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 PartyAbbr.Year FoundedLeaderPolitical positionIdeologyMPsMalawi Congress PartyMCP1959Lazarus ChakweraCentre-rightUbuntuConservatismAfrican nationalismAnti-colonialismAnti-communismDemocratic Progressive PartyDPP2005Peter MutharikaCentreAnti-corruptionLiberalismUnited Democratic FrontUDF1992Atupele MuluziCentreLiberalismUnited Transformation MovementUTM2018Dalitso KabambeCentreLiberalismPeople's PartyPP2011Joyce BandaCentre-rightConservatismAlliance for DemocracyAFORD1993Chakufwa ChihanaCentre-leftSocial democracy

Parties without representation in Parliament +PartyAbbr.Year FoundedLeaderFreedom PartyFP2017Khumbo KachaliMalawi Democratic PartyMDP1993Kamlepo KaluaMalawi Forum for Unity and DevelopmentMAFUNDE2004George MnesaMovement for Genuine Democratic ChangeMGODE2004Sam Kandodo BandaNational Development Party NDP2024Frank Tumpale MwenifumboNational Unity PartyNUP2004Harry ChiumePeople's Progressive Movement2003Mark KatsongaPeople's Transformation PartyPETRA2002Kamuzu ChibamboSolidary Alliance 2025Victor Madhlopa Umodzi PartyUP2013John Chisi Table of defunct political parties Party Acronym Year Founded Founder President Status Congress for DemocracyCODERalph KasambaraUnknownCongress for National UnityCNU1999Daniel MukhumbweDissolvedChristian Democratic PartyCDP1995Eston KakhomeDissolvedForum PartyFP1997Kalonga StambuliDissolvedLabour PartyLP1997George Nathaniel GamaDissolved Malawi Democratic Party MDP 1993 Kamlepo Kalua Kamlepo Kalua Dissolved Malawi Democratic Union MDU 1993 James Amunandife Mkumba DissolvedMalawi Freedom PartyMFP1996Sulemna Ishmail ShuwahDissolvedMalawi National Democratic PartyMNDP1993T S MangwazuDissolvedMass Movement for the Young GenerationMMYG1998Christopher BandaDissolved Movement for Genuine Democratic Change MGODE 2004 Sam Kandodo Banda DissolvedMtedere Ufulu PartyMUP2004Moses Harry SandeyDissolvedNational Democratic Alliance (Balaka)NDA2003Thom ChiumiaDissolved National Democratic Alliance (Blantyre) NDA 2003 Brown Mpinganjira DissolvedNational Independent PartyNIP1999Elias Wilfred MatemangweDissolvedNational Patriotic FrontNPF1995Crispin KayiraDissolved National Unity Party NUP 2004 Harry Chiume DissolvedNational Solidality MovementNSM1999Kazuni KumwendaDissolvedNew Congress for DemocracyNCD2004Hetherwick M NtabaDissolvedNew Dawn for AfricaNDA2003Thom ChiumiaDissolved New Republican Party NRP 2009 Trevor Hickmon Gwanda Chakuamba Unknown Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu Party Odya Zake 2025 Michael Usi Michael Usi UnknownPamodzi Freedom PartyPFP2002Rainford Chigandula NdiwoDissolvedPeople's Democratic PartyPDP1996Rolf PatelDissolvedPeople's Popular FrontPPF2003Tony Chambani MayuniDissolved Republican Party RP 2004 Stanely Masauli & Gwanda Chakuamba Stanely Masauli UnknownSapitwa National Democratic PartySNDP1997Alice Pwesani ChirwaDissolvedThe Congress for the Second Republic of MalawiCSRM1994Murray William Kanyama ChiumeDissolvedUnited Democratic PartyUDP2005Kenedy Solomon KalamboDissolvedUnited PartyUP1997Bingu Wa MutharikaDissolvedUnited Front for Multiparty DemocracyUFMD1993Chale Frank JiyaDissolved

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, UDF2011–present P VP PC S E Active Tonse Alliance TA MCP, UTM, PP, AFORD, PETRA, MAFUNDE, UP, FP, CSR 2020 - 2024 P VP PC S E Dissolved

List of ruling party by year

2025–Present - DPP 2020 – 2025 - 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

Notes

References