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Legislators

The Dark Side of Democracy: How Inflated Candidate Lists Are Undermining Africa's Electoral Process

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As Malawi prepares to vote, and as other countries across the continent approach elections, the situation is dire. Despite pressing issues such as inflation, food insecurity, and a severe El Niño-induced drought, Malawi's presidential race is a congested field featuring 7.2 million registered voters and 18 candidates, including seasoned politicians, incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, and former presidents Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda. However, the reality is that the presidential race is fundamentally a two-horse contest between the incumbent Lazarus Chakwera and former president Peter Mutharika, leading to a repeat contest between the same two leaders who faced off in 2019.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of candidates in African elections has been increasing, with 14,903 candidates vying for 887 seats in South Africa's 2024 general election.
  • This overcrowding of candidates can lead to voter confusion, making it harder for citizens to make informed decisions.
  • Political elites may exploit this crowded field to create the illusion of democracy while avoiding real accountability.
  • The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance has raised concerns that the number of parties contesting an election can affect voter turnout by either providing more options or confusing voters.
  • In Malawi, a presidential candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote to win outright, but the more candidates contesting an election, the harder it becomes for anyone to cross that threshold.
  • Political parties in Africa remain weak, incoherent, and internally undemocratic, often serving personalities rather than platforms.
  • The presidency becomes the only real centre of power, and the ultimate prize, leading to a surge of presidential candidates across the continent.
  • Weak institutions and growing inequality have fueled the idea that the only way to access national resources is through a big man or woman at the top.
  • The practice of "planted candidates" is a direct assault on electoral integrity, where ruling parties or regimes subtly back individuals to split the opposition vote.

Statistics:

  • 14,903 candidates vied for 887 seats in South Africa's 2024 general election.
  • 2 million voters in Liberia had 20 candidates run to replace former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2017.
  • 4.7 million voters in Benin had 32 aspirants participate in the first round of the 2016 poll.
  • 6 million people in the Central African Republic had 30 candidates contest the 2015 presidential election.
  • The African National Congress (ANC) secured only 40% of the vote in South Africa's 2024 general election, forcing the party into forming a Government of National Unity (GNU) with several opposition parties.

Sources:

  • Read more: [Having worked in the field of elections and democratic governance in Africa, I have seen this trend play out far beyond Malawi’s borders.](https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/malawi-presidential-election-2025-extracting-meaning-from-a-swarmed-out-ballot)
  • Zimbabwe’s 2018 presidential election had the incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa running against opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.
  • Mali’s 2018 election had over 80 political parties and independent candidates vying for power.
  • The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
  • Ken Opalo of Georgetown University.
  • Michael Orwa, a governance expert based in Nairobi.
  • The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.

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