2009 Malawian general election

General Election held in Malawi on 19 May 2009 Malawi 2004 Malawian general election 2004 2009 05 19 yes 2014 Malawian general election 2014 yes presidential Presidential election 5,894,743 74.14% ( 14.79 pp) Bingu_wa_Mutharika_in_2009.jpg Bingu wa Mutharika Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi) Joyce Banda 2,856,410 65.45% John_Tembo.jpg John Tembo Malawi Congress Party Brown Mpinganjira 1,362,441 31.22% 2009 Malawian presidential election - Results by region and district.svg Results by region (left) and district (right) President Bingu wa Mutharika Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi) Bingu wa Mutharika Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi) Legislative election yes All 193 seats in the National Assembly 97 78.01% ( 18.60 pp) Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi) Bingu wa Mutharika New 113 39.99 Malawi Congress Party John Tembo 57 27 12.94 United Democratic Front (Malawi) Bakili Muluzi 50 17 12.92 Alliance for Democracy (Malawi) 6 1 0.88 Maravi People's Party New 1 0.40 Malawi Forum for Unity and Development 0 1 0.16 Independents – 39 32 29.12 Results by constituency General elections were held in Malawi on 19 May 2009. Incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika ran for re-election; his main opponent was John Tembo, the president of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Five other candidates also ran.https://archive.today/20130103031705/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iGz_j9HajwVTx01E-LF6m8qGRGQg "Malawi president accuses donors of meddling in polls", AFP, 8 May 2009. The election was won by Mutharika, who was re-elected to the Presidency with around two-thirds of the vote.https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jPw2TNoYbBUg8ocqRVXPk-MOnhrgD98B19UG0 Malawi president wins re-election Associated Press / Google 2009-05-22 June 2024 medicmedic Mutharika's DPP also won a strong parliamentary majority."Malawi vote gives president control", Sapa-AP (IOL), 25 May 2009. Electoral system Voter registration started in August 2008 and was scheduled to end on 29 November 2008, but on 20 November (by which time 3.5 million voters had been registered) it was announced that registration would be extended into December. This extension was caused by problems related to digital cameras that were necessary to the process."Malawi to extend voter registration", AFP (IOL), 21 November 2008. Between 2 February and 6 February, presidential and parliamentary candidates submitted their nomination papers."Constitutional crisis on Malawi candidates" https://web.archive.org/web/20100923161530/http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content 2010-09-23 , Nyasa Times (The Zimbabwean), 19 February 2009. The official campaigning period began on 17 March and was scheduled to conclude on 17 May. Parliament was dissolved on 20 March, in accordance with the constitution,"Malawi paves way for poll", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 20 March 2009. and subsequently the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) would announce the eligible candidates.https://archive.today/20120731203130/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i_iE_OdsAaIzePatS834ECpVIXeA "Malawi's former president complains of 'intimidation'", AFP, 22 February 2009. Campaign On 22 October 2008, Hetherwick Ntaba, the Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), announced that the DPP national governing council had unanimously endorsed Mutharika as the party's presidential candidate a few days earlier."DPP endorses Mutharika", AFP (IOL), 22 October 2008. However, Foreign Minister Joyce Banda said on 16 January 2009 that Mutharika felt the endorsement of the council was inadequate and that he wanted the endorsement of the party's base. Therefore, he sought the backing of the delegates at a DPP convention."Malawi leader seeks assurances from his party", AFP (IOL), 16 January 2009. Later, as the DPP presidential candidate, Mutharika chose Banda as his vice-presidential candidate."Women are ready to stand in Malawi poll", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 17 May 2009. Bakili Muluzi, who was designated as the UDF's (United Democratic Front) presidential candidate, previously served two terms as president from 1994 to 2004. According to the constitution, a president is allowed to serve no more than two consecutive five-year terms. Because Muluzi had been out of office since 2004, his supporters argued that the term limit should not apply to him, as it did not restrict nonconsecutive terms if interpreted literally. Speaking to Capital Radio on 22 February 2009, Muluzi accused the government of using intimidation against his candidacy and warned that such conduct could lead to "problems". A few days later, he was charged by the Anti-Corruption Bureau with stealing 12 million dollars of aid money; he appeared before a court in Blantyre and was released on bail.https://archive.today/20120911032438/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gXeVqo6PlA-tnSKLJRrbf128zl_Q "Malawi ex-president charged with graft", AFP, 26 February 2009. The Electoral Commission stated he was not eligible to run again, but his supporters are calling for an official court decision instead.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7959515.stm BBC News Malawi ex-leader fights poll ban 23 March 2009 12 May 2010 On 16 May, only three days before the election, the Constitutional Court ruled that Muluzi could not run again.https://archive.today/20130103035210/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gKoHs79XbUJFG_ha2awvm4Fz0IRQ "Malawi court dismiss ex-president's bid for office", AFP, 16 May 2009. MCP President John Tembo was considered the main opposition candidate, and the MCP formed an electoral alliance with the UDF prior to the election. Tembo's vice-presidential candidate was Brown Mpinganjira of the UDF.Raphael Tenthani, "John Tembo: Poised for power?", BBC News, 14 May 2009. Observing that the DPP had never participated in an election (it was founded in 2005), Tembo argued that he and the MCP had the experience to govern the country properly: "I belong to the past, I belong to the present and I also belong to the future."Raphael Tenthani, "Malawians go to polls Tuesday in closest-ever polls" https://web.archive.org/web/20090520160717/http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/malawians-go-to-polls-tuesday-in-closest-ever-polls-2009051727821.html 2009-05-20 , Pana, 17 May 2009. Independent candidate James Nyondo submitted his nomination papers on 4 February and claims to have sponsored over 120 independent parliamentary candidates by paying the MK 100,000 ($700 USD) nomination fee. He is the only independent candidate in the 2009 presidential election and has campaigned on the need for a new generation of leadership, a smaller cabinet, and an end to the personal extravagance of the current and previous governments."Fire deputy ministers says Nyondo" https://web.archive.org/web/20090214085631/http://dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=12090 2009-02-14 , The Daily Times, 10 February 2009"Nyondo slams Bingu over flashy hummers" https://web.archive.org/web/20090531031509/http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=12753 2009-05-31 , The Daily Times, 10 February 2009"Bingu Blasts Nyondo" https://web.archive.org/web/20090424074530/http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/3279.html 2009-04-24 , 20 April 2009 Loveness Gondwe of the New Rainbow Coalition submitted her presidential candidacy on 3 February, becoming the first woman to run for president in Malawi. She stressed the importance of holding a free and fair election and avoiding the kind of post-election turmoil that affected Kenya and Zimbabwe in 2008."First Malawi woman seeks to run for president", AFP, 3 February 2009. Observers expected a close election between the two strongest candidates, Mutharika and Tembo. While Tembo enjoyed the united backing of the country's two most established and powerful parties—the MCP and the UDF—he faced an incumbent president who had presided over strong economic growth of 8%, and the outcome was considered uncertain. Mutharika, who was 75 years old at the time of the election, said that he would retire from politics if he lost the election and that he would retire in 2014 if he was successful in winning a second term. Conduct On the day of the election, Joy Radio, which is owned by UDF Chairman Bakili Muluzi, was closed by the police after it broadcast a satire that lampooned Mutharika. Two of the station's presenters and a technician were arrested."Malawi: "Joy Radio" station closed by police" https://web.archive.org/web/20090528054206/http://en.afrik.com/news12831.html 2009-05-28 , Afrik.com, 20 May 2009. Tembo alleged that the government had committed electoral fraud with opposition poll agents being denied access to the vote counting centres. An EU observation team also noted that state television had failed to be neutral during the election campaigns, supporting the government. Results The Malawi Electoral Commission declared that Bingu wa Mutharika had won the presidential election on 21 May 2009, after 93% of votes had been counted. Malawi president wins re-election BBC 22 May 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8062740.stm 22 May 2009 Mutharika gained 2.9 million votes with John Tembo, his nearest rival, winning 1.4 million. President Bingu wa Mutharika Joyce Banda Democratic Progressive Party 2856410 John Tembo Brown Mpinganjira Malawi Congress Party 1362441 Kamuzu Walter Chibambo Stanley Alex Robert Mnenula People's Transformation Party 34424 Stanley Edingtone Masauli Sophie Kuthyola Republican Party 32926 Loveness Gondwe Beatrice Roseby Mwale New Rainbow Coalition 31421 James Mbowe Nyondo Vivian Mark Thunyani Independent 27046 Dindi Gowa Nyasulu Chinkhokwe Tyson Banda Alliance for Democracy 19849 5925 5894743 Presidential Polling Results for 2009 Elections https://mec.org.mw/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PRESIDENTIAL-SUMMARY-RESULTS-FOR-2009-ELECTIONS.pdf Malawi Electoral Commission PDF National Assembly In the National Assembly elections, the DPP won 114 seats (though the election of the vice president vacated one of those), obtaining a strong majority in the 193-seat National Assembly, while the MCP trailed distantly with 26 seats and the UDF won only 17. Mutharika and the DPP won an overwhelming victory in northern Malawi, but also performed well in the central and southern regions, although those regions have been historically dominated by the MCP and UDF respectively. Some analysts suggested that this election marked a departure from Malawi's traditional voting patterns, which are heavily influenced by region.Felix Mponda, https://archive.today/20130124210406/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jRSnd7vZoTxq8zusgwDFkvX7pZqw "Malawi vote marks new era: analysts", AFP, 21 May 2009. Unlike Tembo, Muluzi accepted the official results of the election. 32 independent MPs were elected, though many of those started joining the DPP after the election; one seat was won by the Maravi People's Party (MPP), the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) and the Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (MAFUNDE). In the Blantyre City Centre constituency, the election was postponed due to the death of a candidate, a by-election was held in August 2009, which was won by an independent candidate.http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90855/6669733.html Malawi's new parliament sworn in People's Daily Online 2009-06-02 2020-02-05 File:Malawi Parliament 2009.svg Democratic Progressive Party 1739202 113 New Malawi Congress Party 562859 27 –30 United Democratic Front 562025 17 –33 People's Progressive Movement 48389 0 –7 New Republican Party 43009 0 New Alliance for Democracy 38427 1 –5 New Rainbow Coalition 30847 0 New Congress of Democrats 19432 0 New Maravi People's Party 17609 1 New People's Transformation Party 8498 0 –1 Malawi Forum for Unity and Development 6831 1 +1 Republican Party 4111 0 –15 Malawi Democratic Party 456 0 0 National Patriotic Front 438 0 New National Unity Party 284 0 0 People's Popular Front 128 0 New Congress for National Unity 92 0 –1 Independents 1266681 32 –7 Vacant 1 211074 0 5846264 Parliamentary Election https://mec.org.mw/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Parliamentary-Results-@29May09.pdf Malawi Electoral Commission PDF Elected MPs A partial list of elected MPs from 156 constituencies:http://www.africanelections.org/malawi/results.php Malawi Election 2009 Results African Elections Project 2025-02-17 2013-11-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20131104183516/http://www.africanelections.org/malawi/results.php dead MPPartyConstituencyRegionKezzie Kasambala MsukwaINDChitipa EastNorthernGertrude Hendrina MasekoDPPBalaka NorthSouthernNicholas Harry DausiINDMwanza CentralSouthernPaul Lackson Zakaliya ChibinguDPPMwanza WestSouthernFelix NjawalaINDBlantyre KabulaSouthernJeffrey NtelemukaDPPBlantyre City South-EastSouthernHenry MussaDPPChiradzulu EastSouthernMargaret Roka MauwaDPPChiradzulu NorthSouthernEunice KazembeDPPChiradzulu SouthSouthernGeorge NamatumboDPPChiradzulu WestSouthernClement Terence ChiwayaUDFMangochi CentralSouthernFraser NihoryaDPPMulanje LimbuliSouthernStephen NamachaDPPMulanje NorthSouthernRichie Bizwick MuheyaDPPMulanje SouthSouthernPatricia Annie KaliatiDPPMulanje WestSouthernGeoffrey Henock MbuziDPPNtchisi North-EastCentralAlbert G.M. Doza ThindwaDPPRumphi EastNorthernProf. Moses C. ChiramboDPPRumphi CentralNorthernAustin Jatula MkandawireDPPRumphi WestNorthernTasokwa Caseby MsiskaDPPRumphi NorthNorthernOlivia Anita ThunduINDLikoma IslandsNorthernChimunthu BandaDPPNkhotakota NorthCentralDaniel LiwimbiDPPNkhotakota North-EastCentralEdwin BandaINDNkhotakota CentralCentralCassim Chilumpha Dr.INDNkhotakota SouthCentralAgnes Mandevu M. ChatipwaINDNkhotakota South EastCentralChimango Chipimpha MughoghoINDChitipa SouthNorthernLuwi Alinuwila MsongoleDPPChitipa CentralNorthernAladin Nixon MaseboDPPChitipa NorthNorthernGodfrey Mudulansi MunkhondyaINDChitipa WenyaNorthernVincent Winstone GhambiDPPKaronga NorthNorthernBeatrice Kankhonde MwangondeDPPKaronga North WestNorthernCornelius Thomson MwalwandaINDKaronga CentralNorthernKhwauli MsiskaAFORDKaronga NyungweNorthernChembe Glad MunthaliDPPKaronga SouthNorthernPeter Nelson MwanzaDPPMzuzu CityNorthernGoodall Edward GondweDPPMzimba NorthNorthernCatherine Gotani HaraDPPMzimba North EastNorthernBilly KaundaINDMzimba WestNorthernPaul ShawaINDMzimba SouthNorthernDonton Samuel Job MkandawireDPPMzimba CentralNorthernRev. Christopher S. Mzomera NgwiraNARCMzimba HoraNorthernDr Bofomo Immanuel NyirendaDPPMzimba LuweleziNorthernPatrick Akimu MwanzaDPPMzimba SoloraNorthernAbbie Marambika ShabaDPPMzimba EastNorthernKhumbo Hastings KachaliDPPMzimba South WestNorthernRabson Chihaula ShabaDPPMzimba South EastNorthernEphraim Mganda ChiumeDPPNkhata-Bay NorthNorthernSymon Vuwa KaundaDPPNkhata-Bay CentralNorthernGrace ChiumiaDPPNkhata-Bay WestNorthernDavid Yohane KawecheDPPNkhata-Bay North WestNorthernDavid Kapenyela MphandeDPPNkhata-Bay South EastNorthernEtta Elizabeth BandaDPPNkhata-Bay SouthNorthernMcJones Mzondi Mandala ShabaDPPKasungu NorthCentralGrenner NkhataDPPKasungu North North-EastCentralOtria Moyo JereDPPKasungu WestCentralMoses Arthur Chingayipe MteghaDPPKasungu North-WestCentralVasco Mtunduwatha ChimbaluINDKasungu SouthCentralBokosi G KhambaDPPKasungu South EastCentralGrenenger K. Msulira BandaDPPKasungu EastCentralKen Edward KandodoDPPKasungu CentralCentralEugustine Gracewell MtendereDPPKasungu North EastCentralVictor Baudala sanjeni SongazaudzuDPPNtchisi EastCentralJermoth Ulemu ChilapondwaDPPNtchisi SouthCentralHerbert Josiya BimphiDPPNtchisi NorthCentralBauleni Jimmy MannaDPPDowa EastCentralHastings Petros ChitsambaDPPDowa South-EastCentralLeckford Thotho MwanzaDPPDowa North-EastCentralEwart Cara GawananiDPPDowa NgalaCentralJean Alfazema Nachika KalilaniDPPDowa CentralCentralAbel KayembeINDDowa WestCentralBenjamin ChikusaINDDowa NorthCentralYona KamphamtengoMCPSalima NorthCentralBenjamini Benzani MangiraDPPSalima CentralCentralUladi MussaMPPSalima SouthCentralKilliot KufunaMCPSalima South-EastCentralDeriah KankhwaniDPPSalima North-WestCentralRachel Zulu MazombweINDMchinji NorthCentralAlex ChiteteMCPMchinji North-EastCentralEllen Thokozani Solomoni ChisaleDPPMchinji EastCentralTheresa Gloria MwaleDPPMchinji WestCentralJerome Gervazio WaluzaINDMchinji SouthCentralFrancis Leobin Mussa BandaDPPMchinji South-WestCentralPatrick Zebron ChilondolaMCPDedza NorthCentralSosten GwengweMCPDedza CentralCentralClement Claude MlombwaMCPDedza South-WestCentralWodala Alekeni MenyaniMCPDedza North-WestCentralHyacinta Palingana ChikaondaDPPDedza EastCentralPhllipo ChinkhondoMCPDedza WestCentralMcSteyn Swithin MkombaMCPDedza Central-EastCentralJohn Zenas Ungapake TemboMCPDedza SouthCentralEverton Herbert ChimulirenjiDPPNtcheu North-EastCentralStevin Stafford KamwendoDPPNtcheu Bwanje NorthCentralGrandson Lucious KanyumbaDPPNtcheu Bwanje SouthCentralJones Vincent ChingolaDPPNtcheu CentralCentralDamson ChimaliraDPPNtcheu SouthCentralShadreck Assan LipandeDPPNtcheu NorthCentralChikumbutso John HiwaDPPNtcheu WestCentralChristina Winnie ChiwokoDPPLilongwe Mapuyu NorthCentralJoseph NjovuyalemaMCPLilongwe Mapuyu SouthCentralBazilio Lunia Titus MalipaMCPLilongwe NorthCentralVitus Gonamtunda Dzoole MwaleMCPLilongwe Msozi SouthCentralGodfrey KamanyaINDLilongwe Msozi NorthCentralMaureen Katani BondoMCPLilongwe KumachengaCentralLefani Maxwell ThyoleraMCPLilongwe North-EastCentralEdwin BhagwanjiDPPLilongwe City WestCentralJoyce A. BandaINDLilongwe Mpenu NkhomaCentralMakala Watson NgozoMCPLilongwe MpenuCentralGwengwe Alfred WillardMCPLilongwe South EastCentralEzakiel Peter Ching'omaMCPLilongwe EastCentralShadreck JonasiDPPLilongwe City CentralCentralLobin LoweMCPLilongwe CentralCentralIshmail Fillimon ChafukiraMCPLilongwe North-WestCentralJolly Saweta Dyson KaleloINDLilongwe City NorthCentralJean Muonaowuza SendezaMCPLilongwe South WestCentralAgnes Nandau PenumlunguDPPLilongwe City South EastCentralWells John AdamDPPLilongwe City South WestCentralPeter Stanley Patisi ChaleraMCPLilongwe Msinja NorthCentralLingson Kambewa W. BelekanyamaMCPLilongwe Msinja SouthCentralPatson Kachingwe MthyokaMCPLilongwe SouthCentralYaumi Aufi MpaweniUDFBalaka Central EastSouthernNasrin PillaneDPPBalaka WestSouthernGeorge NnensaMafundeBalaka SouthSouthernIbrahim Imed MatolaUDFMangochi NorthSouthernAlfred Mkwanda MwechumuUDFMangochi North-EastSouthernHassan Ailalie AjingaUDFMangochi MalombeSouthernAbukakar MbayaUDFMangochi EastSouthernYusuf Billiati MatumulaINDMangochi SouthSouthernAsibu ShamilUDFMangochi South WestSouthernMahmudu John LaliUDFMangochi NkunguluSouthernStephen Okoma Atani AipiraINDMangochi WestSouthernRalph Pachalo JoomaDPPMangochi Monkey BaySouthernMakumba Abdallah ShabaniINDMangochi LutendeSouthernMoffat Malisie YakitiUDFMangochi MasongolaSouthernAtupele MuluziUDFMachinga North-EastSouthernShaibu KaliatiUDFMachinga CentralSouthernErnest YahayaUDFMachinga Central EastSouthernKenneth Thomas KamuUDFMachinga EastSouthernHarry Fabiano KambaUDFMachinga SouthSouthernMwalone JangiyaUDFMachinga LikwenuSouthernRev. Wilson NdomondoUDFMachinga South EastSouthernJenipher Deborah ChilungaDPPZomba NsondoleSouthernAnnie Lemani Singani AnambeweDPPZomba ThondweSouthernLonie Phiri Chijere ChirwaDPPZomba ChingaleSouthernGrace Zinenani MasekoDPPZomba ChangalumeSouthernEnock Elias LukaDPPZomba LisanjalaSouthernJoyce BandaDPPZomba MalosaSouthernTed Salule MasangwiDPPZomba NtonyaSouthernYunus MussaDPPZomba CentralSouthernMacRonald John Table KhwepeyaINDZomba LikangalaSouthernPeter Chizalo MangulenjeINDZomba ChisiSouthernReen Bessie KachereDPPNeno SouthSouthernGladys Benson TemboDPPNeno NorthSouthern Aftermath Mutharika and Joyce Banda were respectively sworn in as president and vice-president on 22 May 2009. The MCP boycotted the event, but Muluzi was present.https://archive.today/20120630082337/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jTE0bSgpcK02zKYvOI3AsFcS6gpQ "Mutharika starts second term as Malawi president", AFP, 22 May 2009. Some in the MCP called for the party to recognize Mutharika's victory and for Tembo to resign as MCP president. Tembo refused and vowed to legally challenge the results."Malawi opposition leader refuses to step down" https://web.archive.org/web/20090527140043/http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6312453/Malawi-opposition-leader-refuses-to-step-down 2009-05-27 , Radio Netherlands, 24 May 2009. References External links International academic conference on the 2009 General Elections Category:Presidential elections in Malawi Category:Parliamentary elections in Malawi Malawi General Malawi