# Malawi Congress 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.
Following a court order to have a rerun of the 2019 Presidential election, a fresh Presidential election was held on 23 June 2020 which resulted in the MCP and its Tonse Alliance partners receiving approximately 60% of the national vote ushering the party back into government.

## History

The Malawi Congress Party was the successor to the Nyasaland African Congress (NAC) party, which was banned in 1959. The MCP was founded in 1959 by Orton Chirwa, Nyasaland's first African barrister, soon after his release from Gwelo Prison, and other NAC leaders including Aleke Banda and S. Kamwendo, in agreement with Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who remained in prison. The purpose for dashing the original NAC to form the MCP was the need for free operation since NAC was a banned party by that time.
Orton Chirwa became the first MCP president and later was succeeded by Hastings Banda after he was released from Gwelo Prison. Banda continued to hold the Presidency until his death in 1997.
In the 1961 Nyasaland elections, the MCP won all the seats in the legislature and later led Nyasaland to independence as Malawi in 1964. When Malawi became a republic in 1966, the MCP was formally declared to be the only legal party. For the next 27 years, the government and the MCP were effectively one. All adult citizens were required to be party members. They had to carry "party cards" in their wallets at all times.
The MCP lost its monopoly on power in a 1993 referendum and was roundly defeated in the country's first free elections the next year. It remains a major force in Malawian politics. It is strongest in the central region, populated by ethnic Chewa and Nyanja people.

## Affiliates

The current MCP set up has seen the spring up of affiliate groups that are all working to strengthen the party. Among them are Kokoliko, Mighty Tambala Graduates, Born Free and Malawi Congress Party Diaspora Network (MCPDN). The MCP Diaspora Network has seen all MCP members and supporters living outside Malawi working together in support of the mother party back home. It has Regional Wings in countries like the UK, South Africa, USA, Republic of Ireland, Canada, and the Gulf Region. As of 2020, the MCPDN leader is UK based Chalo Mvula.

## Presidents

* Orton Chirwa: 1959–1960
* Kamuzu Banda: 1960–1994
* Gwanda Chakuamba: 1994–2003
* John Tembo: 2003–2013
* Lazarus Chakwera: 2013–present

## Electoral history
### Presidential elections

| Election | Party candidate | Votes | % | Result |
| 1994 | Hastings Banda | 996,353 | 33.44% | Lost N |
| 1999 | Gwanda Chakuamba | 2,106,790 | 45.21% | Lost N |
| 2004 | John Tembo | 937,965 | 28.22% | Lost N |
| 2009 | John Tembo | 1,365,672 | 30.49% | Lost N |
| 2014 | Lazarus Chakwera | 1,455,880 | 27.8% | Lost N |
| 2019 | Lazarus Chakwera | 1,781,740 | 35.41% | Lost N |
| 2020 | Lazarus Chakwera | 2,604,043 | 59.34% | Elected Y |

### National Assembly elections

| Election | Party leader | Votes | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position |
| 1961 | Orton Chirwa | Lower roll | 71,659 | 98.8% | 22 / 28 | 22 | 1st |
| 1961 | Orton Chirwa | Higher roll | 385 | 10.3% | 22 / 28 | 22 | 1st |
| 1964 | Hastings Banda | General roll | | | 50 / 53 | 28 | 1st |
| 1964 | Hastings Banda | Special roll | | | 50 / 53 | 28 | 1st |
| 1971 | Hastings Banda | | | | 60 / 60 | 10 | 1st |
| 1976 | Hastings Banda | | | | 70 / 70 | 10 | 1st |
| 1978 | Hastings Banda | | | 100% | 87 / 87 | 17 | 1st |
| 1983 | Hastings Banda | | | 100% | 101 / 101 | 14 | 1st |
| 1987 | Hastings Banda | | | 100% | 112 / 112 | 11 | 1st |
| 1992 | Hastings Banda | | | 100% | 141 / 141 | 29 | 1st |
| 1994 | Hastings Banda | 996,047 | 996,047 | 33.68% | 56 / 177 | 85 | 2nd |
| 1999 | Gwanda Chakuamba | 1,518,548 | 1,518,548 | 33.81% | 66 / 193 | 10 | 2nd |
| 2004 | John Tembo | 785,671 | 785,671 | 24.85% | 57 / 193 | 9 | 2nd |
| 2009 | John Tembo | 562,859 | 562,859 | 12.94% | 26 / 193 | 31 | 2nd |
| 2014 | Lazarus Chakwera | 895,659 | 895,659 | 17.37% | 48 / 193 | 22 | 2nd |
| 2019 | Lazarus Chakwera | 1,108,735 | 1,108,735 | 22.32% | 55 / 193 | 7 | 2nd |