List of heads of state of Malawi

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This is a list of the heads of state of Malawi, from the independence of Malawi in 1964 to the present day.

Contents

From 1964 to 1966 the head of state under the Constitution of 1964 was the Queen of Malawi, Elizabeth II, who was also the Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Malawi by a governor-general. Malawi became a republic within the Commonwealth under the Constitution of 1966 and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by an executive president.

Monarch (1964–1966)

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ReignRoyal House Prime minister
Reign startReign endDuration
1 Queen Elizabeth II official portrait for 1959 tour (retouched) (cropped) (3-to-4 aspect ratio).jpg Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–2022)
6 July 19646 July 19662 years Windsor Banda

Governor-general

Governor-General's standard Flag of the Governor-General of Malawi (1964-1966).svg
Governor-General's standard

The governor-general was the representative of the monarch in Malawi and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. Since Malawi was granted independence by the Malawi Independence Act 1964, rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous dominion and later promoted to independence as defined by the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was to be always appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Malawi without the involvement of the British government. As Malawi became a republic before Glyn Jones, the former colonial governor, was replaced, this never happened. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice would have served as the officer administering the government.

Status
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeMonarch Prime minister
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 No image.png Sir Glyn Jones
(1908–1992)
6 July 19646 July 19662 yearsElizabeth II Banda

Republic (1966–present)

Presidential standard Flag of the President of Malawi.svg
Presidential standard

Under the country's 1966, 1994 and 1995 constitutions, the president is executive head of state.

The first president, Hastings Banda, was elected by the National Assembly and subsequently had himself declared president for life in 1970. He was defeated in 1994, a year after his life term was abolished as part of Malawi's transition to democracy. Since then, presidents have been elected in direct popular elections for a five-year term. Presidents may be elected any number of times, but not more than twice in a row. In the event of a vacancy, the vice-president becomes president for the balance of the term.

Political parties
   Malawi Congress Party (MCP)
   United Democratic Front (UDF)
   Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
   People's Party (PP)
Symbols

Died in office

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectedTerm of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Dr HK Banda, first president of Malawi.jpg Hastings Banda
(c.1906–1997) [lower-alpha 1]
6 July 196624 May 199427 years, 322 days MCP
2 Bakili Muluzi Dialogue (cropped).jpg Bakili Muluzi
(born 1943)
1994
1999
24 May 199424 May 200410 years UDF
3 Bingu wa Mutharika 2009-09-23.jpg Bingu wa Mutharika
(1934–2012)
2004 24 May 20045 April 2012 [†] 7 years, 317 days UDF
(until Febr. 2005)
2009 DPP
4 Joyce Banda 2013-03-28.jpg Joyce Banda
(born 1950)
7 April 201231 May 20142 years, 54 days PP
5 Arthur Peter Mutharika 2014 (cropped).jpg Peter Mutharika
(born 1940)
2014
2019
31 May 201428 June 20206 years, 28 days DPP
6 Lazarus Chakwera Profile (cropped).png Lazarus Chakwera
(born 1955)
2020 28 June 2020Incumbent3 years, 350 days MCP

Timeline since 1966

Lazarus ChakweraPeter MutharikaJoyce BandaBingu wa MutharikaBakili MuluziHastings BandaList of heads of state of Malawi

Notes

  1. Served as President for life from 6 July 1971 to February 1994.

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