LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced that one more nomination paper has been collected for the 2025 presidential election, bringing the total number of presidential aspirants to 19.
According to MEC’s update released on July 18, 2025, the latest candidate to collect nomination papers is Jordan Sauti, representing the Patriotic Citizens Party (PCP).
This addition comes as part of MEC’s ongoing preparations for the General Election scheduled for September 16, 2025. The full list of presidential hopefuls now includes both seasoned politicians and new entrants, reflecting a highly competitive electoral landscape.
Among the 19 candidates are prominent figures such as Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Arthur Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Atupele Austin Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF), and Dalitso Kabambe of UTM.
Other notable names include Joyce Banda of the People’s Party (PP), Kondwani Nankhumwa of the People’s Development Party (PDP), and current Vice President Michael Bizwick Usi, who will contest under the Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu (Odya Zake) banner.
Several independent candidates are also in the race, including Milward Tobias, Adil James Chilungo, Smart Swira, and Cosmas Felix Chipojola, signaling voter interest in alternatives outside traditional party structures.
The Commission reminded all electoral stakeholders that they can take their nomination papers for pre-inspection by their respective Constituency Returning Officers at any point before official submission.
However, MEC has set 16th to 23rd July 2025 as the official period for pre-inspection of nomination papers, ahead of the formal submission process.
Presentation of nomination papers will run from Thursday, 24th July to Wednesday, 30th July 2025, during which all three categories of elections—presidential, parliamentary, and local government—will proceed concurrently.
Parliamentary and local government candidates will submit their nomination papers to their respective Constituency Returning Officers, while presidential candidates will present theirs to MEC at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
The Commission has also clarified that payment of nomination fees and collection of nomination papers will continue until the last day of submission, 30th July 2025, although MEC offices will remain closed during weekends and public holidays.
MEC Director of Media and Public Relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, emphasized that these arrangements are part of the Commission’s commitment to ensuring a transparent and orderly nomination process ahead of the historic polls.
With just two months to go before the election date, Malawi is set to witness one of the most competitive presidential races in its democratic history, with 19 candidates already in the running and the possibility of more before the deadline.
