Malawi general election, 2004
Elections and parties in
Malawi
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Presidential elections and legislative elections were held in Malawi on May 20, 2004. The elections were scheduled for May 18 but were delayed for two days, postponed in response to opposition complaints of irregularities in the voters' roll.
By May 22 no results had been announced, leading to protests from the opposition and threats of disorder. On May 25 the Malawi Electoral Commission finally announced the results of the election. Bingu wa Mutharika, the candidate of the ruling United Democratic Front, was declared elected. Mutharika was supported by outgoing President Bakili Muluzi, who is retiring after two terms.
Malawi has no reliable opinion polls, but surveys conducted by Malawi media groups before the election had put Gwanda Chakuamba, the candidate of a seven-party opposition coalition, in the lead.
Table of results
Registered voters: 5,742,747
Valid votes counted: 3,119,645 (54.3%)
| Candidate | party | votes | % |
| Bingu wa Mutharika | United Democratic Front | 1,119,738 | 35.9 |
| Gwanda Chakuamba | Mgwirizano Coalition |
802,386 | 25.7 |
| Brown Mpinganjira | National Democratic Alliance | 272,172 | 8.7 |
| Justin Chimera Malewezi | People's Progressive Movement | 78,892 | 2.5 |
| John Tembo | Malawi Congress Party | 846,457 | 27.1 |
| Total | - | 3,119,645 | - |
Candidates
- Bingu wa Mutharika, a 70-year-old economist (some sources say he is at least 75), is a veteran politician who was the candidate of the ruling United Democratic Front, although he was previously in opposition to it. He was supported by outgoing President Bakili Muluzi, who is retiring after two terms.
- Gwanda Chakuamba, aged 69, was the candidate of a seven-party opposition coalition, the Mgwirizano Coalition or Unity Coalition. Chakuamba has a colouful past, having been a senior minister and militia commander under former "President for Life" Hastings Banda. In 1980 he fell out with Banda, whose assassination he was accused of plotting. He spent 12 years in prison and emerged a popular hero, then succeeded Banda as leader of his party, the Malawi Congress Party.
- Brown Mpinganjira, aged 55, was the candidate of the National Democratic Alliance, a breakaway group from the ruling party.
- Justin Malewezi, Vice-President of Malawi under Bakili Muluzi, stood as the candidate of the People's Progressive Movement, having been passed over by the ruling party.
- John Tembo, aged 72, was the candidate of the Malawi Congress Party.
Legislative election
Malawi's National Assembly has 192 members. According to the BBC, the Malawi Congress Party won 60 seats, the United Democratic Front won 49 seats the Mgwirizano Coalition won 28 seats, and independents won 38 seats. At the 1999 elections the United Democratic Front won 93 seats, the Malawi Congress Party won 66 seats, and the Alliance for Democracy won 29 seats.
