General elections were 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 17 May 1994. Following the democracy referendum

Malawian democracy referendum, 1993

A referendum on reintroducing multi-party democracy was held in Malawi on 14 June 1993. The result was a victory for the "yes" vote, resulting in fresh elections the following year, and the end to the reign of President-for-life Hastings Banda. Voter turnout for the referendum was 67% of the 4.7...

 the previous year, they were the first multi-party elections in the country since prior to independence in 1964

Nyasaland general election, 1964

General elections were due to be held for the Legislative Council in Nyasaland in August 1961. There were two voter rolls, a general roll for the black population that elected 50 members, and a special roll for white voters that elected three members. 1,871,790 people were registered on the general...

. The elections for 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"....

 were both won by the 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...

, whose candidate, 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:...

, defeated 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 the presidential vote. Results in two seats, both won by Banda's 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....

, were annulled due to irregularities.

The election was contested by eight parties, who put forward a total of 600 candidates, as well as 13 independents. Voter turnout was 79.6%.

Following the election, on 25 May Muluzi formed a 25-member cabinet

Cabinet of Malawi

The Cabinet of Malawi is the executive branch of the government, made up of the President, Vice-President and Ministers and Deputy Ministers responsible for the different departments.The current ruling party is the Democratic Progressive Party...

, including members of the Malawi National Democratic Party and the United Front for Multiparty Democracy, as well as leaving three posts unfilled in the hope that the 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.**...

 would also join the government.

Presidential election

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
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:...	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...	1,404,754	47.15
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...	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....	996,353	33.44
Chakufwa Chihana Chakufwa Chihana Chakufwa Chihana was a Malawia human rights activist, pro-democracy advocate, trade unionist and later, politician. He served as the Second Vice President in Malawi. He is credited as the 'father of Malawian democracy' in Malawi...	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.**...	562,862	18.89
Kampelo Kalua	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....	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 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...	1,375,878	46.53	85
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....	996,047	33.68	56
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.**...	563,417	19.05	36
United Front for Multiparty Democracy	9,859	0.3	0
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....	6,980	0.2	0
Malawi National Democratic Party	2,913	0.1	0
Congress for the Second Republic of Malawi	2,118	0.1	0
Malawi Democratic Union	323	0.0	0
Independents	6,159	0.2	0
Invalid/blank votes	70,550
Total	3,004,835	100	177
Source: Nohlen et al