1994 Malawian general election

General elections were held in Malawi on 17 May 1994 to elect the President and National Assembly. They were the first multi-party elections in the country since prior to independence in 1964, and the first since the restoration of multi-party democracy the previous year. The Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which had governed the country since independence (from 1966 to 1993 as the sole legal party), was decisively beaten by the United Democratic Front (UDF). Former President-for-life Hastings Banda, in power since independence, was defeated in by the UDF's Bakili Muluzi, who took 47 percent of the vote to Banda's 33 percent.[1]

1994 Malawian general election
17 May 1994
Presidential election
 
AD
Nominee Bakili Muluzi Hastings Banda Chakufwa Chihana
Party UDF MCP AFORD
Popular vote 1,404,754 996,353 562,862
Percentage 47.15% 33.44% 18.89%
President before election

Hastings Banda
MCP

 Elected President

Bakili Muluzi
UDF

Assembly election
All 177 seats in the National Assembly
89 seats needed for a majority
PartyLeader % Seats +/–
UDF Bakili Muluzi 46.38 85 New
MCP Hastings Banda 33.69 56 -46
AFORD Chakufwa Chihana 18.97 36 New
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At a reputed age of 96, Banda would have been the oldest elected president in world history had he won. He was one of the oldest persons running for that office in history.

Campaign

The National Assembly elections were contested by eight parties, who put forward a total of 600 candidates, as well as 13 independents. The UDF won 88 seats, three short of a majority, whilst the MCP finished second with 56 seats. Results in two seats, both won by Banda's MCP, were annulled due to irregularities.[1] Voter turnout was 79.6%.[2]

Results

President
CandidatePartyVotes%
Bakili MuluziUnited Democratic Front1,404,75447.15
Hastings BandaMalawi Congress Party996,35333.44
Chakufwa ChihanaAlliance for Democracy562,86218.89
Kamlepo KaluaMalawi Democratic Party15,6240.52
Total2,979,593100.00
Valid votes2,979,59397.97
Invalid/blank votes61,7802.03
Total votes3,041,373100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,775,25680.56
Source: African Elections Database

National Assembly
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
United Democratic Front1,360,43246.3885New
Malawi Congress Party988,17233.6956–85
Alliance for Democracy556,45718.9736New
United Front for Multiparty Democracy9,7210.330New
Malawi Democratic Party6,9800.240New
Malawi National Democratic Party2,9130.100New
Congress for the Second Republic2,1180.070New
Malawi Democratic Union3230.010New
Independents6,1590.210New
Total2,933,275100.00177+26
Valid votes2,933,27597.58
Invalid/blank votes72,7312.42
Total votes3,006,006100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,775,25679.62
Source: MEC

Aftermath

Following the elections, on 25 May Muluzi formed a 25-member cabinet, including members of the Malawi National Democratic Party and the United Front for Multiparty Democracy. He left three posts unfilled in the hope that the Alliance for Democracy would also join the government.[1]

References
  1. Malawi: Parliamentary Chamber: National Assembly: Elections held in 1994 Inter-Parliamentary Union
  2. Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p558 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
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