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]
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
| 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 | 3,041,373 | 100 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,775,256 | 80.56 | |
| Source: African Elections Database | |||
National Assembly
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Democratic Front | 1,375,878 | 46.53 | 85 | New |
| Malawi Congress Party | 996,047 | 33.68 | 56 | –85 |
| Alliance for Democracy | 563,417 | 19.05 | 36 | New |
| United Front for Multiparty Democracy | 9,859 | 0.3 | 0 | New |
| Malawi Democratic Party | 6,980 | 0.2 | 0 | New |
| Malawi National Democratic Party | 2,913 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| Congress for the Second Republic | 2,118 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| Malawi Democratic Union | 323 | 0.0 | 0 | New |
| Independents | 6,159 | 0.2 | 0 | New |
| Invalid/blank votes | 70,550 | – | – | – |
| Total | 3,004,835 | 100 | 177 | +36 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,775,256 | 79.6 | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen et al. | ||||
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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Malawi: Parliamentary Chamber: National Assembly: Elections held in 1994 Inter-Parliamentary Union
- ↑ Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p558 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
