By Chisomo Phiri
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on Wednesday released the official list of 17 candidates who will contest in the 2025 presidential election.
Among the approved candidates are incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), former President Joyce Banda of the People’s Party (PP), Dalitso Kabambe representing the united Transformation Movement (UTM), former President Arthur Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF).
Other candidates include Michael Usi of Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu(OZAM), Kondwani Nankhumwa of the People’s Development Party(PDP ), Kamuzu Chibambo of PETRA, and Frank Mwenefumbo of the National Development Party(NDP).
The list also features Akwame Bandawe of the Alliance for African Advancement (AAA), Jordan Sauti of the Patriotic Citizens Party (PCP), as well as several independent candidates including Thokozani Banda, Adil Chilungo, Cosmas Chipojola, Smart Swira, Milward Tobias, and Phunziro Mvula.
Absent from the final list are David Dube of the Nationalist Patriotic Party(NPP), David Mbewe of the Liberation for Economic Freedom(LEF ), and independent candidate Reverend Hardwick Kaliya.
MEC did not provide specific reasons for their exclusion.
“This marks the official confirmation of who Malawians will choose from on the presidential ballot,” says MEC Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja in a notice dated August 6,2025.
