Malawi Presidential Election Candidates Present Nomination Papers Amidst Unprecedented Field

At least 20 candidates are vying for the presidency in Malawi's upcoming general election on September 16, with some of the most high-profile names in the country's politics. The election promises to be heated, with the incumbent president Lazarus Chakwera facing stiff competition from former presidents Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda, as well as other notable figures like Dalitso Kabambe and Atupele Muluzi. The window for collecting nomination papers remains open until July 30, and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has set a nomination fee of 10 million Malawi kwacha (about 5,700 U.S. dollars) for each candidate.

Key Takeaways:

• A total of 20 candidates have collected nomination papers from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to contest in the September 16 presidential election.
• The candidates include incumbent president Lazarus Chakwera, former presidents Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda, and notable figures like Dalitso Kabambe and Atupele Muluzi.
• The number of presidential hopefuls is likely to rise as the MEC's window for collecting nomination papers remains open until July 30.
• The MEC has set a nomination fee of 10 million Malawi kwacha (about 5,700 U.S. dollars) for each candidate, which all have duly paid.
• The campaign period officially began on July 14 and will run until September 14, 48 hours before the polling day on September 16.
• There are six independent presidential aspirants, and 14 political-party-backed aspirants.
• Notable candidates include incumbent vice president Michael Usi, former vice president Cassim Chilumpha, and former president Bakili Muluzi's son Atupele Muluzi.