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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Malawi’s courts are handing out injunctions like lollipops, justice is dying
By Jones Gadama Malawi is bleeding justice in real time and the…
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DPP Secretary General Mukhito warns officials against misuse of party property
By Burnett Munthali BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Secretary General of the Democratic Progressive Party, Peter…
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Uchizi Mkandawire dumps MCP as 2rd SG
By Jones Gadama BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The opposition Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) Second Deputy Secretary…
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Canada denies Thomas Partey Visa: To miss Ghana’s 2026 World Cup opener
ACCRA-(MaraviPost)-The former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey will not be able to play…
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Trump halts planned strikes on Iran
By Burnett Munthali WASHINGTON-(MaraviPost)-President Donald Trump has cancelled a set of scheduled…
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Malawi CSOs demand answers over alleged OPC role in ESCOM tender Saga
By Shaffie A Mtambo BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-A coalition of Malawi’s leading civil society organisations…
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AFORD appoints Bishop Malani Mtonga as Acting Secretary General
By Jones Gadama BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Alliance for Democracy, AFORD, has appointed Bishop Malani…
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Grief, Legacy Converge as Princess Justina Bids Farewell to Inkosi Mpezeni IV
By Burnett Munthali CHIPATA-(MaraviPost)-Princess Justina, the only daughter of the late Inkosi…
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How Dr Saulos Chilima’s death continues to shape Malawi’s politics, public consciousness
By Burnett Munthali Today marks two years from June 10, 2024, when…














