Malawian democracy referendum, 1993

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A referendum on reintroducing multi-party democracy was held in Malawi on 14 June 1993. Over 64% of voters voted to end the Malawi Congress Party's 37-year monopoly on power. Soon afterwards President Hastings Banda, leader since independence, was stripped of both his post of President for Life and most of the dictatorial powers he had held since the institution of one-party rule in 1966. General elections were held the following year, in which Banda was defeated. Voter turnout for the referendum was 67% of the 4.7 million registered voters. [1]

Malawi Congress Party political party

The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is a political party in Malawi. It was formed as a successor party to the banned Nyasaland African Congress when the country, then known as Nyasaland, was under British rule. The MCP, under Hastings Banda, presided over Malawian independence in 1964, and from 1966 to 1993 was the only legal party in the country. It has continued to be a major force in the country since losing power. In the 2009 elections, it received approximately 30% of the national vote.

Hastings Banda First president of Malawi

Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the prime minister and later president of Malawi from 1964 to 1994. In 1966, the country became a republic and he became president.

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Results

ChoiceVotes%
Multi-party state1,993,99664.69
One-party state1,088,47335.31
Invalid/blank votes70,979
Total3,153,448100
Registered voters/turnout4,699,52767.10
Source: African Elections Database

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