shall elect from among its members an Acting President and Acting First Vice-President who shall hold office for not more than sixty days or, where four years of a Presidential term have expired, for the rest of that Presidential term.

Sources: Constitution, art. 83-85

Speaker becomes interim Head of State in the event of the latter’s death or incapacity
No

Notes: The Vice-President assumes the role.

Speaker's mandate continues between legislatures
No

Speaker terms

The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house
No
Speaker's term
5 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any
No information available

Immunity and code of conduct

Parliament’s authorization is required for the detention or prosecution of members
Yes

Notes: The Speaker, every Deputy Speaker, and every member of the National Assembly shall, except in cases of treason, be privileged from arrest while going to, returning from or while in the precincts of the National Assembly and shall not, in respect of any utterances that forms part of the proceedings in the National Assembly, be amenable to any other action or proceedings in any court, tribunal or body other than Parliament.

Sources: Constitution, art. 60(1)

There is a Code of conduct for members
Yes

Salaries and allowances

Members are paid salaries by parliament
Click for historical data
Basic salary, per year
14,279,688 MWZ
(2022)
Basic salary, per year in PPP
40,395
(2022)
Basic allowances
17,543,000 MWZ
Basic allowance in PPP
59,175
Names of the basic allowances

Constituency allowances

Attendance allowance
20,300 MWZ
Attendance allowance in PPP
68
Periodicity of attendance allowance
Day
Members pay income tax on salaries
Yes
Members pay income tax on allowances
No
Members can have remunerated employment outside parliament
No
Members are required to declare income from other employment to parliament
No information available
Salary of the Speaker
No information available
The parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale
Yes
Reference scale used for parliamentary salaries
Ministerial salary

Notes: According to 2004 response

Information on salaries and allowances on the parliamentary website

Not Available.

Year data was last reported

2020

Facilities, services and allowances for constituency work
Personal staff to work directly for the parliamentarian
No
Office at parliament
No
Constituency office
No
Housing
No
Other cash or in-kind allowances for constituency work
Yes
Additional salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Additional salaries and allowances provided for leadership positions
Yes

Notes: Committee Chairs receive a 97,500 MWK ($120 USD) daily subsistence allowance for meetings including up to two additional days before meetings commence in order to liaise with Committee Clerks.

List of salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Salary Allowances
Speaker No
Committee Chair No
Yes

Participation in the government

Members of the government must also be members of parliament
Can be a member of parliament
Number of members of the parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
Click for historical data
Percentage of members of parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
Click for historical data

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No