List of political parties in Malawi

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

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. 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

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

• 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	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

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

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

See also

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