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Parties and Candidates

Malawi Malawi

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question:What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s): a. Signature requirement (specify requirement)
b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)
f. Other
Comments: a. Names and addresses of 100 registered members f. Particulars of head office, two copies of the party's constitution, rules and manifesto, names and addresses of office-bearers
Source: Electoral Law: Political Parties (Registration and Regulation) Act, art. 5 & 6.
Verified: 2025/05/26
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question:What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s): a. Age
b. Citizenship
i. Minimum level of literacy
j. Other
Comments: Every candidate should be a citizen of Malawi and has attained the age of 21 and to speak and read the English language well enough to take an active part in the proceedings of the National Assembly.
Source: Constitution: Constitution of the republic of Malawi, art. 51
Verified: 2025/05/26
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC008

Independent candidates
Question:Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s): b. In presidential elections
c. In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments:
Source: Electoral Law: Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, art. 37(2)(e), 49(1)(d)
Verified: 2025/05/26
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC012

Public funding of parties
Question:Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s): b. Direct
Comments: The State shall provide funds so as to ensure that, during the life of any Parliament, any political party which has secured more than one-tenth of the national vote in elections to that Parliament has sufficient funds to continue to represent its constituency.
Source: Constitution: Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, art. 40(2).
Verified: 2025/05/26
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC015


Question:What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s): b. Based on result of previous election
Comments: The law does not specify how the funds are distributed and secondary sources are unclear on the subject, but it seems to be based on the proportion of votes received in the last National Assembly election.
Source: Constitution: Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, art. 40(2).
Verified: 2025/05/26
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC017


Question:Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Parties are free to receive any amounts of funds from any source whatsoever barring funds from state bodies and public owned corporations. There are no limits on expenditures and no requirements to disclose either sources or deployment of funds.
Source: Electoral Law: Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, art. 66.
Verified: 2012/02/03
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
The data on this page is continuously updated. Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.