The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties in Malawi has fined eight political parties that are not represented in Parliament for contravening the Political Parties Act (PPA) of 2018. The parties are required to pay fines ranging from K3 million to K5 million. They have 30 days to regularise their records and offices, or they will face additional penalties of K500,000 for each day of non-compliance and possible deregistration.
The affected parties include the Assembly for Democracy and Development, Mbakuwaku Movement for Development, and the Patriotic Citizens Party, among others. Registrar Kizito Tenthani stated that his office is verifying the parties' registered offices, lists of office bearers, book-keeping and financial records, as well as their performance in the previous general elections. This exercise aims to ensure that political parties comply with the PPA.
According to Tenthani, the verification process revealed that most political parties do not have any office at all. The registrar's office will begin a similar exercise for parties with parliamentary representation on September 28. Section 16(1)(b) of the PPA mandates the registrar to deregister a party that fails to secure a parliamentary seat, five percent of national parliamentary votes, or two local-government seats after two general elections.
Experts have weighed in on the issue, with Centre for Multiparty Democracy executive director Boniface Chibwana noting that political parties struggle to maintain proper registers without adequate personnel. Electoral and identity politics expert Ernest Thindwa stated that failure to update party particulars indicates weak organisational capacity, and smaller parties are likely to be disproportionately affected by the law.
The penalties come against a background of a growing number of registered political parties in Malawi, some of which have struggled to demonstrate visible structures and sustained political activities. As of April 2025, there were about 23 registered political parties in the country. The Political Parties Act, enacted in 2018, established the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and mandates all political parties to register formally and adhere to strict regulations.
Political Science Association of Malawi spokesperson Mavuto Bamusi welcomed the penalties, saying enforcing compliance is necessary to strengthen the country's multiparty democracy. The Registrar's office aims to ensure that political parties continue to meet their legal obligations after registration. Parties with parliamentary representation, such as the Alliance for Democracy and the United Democratic Front, are exempt from the current exercise but will be verified later.
Other parties not represented in Parliament, such as the Malawi Forum for Unity and Development and the People's Transformation Party, also face the risk of deregistration if they do not comply with the PPA. The Registrar's office is working to ensure that all political parties in Malawi operate within the law and maintain proper records and offices.
Key points
- Eight Malawian political parties face fines for violating the Political Parties Act of 2018.
- The parties must pay fines and regularise their records and offices within 30 days to avoid additional penalties.
- The Registrar's office aims to ensure that political parties comply with the PPA and maintain proper records and offices.
