Politics
Malawi has a multi-party system with over 40 registered political parties.The political process in Malawi is such that parties are voted into power. Parties participate in an electoral process. The parties with the most representation in the National Assembly are the People’s Party (PP), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF), and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
President of Malawi
Under the country’s 1966, 1994 and 1995 constitutions, the President is executive head of state. The first President was elected by the National Assembly, but later presidents were elected in direct popular elections for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the Vice-President becomes President.
| ? | President (Birth–Death) |
Portrait | Tenure | Elected | Political affiliation (at time of appointment) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in Office | ||||||
| 1 | Hastings Banda (1899–1997) [1] |
6 July 1966 | 24 May 1994 | 27 years,319 days | Malawi Congress Party | |||
| 2 | Bakili Muluzi (1942–) |
24 May 1994 | 24 May 2004 | 10 years,3 days | 1994 1999 |
United Democratic Front | ||
| 3 | Bingu wa Mutharika (1934–2012) |
24 May 2004 | 5 April 2012 (died in office.) |
7 years,316 days | 2004 | United Democratic Front | ||
| 2009 | Democratic Progressive Party [2] | |||||||
| 4 | Joyce Banda (1949–) |
7 April 2012 | 31 May 2014 | 2 years,54 days | – | People’s Party | ||
| 5 | Peter Mutharika (1939–) |
31 May 2014 | Incumbent | 4 years,103 days | 2014 | Democratic Progressive Party | ||
Standards
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#MalawiDecide2025: Chakwera thanks Malawians, vows to continue development push
By Patience Longwe & Marriam Ibrahim LILONGWE-(MANA)-President Lazarus Chakwera has expressed gratitude…
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Sharp Focus: Of Chakwera, Mutharika forsaking 2025 Presidential debate
During his campaign stop in Salima on Friday, 12 September 2025, President…
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#MalawiDecide2025: Political parties warned against handouts
By Steven Godfrey Mkweteza BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Registrar for political parties in the country, Kizito…
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Chakwera to commission Saulos Chilima Highway, Mzimba Street
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera is scheduled to preside over the commissioning of the…
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Malawi’s election surveys — separating fact from fiction
As the official political campaign period in Malawi draws to a close…
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#MalawiDecide2025: Blantyre High Court upholds MEC authority on electronic voting devices usages
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Blantyre High Court has ruled that the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)…
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#MalawiDecides2025: Chakwera dares Mutharika to One on One Presidential Debate
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-With just four days before Malawians take to the polls, President Lazarus…
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#MalawiDecide2025: UTM female aspirant Ellipher Banda with disability voices concerns over campaign challenges, calls for support
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Ellipher Mvula Banda, a determined woman with a disability and a councillor…
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“I’m a peacemaker”– Chakwera
By Steve Chirombo DEDZA-(MANA)-President Lazarus Chakwera on Friday said his campaign period…
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FAM, SULOM suspend football games ahead of September 16 elections
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and its top league body, the…













