31 of 1994There shall be a First Vice-President and, subject to section 80 (5), a Second Vice-
President both of whom shall assist the President and who shall exercise the powers and functions
conferred on the First Vice-President or the Second Vice-President, as the case may be, by this
Constitution or by any Act of Parliament and by the President.
[Ch0000s80]80. Election of the President and the First Vice-President
31 of 1994, 6 of 1995, 38 of 1998(1) The President shall be elected in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution in such manner as may be prescribed by Act of Parliament and, save
where this Constitution provides otherwise, the ballot in a Presidential election shall take place
concurrently with the general election for members of the National Assembly as prescribed by section
67 (1).
(2) The President shall be elected by a majority of the electorate through direct, universal and
equal suffrage.
31 of 1994(3) Every presidential candidate shall declare who shall be his or her First VicePresident if he or she is elected at the time of his or her nomination.
31 of 1994(4) The First Vice-President shall be elected concurrently with the President and the
name of a candidate for the First Vice-President shall appear on the same ballot paper as the name of
the Presidential candidate who nominated him.
31 of 1994, 6 of 1995(5) Where the President considers it desirable in the national interest so to
do, he or she may appoint a person to the office of Second Vice-President and may do so upon taking his
or her oath of office or at any time thereafter or upon a vacancy in the office of Second Vice-President;
and where no person has been appointed to the office of Second Vice-President then—
(a)
the provisions of this Chapter making reference to that office shall be read mutatis
mutandis; and
(b)
the office of First Vice-President shall be known as the office of Vice-President as if
section 79 created the office of a Vice-President only:
Provided that where the President was elected on the sponsorship of a political party, then he
or she shall not appoint a Second Vice-President from that political party.
31 of 1994(6) Notwithstanding any provision of this Constitution to the contrary, a person shall
only be qualified for nomination for election as President or First Vice-President or for appointment as
First Vice-President or Second Vice-President if that person—
(a)
is a citizen of Malawi by birth or descent; and
(b)
has attained the age of thirty-five years.