By Burnett Munthali

Two of Malawi’s leading political parties, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), have collectively received over K700 million in state funding from the national treasury through parliament over the past five financial years.

This revelation was made on Sunday, June 16, 2025, by the Registrar of Political Parties, Dr. Kizito Tenthani, during a press briefing held in Lilongwe. The briefing was aimed at informing the public about the progress and key activities undertaken by his office since he assumed office in June 2024.

Dr. Tenthani disclosed that, based on data from parliament, the DPP has benefited from over K360 million in political party financing between the 2019–2020 and 2023–2024 financial years. This makes it the largest beneficiary of public funds among the country’s registered political parties during the specified period.

On the other hand, the MCP, which is the current ruling party, has received over K352 million within the same time frame. The funds are part of the state’s statutory support allocated to political parties represented in the National Assembly.

The Registrar emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the use of these funds, stressing that taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent by political parties that operate using public resources.

Dr. Tenthani also took the opportunity to announce that his office is currently processing three new applications for political party registration. He indicated that the scrutiny process is underway to determine whether the applicants meet the legal requirements for registration under Malawi’s Political Parties Act.

He further assured the public that the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties remains committed to enforcing compliance among all registered political parties, particularly in areas such as financial reporting, internal democracy, and adherence to their constitutions.

The announcement has sparked renewed public debate about the fairness and effectiveness of political party financing in Malawi, with calls from civil society for stricter monitoring and more equitable allocation of funds.

As Malawi gears up for the 2025 general elections, the role of the Registrar of Political Parties is expected to become even more critical in ensuring a level playing field and strengthening democratic accountability.