List of political parties in Malawi

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This article lists political parties in Malawi. 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).

## The rise of multi-party rule in Malawi

[edit]

The Nyasaland African Congress led the anti-colonial movements in Malawi under the leadership of Kamuzu Banda. When the NAC was banned it changed its name to the Malawi Congress Party which led Malawi to independence and continued to rule from 1964 until 1994, under a one party state system. This system was challenged by political activists throughout the years, however Banda's dictatorship suppressed opposition, creating a culture of silence.

By 1992, Chakufwa Chihana, a trade unionist, lecturer and activist, became the catalyst for a multi-party system in Malawi.[1] He led an underground political movement that aimed at democratic multi-party rule.[2] He was the first person to openly challenge the system.[1] He was arrested in 1992 when he returned to Malawi and his arrest heightened both domestic and international pressure.[1] Chihana's freedom was supported by Amnesty International as well as the Robert F. Kennedy Association.[1] Due to growing pressure, Banda agreed to hold a referendum to let the public decide on the issue of multi-party rule. During the 1993 referendum, Malawians voted for a multi-party system and it became legal to form political parties in Malawi. Chihana's movement lead to the formation of his party, Alliance for Democracy (AFORD). Other prominent parties formed and emerged as well, notably the United Democratic Front which was founded by Bakili Muluzi. Malawi's first multi-party elections were held in 1994. The MCP contested in these elections as well. The UDF under the charismatic Bakili Muluzi won these elections becoming the first party that was democratically voted into power in Malawi. Chihana's party came third, and he was awarded the position of second Vice-President.[3] However, Chihana has made his mark on Malawi's history and is known as the "father of democracy" in Malawi.[4][5] Malawi had peacefully ushered in multi-party rule which continues until today.

## Active parties

[edit]

### Parties with representation in parliament

[edit]

Party  | Abbr.  | Leader  | Political position  | Ideology  | MPs

|
|
|
|
|

| Malawi Congress Party | MCP | Lazarus Chakwera | Centre-right | Ubuntu
Conservatism
African nationalism
Anti-colonialism
Anti-communism |

59 / 193

| Democratic Progressive Party | DPP | Peter Mutharika | Centre | Anti-corruption
Liberalism |

58 / 193

| United Democratic Front | UDF | Atupele Muluzi | Centre | Liberalism |

10 / 193

| United Transformation Movement | UTM | Saulos Chilima | Centre | Liberalism |

5 / 193

| People's Party | PP | Joyce Banda | Centre-right | Conservatism |

4 / 193

| Alliance for Democracy | AFORD | Chakufwa Chihana | Centre-left | Social democracy |

2 / 193

### Other parties

[edit]

* Mgwirizano Coalition
* Malawi Democratic Party
* Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (MAFUNDE)
* Movement for Genuine Democratic Change
* National Unity Party (NUP)
* People's Progressive Movement
* People's Transformation Party (PETRA)
* Republican Party
* National Democratic Alliance
* Umodzi Party (UP) - Founded in 2013 by John E Chisi

## Table of political parties

[edit]

Party | Acronym | Year Founded | Founder | President | Vice-president | Party colours | Slogan | Emblem | Status |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Alliance for Democracy | AFORD | 1993 | Chakufwa Chihana | Dindi Gowa-Nyasulu |  |  |  |  | Active
Congress for Democracy (Malawi) | CODE | YR | Ralph Kasambara | Ralph Kasambara |  | Light blue |  |  | Active
Democratic Progressive Party | DPP | 2005 | Bingu wa Mutharika | Peter Mutharika | Goodall Gondwe | Light blue |  |  | Active
Malawi Congress Party | MCP | 1959 | Kamuzu Banda | Dr Lazarus Chakwera |  | Black, red, green | Kwacha | cockerel | Active
Malawi Forum for Unity and Development | MAFUNDE | 2004 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Active
Movement for Genuine Democratic Change | A | 2004 |  |  |  |  |  |  | unknown
Malawi Democratic Party | MDP | 2004 | Kamlepo Kalua | Kamlepo Kalua |  |  |  |  | unknown
National Democratic Alliance | NDC | YR | Brown Mpinganjira |  |  |  |  |  | Dissolved
National Unity Party | NUP | 2004 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Active
New Republican Party | NRP | 2009 | Gwanda Chakuamba | Gwanda Chakuamba |  |  |  |  | unknown
People's Party | PP | 2011 | Joyce Banda | Joyce Banda |  | Orange | Unity, Equality, Development | lock and key | Active
Peoples Progressive Movement | PPM | 2003 | Mark Katsonga & Aleke Banda | Mark Katsonga |  |  |  |  | unknown
People's Transformation Party | PETRA | YR | Kamuzu Chibambo | Kamuzu Chibambo |  |  |  |  | Active
Republican Party | RP | 2004 | Stanely Masauli & Gwanda Chakuamba | Stanely Masauli |  |  |  |  | unknown
Umodzi Party | UP | 2013 | Prof John Chisi | Prof John Chisi | Timothy Kamulete | Royal Blue | Umodzi wafika! |  | Active
United Democratic Front | UDF | 1992 | Bakili Muluzi | Austin Muluzi |  | Yellow |  |  | Active

## Party coalitions

[edit]

Coalition Name | Acronym | Coalition Parties | Year(s) | President | Vice-President | Party Colors | Slogan | Emblem | Status |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Mgwirizano Coalition | MC | MDP, MAFUNDE, MGDC, NUP, PPM, PETRA, RP | 2004 | P | VP | PC | S | E | Dissolved
Grand Coalition | GC | CODE, PP, PPM, PETRA, UDF | 2011–present | P | VP | PC | S | E | Active

## Party by year

[edit]

* 2020 - present (MCP)
* 2014–2020 (DPP)
* 2012 - 2014 (PP)
* 2009 – 2012 (DPP)
* 1994 – 2009 (UDF)
* 1964 – 1994 (MCP)

## See also

[edit]

* Cabinet of Malawi
* Politics of Malawi
* Elections in Malawi
* List of political parties by country

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Cordrey, James (13 June 1993). "Malawi Opposition Leader Tells of Years in Prison Chakufwa Chihana Thanked The Local Chapter of Amnesty International For His Release. - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
2. ^ "Chakufwa Chihana, 67, Malawi Politician, Is Dead - The New York Times". The New York Times. Agence France-Presse. 15 June 2006.
3. ^ Shola Adenekan (12 July 2006). "Obituary: Chakufwa Chihana | News". The Guardian.
4. ^ "Welcome to nginx eaa1a9e1db47ffcca16305566a6efba4!185.15.56.1". fearlessgeneration.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
5. ^ "Chakufwa Chihana Video | Interviews". Ovguide.com.

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Political parties in Malawi

National Assembly (193)|

* DPP (51)
* MCP (48)
* PP (26)
* UDF (14)
* AFORD (1)
* Independent (52)
* Vacant (1)

Other|

* Mgwirizano Coalition
* Malawi Democratic Party
* Malawi Forum for Unity and Development
* Movement for Genuine Democratic Change
* National Unity Party
* People's Progressive Movement
* People's Transformation Party
* Republican Party
* National Democratic Alliance
* New Republican Party
* Nyasaland African Congress

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