members elected by voters on a non-African electoral roll, and five Africans elected by the African Provincial Councils. The State of Emergency declared in March 1959 temporarily precluded further constitutional advances. However, two more African members and two more official members were introduced into the Legislative Council in August 1959, and two African members were appointed to the Executive Council in August 1959, for the first time. In July 1960 a new Constitution was agreed upon at a Conference held in London. This came into force in 1961 and provided, for the first time, for direct election of Africans to the Legislative Council and introduced a higher, and lower, qualitative franchise for voters. Elections took place in August 1961 resulting in a majority for Dr H. Kamuzu Banda's Malawi Congress Party. The Executive Council was appointed with three ex-officio members, two nominated civil servants and five elected members, all of whom were to be known as Ministers. A conference held in November 1962 was followed by the introduction of a new Constitution on 1st February 1963 under which internal self-government was achieved in the spring of 1963 with Dr Banda as the first Prime Minister. As a result of the Victoria Falls Conference held between 28th June and 3rd July 1963 the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved on 31st December 1963. At a conference in September 1963 it was agreed that Nyasaland should become the fully independent State of Malawi on 6th July 1964. On that date Malawi attained complete independence as a fully self-governing Member of the Commonwealth. CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI Malawi became a Republic on the second anniversary of its independence with Dr Banda as President. The constitution provides that the President is both Head of State and Head of Government. He has, at any time, the right to participate in the debates of Parliament and may refuse his assent to any Bill; but, if the Bill is passed again within six months he must either assent or dissolve Parliament and thus submit himself to a new election. Future Presidential candidates will be nominated by Malawi's only political party, the Malawi Congress Party, and will be elected by the people for a five-year term. On the death of a President, a Presidential Commission will be appointed consisting of the Secretary-General of the Party and two Cabinet Ministers. Parliament consists of 55 members of whom 50 are elected by the electors in general-roll constituencies and five nominated by the President to represent minority interests. The nominated members are, at present, all European. The President may appoint and dismiss Cabinet Ministers; he may appoint Ministers who are not Members of Parliament, who may attend Parliament and debate but not vote. The constitution continues to recognise the valuable part played by the chiefs in their own traditional fields, but by the Chiefs Act, 1967, their power to issue Rules or Orders having legislative effect is removed. The Chief Justice is now appointed by the President. On the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, the President also appoints other judges, and he has the power to delegate to the Commission the appointment and dismissal of more junior judicial posts. A judge of the High Court cannot be removed from office unless Parliament petitions his removal on the grounds of incompetence or misconduct. The President personally makes senior appointments in the public service, but he is empowered to delegate to the Public Service Commission appointments to any other class of public services. Similarly, the President has the power to make or terminate all appointments in the armed forces, but he may delegate these powers to any member of the armed forces. The President may issue a Proclamation enabling him to take emergency measures. The Constitution may only be amended by a majority of at least two-thirds of all Members of Parliament. Unlike some other Republics, Malawi does not have a Vice-President or Prime Minister. The Republic Constitution, unlike its predecessor, contains no Bill of Rights. HISTORICAL LIST Sir Glyn Jones, KCMG (later GCMG), MBE, from 6th July 1964 to 5th July 1966 PRIME MINISTER Dr H. K. Banda, from 6th July 1964 to 5th July 1966 PRESIDENT Dr H. K. Banda, from 6th July 1966 GOVERNMENT As a result of the change to republican status, new elections were held in 1966. 50 candidates were returned on the general roll and 5 were nominated by the President to represent minority interests. As Malawi is a one-party state, all 50 general-roll candidates belong to that party, the Malawi Congress Party. THE PRESIDENT His Excellency, Ngwazi Dr H. Kamuzu Banda (The President is responsible for External Affairs, Defence, Justice and Works & Supplies) CABINET Minister of Trade and Industry: The Hon. J. Z. U. Tembo, MP Minister of Local Government; Minister of Education: The Hon. G. W. Kumtumanji Minister of Finance; Minister of Information and Tourism: The Hon. A. K. Banda Regional Minister, Northern Region: The Hon. M. Q. Y. Chibambo, MP PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES Office of the President: Mrs J. M. Mlanga, MP; E. Z. K. Banda, MP NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Speaker: The Hon. I. K. Surtee Deputy Speaker: The Hon. H. T. Kaunda, MP JUDICIARY Chief Justice: The Hon. Sir Peter Watkin-Williams Puisne Judges: Mr Justice D. D. Bolt; Mr Justice P. V. H. Smith AUDIT DEPARTMENT Auditor-General: G. T. C. Morris, OBE, TD MINISTRIES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND CABINET Secretary to the President and Cabinet: B. C. Roberts, CMG, QC OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT (JUSTICE) Attorney-Genergl: B. C. Roberts, CMG, QC Solicitor-General and Secretary for Justice: F. G. Pooley, QC Director of Public Prosecutions: L. A. Chatsikah MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Permanent Secretary: J. R. Ngwiri Chief of Protocol: G. L. Lungu MINISTRY OF FINANCE Secretary to the Treasury: K. J. Barnes, CBE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES Permanent Secretary: M. H. S. Hall, MBE Director of Forestry and Game: B. R. Fuller, MBE Director of Geological Survey: F. Habgood MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Permanent Secretary: R. P. Chisala Chief Education Officer: L. P. Anthony MINISTRY OF HEALTH Permanent Secretary: C. V. B. Munthali MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND TOURISM Labour Adviser: H. R. G. Hurst MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Permanent Secretary: N. N. P. Thindwa Under Secretary: P. N. Hawker, MBE Director of Antiquities and Culture: P. A. Cole-King Director, Department of Archives: J. D. C. Drew MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY Permanent Secretary: F. P. Kalilombe Under Secretary: A. J. P. Monk Commissioner for Industrial Development: MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND Permanent Secretary: D. Markwick Smith DFC Road Traffic Commissioner: K. M. Luwani Postmaster-General: R. E. Raby MINISTRY OF WORKS AND SUPPLIES Secretary for Works and Supplies: E. G. Richards Deputy Secretary: J. S. Pullinger, OBE, GM Director of Plant and Vehicles: C. H. A. Lane DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION MALAWI REPRESENTATION IN OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES Britain: R. W. Katenga-Kaunda (High Commissioner) MALAWI REPRESENTATION IN NONCOMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES Ethiopia, W. Germany, United States (Ambassadors); Holy See, Belgium, The Netherlands, Portugal (Ambassador) (resident in London); Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland (Ambassador) (resident in Bad Godesberg); Israel (Ambassador) (resident in Addis Ababa); United Nations (Permanent Representative); South Africa (Chargé d'Affaires). COMMONWEALTH HIGH COMMISSIONERS Britain: T. S. Tull, CBE, DSO; India: M. M. NON-COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATION France, United States, Republic of China, Israel, Germany (Ambassadors); Norway Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Korea (Ambassadors) (resident in Nairobi); Sweden, Holy See, The Netherlands (Ambassadors) (resident in Lusaka); Belgium (Ambassador) (resident in Bujumbura); Portugal, South Africa, Italy (Chargés d'Affaires); United Nations (Resident Representative). M MALAYSIA ALAYSIA is a federation consisting of the eleven States of West Malaysia, namely Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Trengganu and the two States of East Malaysia, namely Sabah and Sarawak. The States of West Malaysia are situated in that part of the Malay Peninsula which lies to the south of the Isthmus of Kra between latitudes 1° and 7° North and longitudes 100° and 105° East. They are bordered on the north by Thailand, on the west by the Straits of Malacca, on the east by the South China Sea and to the south by Singapore. The States of East Malaysia are situated on the North and West Coasts of Northern Borneo being bounded by the South China Sea to the West, the Sulu and Celebes Sea to the East and Indonesia to the South. The British protected state of Brunei is an enclave within Sarawak. Sabah lies between latitudes 4° and 7° North and longitudes 115° and 120° East, while Sarawak lies between latitudes 1° and 5° North and longitudes 109° and 116° East. The total area of Malaysia is about 128,308 square miles, divided as follows: Malaysia includes a number of islands, none of which is far distant from its shores. In addition to the large island of Penang, the most important are the Langkawi Islands off the coast of Kedah, the Pangkor Islands off the coast of Perak, and the Tioman Islands administered by Pahang and Labuan off the coast of Sabah. The greater part of Malaysia is covered by dense tropical jungle, the only generally cleared areas being in the west and north-east of West Malaysia and along the principal river valleys. Large areas of Pahang are gradually being cleared. In West Malaysia the mountain range runs along the spine of the country from the north-west to the south-east, the highest mountain being Gunong Tahan (7,186 feet). The main rivers are the Perak and the Pahang. In Sabah the central range rises to heights of from 4,000 to 6,000 feet and culminates in Mount Kinabalu (13,455 feet), the highest mountain in the region. The principal river is the Kinabatangan. The highest mountain in Sarawak is Murud (7,950 feet), and the main river the Rejang. Both West and East Malaysia are open to maritime influences and are subject to the interplay of the wind systems which originate in the India Ocean and the South China Sea. The year is divided into the south-west and north-east monsoon seasons which in time correspond roughly with the summer and winter of northern latitudes. In West Malaysia the months between the two monsoon periods are generally the wettest, though on the east coast the period of the north-east monsoon brings the greatest amount of rain. In Sarawak, from the beginning of October until nearly the end of February, the north-east monsoon brings heavy rainfall, particularly in the coastal belt. From April to July there is a mild south-east monsoon and during the period rainfall often occurs in the form of afternoon thunderstorms. In Sabah the north-east monsoon lasts from late November and December until March and April, and the southwest monsoon from May to August with interim periods of indeterminate winds between the two monsoons. On the west coast the wetter seasons occur during the south-west monsoon period and the interim periods, while on the east coast the heaviest rainfall occurs during the north-east monsoon. Humidity is generally high. Throughout Malaysia average daily temperature varies from about 21°C (70°F) to 32°C (90°F) though in higher areas temperatures are lower and vary more widely. In the Cameron Highlands in Pahang the extreme temperatures recorded are 26·5C (79°F) and 2°C (36°F). Rainfall averages about 100 inches throughout the year, though the annual fall varies from place to place and from year to year. The driest part of West Malaysia is Jelebu in Negri Sembilan with an average of 65 inches, and the wettest place Maxwell's Hill in Perak with 198 inches a year. A large area of Sarawak receives between 120 and 160 inches of rain. In Sabah rainfall varies from 60 to 160 inches. Malaysia is a multi-racial state. The principal racial groups are the Malays, the Chinese and various communities from the Indian sub-continent and Ceylon. Other numerically significant groups are: the indigenous races of Sarawak and Sabah, of whom the Dayaks, Kadazans (Dusuns), Bajaus, Melanaus and Muruts are the most numerous; the aboriginal peoples who live in West Malaysia; Europeans and Eurasians. The population is increasing rapidly and at the end of 1967 was estimated to be: |