President of Malawi

The president of the Republic of Malawi (Chichewa: Mtsogoleri wa Dziko la Malawi) is the head of state and head of government of Malawi. The president leads the executive branch of the Government of Malawi and is the commander-in-chief of the Malawian Defence Force.

President of the
Republic of Malawi
Mtsogoleri wa Dziko la Malawi (in Chichewa)
Presidential Standard
Incumbent
Lazarus Chakwera
since 28 June 2020
Executive branch of the Malawian Government
StyleHis Excellency (formal)
Member ofCabinet
ResidenceState House, Lilongwe, Malawi
SeatCapital Hill, Lilongwe
Term lengthFive years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Malawi
Formation6 July 1966
First holderHastings Banda
DeputyVice President of Malawi
SalaryUS$ 74,300 annually[1]
Websitewww.opc.gov.mw
Malawi
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The current president is Lazarus Chakwera, who defeated Peter Mutharika in the 2020 rerun presidential election. Chakwera was sworn in as president of Malawi on 28 June.[2]


Previous presidents
Main article: List of heads of state of Malawi

On 6 July 1964, Nyasaland became independent from British rule and renamed itself Malawi, with Elizabeth II as Queen of Malawi. Under a new constitution in 1966, Malawi became a republic with prime minister Hastings Banda becoming its first president. Under the country's 1966, 1994 and 1995 constitutions, the president is executive head of state. The first president was elected by the National Assembly, but later presidents were elected in direct popular elections for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the vice-president becomes president.

№ Portrait President
(Birth–Death)		 Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Hastings Banda
(1898–1997)[3]		 6 July 1966 24 May 1994 27 years,

319 days

 Malawi Congress Party
2 Bakili Muluzi
(born 1943)		 1994
1999		 24 May 1994 24 May 2004 10 years,

3 days

 United Democratic Front
3 Bingu wa Mutharika
(1925–2012)		 2004 24 May 2004 5 April 2012
(died in office)		 7 years,

316 days

 United Democratic Front
2009 Democratic Progressive Party[4]
4 Joyce Banda
(born 1950)		 — 7 April 2012
(previously Vice President)		 31 May 2014 2 years,

54 days

 People's Party
5 Peter Mutharika
(born 1940)		 2014
2019		 31 May 2014 28 June 2020 6 years,

28 days

 Democratic Progressive Party
6 Lazarus Chakwera
(born 1955)		 2020 28 June 2020 Incumbent 226 days Malawi Congress Party

Latest election
Main article: 2020 Malawian presidential election
Candidate Party Votes %
Lazarus ChakweraMalawi Congress Party2,604,04359.34
Peter MutharikaDemocratic Progressive Party1,751,87739.92
Peter KuwaniMbakuwaku Movement for Development32,4560.74
Invalid/blank votes57,323–
Total4,445,699100
Registered voters/turnout6,859,57064.81
Source: MEC

See also

References
  1. "The highest and lowest paid African presidents - Business Daily". Business Daily.
  2. "Lazarus Chakwera sworn in as Malawi president after historic win". bbc.com. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  3. Served as President for Life from 6 July 1971 to February 1994
  4. Founded in 2005
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