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Fact Sheets
MALAWI ELECTIONS 2009 FACT SHEET
Background
Malawi became independent from British colonial rule in 1964; the country was a multiparty state both before independence and soon after the collapse of colonial rule. Malawi in 1966 under Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda had become a one-party state and remained so until 1993 when it returned to multipartyism in 1993, following a national referendum in which Malawians voted overwhelmingly for a return to a multiparty system of government.
Malawi practices the first-past-the post system and the president is directly elected concurrently with Parliament by a plurality. The country’s 1994 Constitution established a presidential form of government based on the principle of the separation of powers. The term of office of the president is five years and a president may seek re-election for a second five-year term.
The National Assembly of Malawi has 193 seats (increased from 177 in 1994), elected by direct universal adult suffrage for a term of five years. Cabinet ministers who are not elected MPs also sit in the National Assembly. The system provides for independent candidates. The current President is Joyce Banda (since 7 April 2012) she took office following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika, who was elected in 2009.
Factsheet:
Date of election: - 19th May, 2009
Presidential Election Results: - DPP (Bingu wa Mutharika) 65.98%
MCP (John Tembo) 30.69%
Type of election: - Presidential and National Assembly Elections
Political parties
Malawi Elections 2009 Fact Sheet (www.africanelections.org/malawi)
Republican Party (RP)
Malawi Progressive Party (MCP)
Alliance for Democracy (AFORD)
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
People’s Transformation Party (PETRA)
New Rainbow Coalition (NARC)