General elections was held in Malawi

Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...

 on 20 May 2004 to elect a President and the National Assembly

National Assembly of Malawi

The unicameral National Assembly of Malawi is the country's legislative body. It consists of Members of Parliament from each constituency. They are more commonly addressed as "Members of Parliament" or "MP's"....

. The election had originally been scheduled for 18 May but was postponed for two days in response to opposition complaints of irregularities in the voter roll. By 22 May no results had been announced, leading to protests from the opposition and threats of disorder. On 25 May the Malawi Electoral Commission finally announced the results of the election. Bingu wa Mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...

, the candidate of the ruling United Democratic Front

United Democratic Front (Malawi)

The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994...

, was declared the winner of the presidential poll, whilst the Malawi Congress Party

Malawi Congress Party

The Malawi Congress Party is a political party in Malawi.It was the successor to the Nyasaland African Congress , which was banned in 1959.The MCP was founded by Hastings Banda and other NAC leaders in 1960....

 had won most seats in the National Assembly vote. Voter turnout was around 62%.

Candidates

There were five candidates for the presidential election;

• Gwanda Chakuamba
  Gwanda Chakuamba
  Gwandaguluwe "Gwanda" Chakuamba Phiri is a prominent Malawian politician who is currently the leader of the New Republican Party . He is from the lower Shire Valley area in southern Malawi....
  
  , aged 69, was the candidate of a seven-party opposition coalition, the Mgwirizano Coalition
  Mgwirizano Coalition
  The Mgwirizana Coalition is an electoral alliance in Malawi.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, the coalition won 27 out of 194 seats.Member parties of the coalition are:*Malawi Democratic Party*Malawi Forum for Unity and Development...
  
   or Unity Coalition. Chakuamba has a colourful past, having been a senior minister and militia commander under former President-for-life Hastings Banda
  Hastings Banda
  Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the leader of Malawi and its predecessor state, Nyasaland, from 1961 to 1994. After receiving much of his education overseas, Banda returned to his home country to speak against colonialism and advocate for independence...
  
  . In 1980 he fell out with Banda, whose assassination he was accused of plotting. He spent 12 years in prison and emerged a popular hero, then succeeded Banda as leader of his party, the Malawi Congress Party
  Malawi Congress Party
  The Malawi Congress Party is a political party in Malawi.It was the successor to the Nyasaland African Congress , which was banned in 1959.The MCP was founded by Hastings Banda and other NAC leaders in 1960....
  
  .
• Justin Malewezi
  Justin Malewezi
  Justin Malewezi or Justin Chimera Malewezi is a Malawian politician and a Member of Parliament for Ntchisi North in the Central Region of Malawi...
  
  , Vice-President of Malawi under Bakili Muluzi, stood as the candidate of the People's Progressive Movement
  People's Progressive Movement (Malawi)
  The People's Progressive Movement is a political party in Malawi.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, its candidate for president Aleke Banda won 2.5% and the party was part of the Mgwirizano Coalition, that won 27 out of 194 seats. Aleke Banda was the close friend of hastings Kamuzu Banda...
  
  , having been passed over by the ruling party.
• Brown Mpinganjira
  Brown Mpinganjira
  Brown Mpinganjira is a Malawian politician. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Bakili Muluzi from 1999 until 2000. He then broke with Muluzi over the latter's attempt to have the constitution changed so that he could run for a third term of office. Mpinganjira formed his...
  
  , aged 55, was the candidate of the National Democratic Alliance
  National Democratic Alliance (Malawi)
  The National Democratic Alliance is a political party in Malawi.At the last general elections, May 20, 2004, the party won 8 out of 194 seats....
  
  , a breakaway group from the ruling party.
• John Tembo
  John Tembo
  John Zenus Ungapake Tembo is a Malawian politician and the President of the Malawi Congress Party , the strongest opposition party in Malawi. Tembo comes from the Dedza District in central Malawi, and he is a teacher by profession...
  
  , aged 72, was the candidate of the Malawi Congress Party.
• Bingu wa Mutharika
  Bingu wa Mutharika
  Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
  
  , a 70-year-old economist and veteran politician who was the candidate of the ruling United Democratic Front
  United Democratic Front (Malawi)
  The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994...
  
  , although he had previously run for president under the United Party banner.He was supported by the outgoing president, Bakili Muluzi
  Bakili Muluzi
  Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician. He was the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004 and was Chairman of the United Democratic Front until 2009.-Presidency:...
  
  .

Presidential election

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Bingu wa Mutharika Bingu wa Mutharika Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...	United Democratic Front United Democratic Front (Malawi) The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994...	1,119,738	35.9
John Tembo John Tembo John Zenus Ungapake Tembo is a Malawian politician and the President of the Malawi Congress Party , the strongest opposition party in Malawi. Tembo comes from the Dedza District in central Malawi, and he is a teacher by profession...	Malawi Congress Party Malawi Congress Party The Malawi Congress Party is a political party in Malawi.It was the successor to the Nyasaland African Congress , which was banned in 1959.The MCP was founded by Hastings Banda and other NAC leaders in 1960....	846,457	27.1
Gwanda Chakuamba Gwanda Chakuamba Gwandaguluwe "Gwanda" Chakuamba Phiri is a prominent Malawian politician who is currently the leader of the New Republican Party . He is from the lower Shire Valley area in southern Malawi....	Mgwirizano Coalition Mgwirizano Coalition The Mgwirizana Coalition is an electoral alliance in Malawi.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, the coalition won 27 out of 194 seats.Member parties of the coalition are:*Malawi Democratic Party*Malawi Forum for Unity and Development...	802,386	25.7
Brown Mpinganjira Brown Mpinganjira Brown Mpinganjira is a Malawian politician. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Bakili Muluzi from 1999 until 2000. He then broke with Muluzi over the latter's attempt to have the constitution changed so that he could run for a third term of office. Mpinganjira formed his...	National Democratic Alliance National Democratic Alliance (Malawi) The National Democratic Alliance is a political party in Malawi.At the last general elections, May 20, 2004, the party won 8 out of 194 seats....	272,172	8.7
Justin Malewezi Justin Malewezi Justin Malewezi or Justin Chimera Malewezi is a Malawian politician and a Member of Parliament for Ntchisi North in the Central Region of Malawi...	People's Progressive Movement People's Progressive Movement (Malawi) The People's Progressive Movement is a political party in Malawi.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, its candidate for president Aleke Banda won 2.5% and the party was part of the Mgwirizano Coalition, that won 27 out of 194 seats. Aleke Banda was the close friend of hastings Kamuzu Banda...	78,892	2.5
Invalid/blank votes		86,218	-
Total		3,205,863	100
Source: EISA

National Assembly election

Party	Votes	%	Seats
Malawi Congress Party Malawi Congress Party The Malawi Congress Party is a political party in Malawi.It was the successor to the Nyasaland African Congress , which was banned in 1959.The MCP was founded by Hastings Banda and other NAC leaders in 1960....	785,671	24.85	57
United Democratic Front United Democratic Front (Malawi) The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994...	801,200	25.34	49
Independents	766,137	24.23	40
Republican Party Republican Party (Malawi) The Republican Party is a political party in Malawi.At the general elections of 20 May 2004 its candidate for president won 25.7% of the vote, and the party was part of the Mgwirizano Coalition, which won 27 out of 194 seats....  ¹	231,002	7.31	15
National Democratic Alliance National Democratic Alliance (Malawi) The National Democratic Alliance is a political party in Malawi.At the last general elections, May 20, 2004, the party won 8 out of 194 seats....	256,713	8.12	9
Alliance for Democracy Alliance for Democracy (Malawi) The Alliance for Democracy is a political party in Malawi, mainly strong in the northern region populated by ethnic Tumbuka.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, the party won 6 out of 194 seats.**...	114,017	3.61	6
People's Progressive Movement People's Progressive Movement (Malawi) The People's Progressive Movement is a political party in Malawi.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, its candidate for president Aleke Banda won 2.5% and the party was part of the Mgwirizano Coalition, that won 27 out of 194 seats. Aleke Banda was the close friend of hastings Kamuzu Banda...  ¹	98,548	3.12	6
Movement for Genuine Democratic Change Movement for Genuine Democratic Change The Movement for Genuine Democratic Change is a political party in Malawi.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, the party was part of the Mgwirizano Coalition, that won 27 out of 194 seats....  ¹	53,127	1.68	3
People's Transformation Party People's Transformation Party The People's Transformation Party is a political party in Malawi.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, the party was part of the Mgwirizano Coalition, that won 27 out of 194 seats....  ¹	21,153	0.67	1
Congress for National Unity	7,410	0.23	1
Others	26,609	0.84	0
Total	3,161,587	100	187
Source: EISA

¹ These parties formed the Mgwirizano Coalition, which also included the Malawi Forum for Unity and Development

Malawi Forum for Unity and Development

The Malawi Forum for Unity and Development is a political party in Malawi.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, the party was part of the Mgwirizano Coalition, that won 27 out of 194 seats....

, the National Unity Party

National Unity Party (Malawi)

The National Unity Party is a political party in Malawi.In the last general elections, , the party was part of the Mgwirizano Coalition, that won 27 out of 194 seats....

 and the Malawi Democratic Party

Malawi Democratic Party

The Malawi Democratic Party is a political party in Malawi. The party was founded by Kamlepo Kalua, et al. At the last general elections of May 20, 2004, the party was part of the Mgwirizano Coalition, that won 27 out of 194 seats....

.