Malawian general election, 1994

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General elections were held in Malawi on 17 May 1994. Following the restoration of democracy the previous year, they were the first multi-party elections in the country since prior to independence in 1964. The elections for President and the National Assembly were both won by the United Democratic Front (UDF), ending the 30-year rule of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Former President-for-life Hastings Banda, in power since independence, was defeated in the one-round presidential election by the UDF's Bakili Muluzi.[1]

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]

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]

Results

Presidential election

Candidate Party Votes %
Bakili Muluzi United Democratic Front 1,404,754 47.15
Hastings Banda Malawi Congress Party 996,353 33.44
Chakufwa Chihana Alliance for Democracy 562,862 18.89
Kampelo Kalua Malawi Democratic Party 15,624 0.52
Invalid/blank votes 61,780 -
Total Votes 3,041,373 100
Source: African Elections Database

National Assembly election

Party Votes % Seats
United Democratic Front1,375,87846.5385
Malawi Congress Party996,04733.6856
Alliance for Democracy563,41719.0536
United Front for Multiparty Democracy9,8590.30
Malawi Democratic Party6,9800.20
Malawi National Democratic Party2,9130.10
Congress for the Second Republic of Malawi2,1180.10
Malawi Democratic Union3230.00
Independents6,1590.20
Invalid/blank votes70,550--
Total3,004,835100177
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Malawi: Parliamentary Chamber: National Assembly: Elections held in 1994 Inter-Parliamentary Union
  2. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p558 ISBN 0-19-829645-2