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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South African group opposes burial Lungu over land rights fears
JOHANNESBURG-(MaraviPost)-Some South Africans are opposing the burial of Zambian former President Edgar…
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Badenoch tears into Starmer at PMQs as Burnham waits in the wings
LONDON-(MaraviPost)-Witnessed a bruising Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, as…
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Malawi CSOs seek court intervention on “alleged political influence on ESCOM, MAREP procurement”
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil society organisations plan to seek court intervention on to…
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SADC Troika backs Madagascar transition, approves DRC goodwill mission
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Southern African Development Community Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security…
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Zambia ends legal battle over Lungu burial, cites decades of presidential funeral precedent
LUSAKA–(MaraviPost)-The Government of the Republic of Zambia has accepted the judgment delivered…
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Former MDF Chief Valentino Phiri confirms authorising faulty aircraft: Fresh Chilima’s plane crash Inquiry
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-A special committee investigating the Malawi military plane crash heard testimony on…
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South Africa’s Supreme blocks repatriation of Edgar Lungu remains
PRETORIA-(MaraviPost)- South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of…
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UK braces for leadership change as Starmer resigns, Burnham returns to Parliament
LONDON-(MaraviPost)-Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resigned as prime minister and vacated his…
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Chakwera approved MDF plane for Chilima’s trip: Fresh Chikangawa plane crash Inquiry
LILONGWE–(MaraviPost)–Former Minister of Defence Harry Mkandawire has told a commission of inquiry…
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Mutharika praised for delegating Chihana to chair SADC security summit
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Concerned Citizens of Malawi- People Power Movement (CCM-PPM) has said the…













