* Includes incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party) and former Heads of State, Peter Mutharika (Democratic Progressive Party) and Joyce Banda (People’s Party)
* The others are Kondwani Nankhumwa (Peoples Development Party); Atupele Muluzi (United Democratic Front); Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo (National Development Party)
By Duncan Mlanjira
By close of business today, June 16, 10 nomination papers on presidential election were collected from Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), that include for incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party) and former Heads of State, Peter Mutharika (Democratic Progressive Party) and Joyce Banda (People’s Party).
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The others are Kondwani Nankhumwa (Peoples Development Party); Atupele Muluzi: (United Democratic Front); Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo (National Development Party); Akwame Bandawe (Anyamata, Atsikana, Azimayi (AAA); and independents, Milward Tobias; Adil James Chilungo and Rev. Hardwick Kaliya.
A notification from MEC’s Director of media & public relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, reminds allpolitical parties, aspiring candidates and stakeholders that the last day for paying and collecting nomination papers is the last day of submission of the same to MEC — thus June 22 for Local Government and July 5 for Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
He also reminds that the electoral calendar for the nomination process remains unchanged, for which the key dates included June 10 as commencement of payment of nomination fees and collection of nomination papers and continues as follows:
* June 18-19: Pre-inspection of nomination papers for Local Government Elections at the Constituency Tally Centre;
* June 20–22: Presentation of nomination papers for Local Government Elections at respective Constituency Tally Centres;
* June 22: Last day of collection and presentation of Local Government Election Nomination papers;
* June 29–30: Pre-inspection of nomination papers for Parliamentary Elections at Constituency Tally Centres.
* June 29–30: Pre-inspection of nomination papers for Presidential Election at MEC Head Office, Lilongwe;
* July 1–5: Presentation of nomination papers by Parliamentary candidates at Constituency Tally Centres;
* July 1–5: Presentation of nomination papers by Presidential election candidates at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe; and
* July 5: Last day of collection and submission of Nomination papers for aspiring Presidential election candidates.
The 50+1% of the valid votes cast through direct, universal and equal suffrage stands as official in the amended Electoral Laws for the September 16, 2025 Presidential Election.
And where such majority is not obtained by any candidate in the first poll, a second poll will be held within 60 days after the declaration of the result in which the candidates who obtained the highest votes cast in the first poll shall be the only candidates.
At a press briefing on April 30 at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), MEC chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja said while funds for holding a second election is not in the budget allocated for the September 16 elections, there is an assurance that the money — proposed at K97.9 billion — will be provided by the relevant offices involved.
The official 60-day campaign period, that permits candidates and political parties to freely canvass for votes, shall start from July 14 and will close on September 14 at 06h00 — in accordance with provisions of the Political Parties Act and the rules and regulations set by MEC in accordance with the existing electoral laws.
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Following the re-run of the Presidential Election in 2020 that disturbed the electoral calendar in which Members of Parliament (MPs) have served for six years instead of five, the Electoral Laws were amended and one part is the dissolution of the National Assembly that stands on the 23rd day of July in the fifth year after its election.
Also amended is the process of swearing in the elected President and First Vice-President — that they “shall not be sworn into office until after the expiry of seven days but before the expiry of 30 days from the date the election result is declared”.
“A person appointed to be First Vice-President or Second Vice-President in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, shall be sworn into office within 14 days of being appointed.”
Parliament shall make provision for holding by-elections to fill any vacancy that shall occur to be held in the next quarter of the calendar year after the seat of the member becomes vacant, or if the circumstances do not so permit, then as expeditiously as possible, but a by-election shall not be held where a vacancy occurs within 12 months before the holding of a general election.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda, SC, today advised three new MEC commissioners — Richard Chapweteka representing the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Emmanuel Fabiano and Caroline Mfune from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) — to serve with integrity for the betterment of the people.
Emmanuel Fabiano
Caroline Mfune
Richard Chipweteka
Mzikamanda said this when he presided over the swearing in of three commissioners at the High Court in Lilongwe, urging them to serve with integrity and uphold the Constitution ahead of the country’s pivotal September elections.
“These are not new roles to you, because of your integrity, experience, maturity, and impartiality, you are once again entrusted with the responsibility to serve Malawians. What you did before should not only be remembered but must continue to guide your service for the betterment of the people,” Mzikamanda said.
The commissioners were appointed by President Chakwera last week in accordance with Section 75 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, and Section 4 (1) of the Malawi Electoral Commission Act, as part of efforts to ensure adherence to Malawi’s electoral laws and democratic principles.
In an interview with the Malawi News Agency (MANA), MEC chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, welcomed the trio and reminded them of their constitutional duties.
“My expectation is that these MEC commissioners will abide by the laws with integrity and impartiality, just as they have done before while remaining focused during this critical electoral period,” she said.
Mtalimanja also updated the public on the presidential nomination process, noting that nine aspirants have so far collected nomination papers in preparation for the upcoming general elections scheduled to take place in September this year.—Reporting on commissioners swearing in by Innocent Manda, MANA
