This article lists political parties in Malawi. Malawi has a

multi-party system In political science, a multi-party system is a political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in ...

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 An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated ...

. The parties with the most representation in the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the rep ...

are the People's Party (PP),

Malawi Congress Party The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is a political party in Malawi. It was formed as a successor party to the banned Nyasaland African Congress when the country, then known as Nyasaland, was under British rule. The MCP, under Hastings Banda, pres ...

(MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF), and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The rise of multi-party rule in Malawi

The

Nyasaland African Congress The Nyasaland African Congress (NAC) was an organisation that evolved into a political party in Nyasaland during the colonial period. The NAC was suppressed in 1959, but was succeeded in 1960 by the Malawi Congress Party, which went to on decisiv ...

led the anti-colonial movements in Malawi under the leadership of

Kamuzu Banda Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1898 – 25 November 1997) was the prime minister and later president of Malawi from 1964 to 1994 (from 1964 to 1966, Malawi was an independent Dominion / Commonwealth realm). In 1966, the country became a republic and ...

. When the NAC was banned it changed its name to the

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 Chakufwa Chihana (23 April 1939 – 12 June 2006) was a Malawian human rights activist, pro-democracy advocate, trade unionist and later, politician. He held the post of Second Vice President in Malawi, under President Bakili Muluzi. He is often ...

, a trade unionist, lecturer and activist, became the catalyst for a multi-party system in Malawi. He led an underground political movement that aimed at democratic multi-party rule. He was the first person to openly challenge the system. He was arrested in 1992 when he returned to Malawi and his arrest heightened both domestic and international pressure. Chihana's freedom was supported by Amnesty International as well as the Robert F. Kennedy Association. 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. However, Chihana has made his mark on Malawi's history and is known as the "father of democracy" in Malawi. Malawi had peacefully ushered in multi-party rule which continues until today.

Active parties

Parties with representation in parliament

Other parties

* 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

Party coalitions

Party by year

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

References

{{Africa in topic, List of political parties in

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeas ...

Political parties Political parties