List of heads of state of Malawi

This is a list of the heads of state of Malawi, from the independence of Malawi in 1964 to the present day.

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From 1964 to 1966 the head of state under the Malawi Independence Act 1964 was the Queen of Malawi, Elizabeth II, who was also the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Queen was represented in Malawi by a Governor-General. Malawi became a republic under the Constitution of 1966 and the Monarch and Governor-General were replaced by an executive President.

Monarch (1964–1966)

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

No. Portrait Monarch
(Birth–Death)		 Reign Royal House Prime Minister
Reign start Reign end Duration
1 Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–)		 6 July 1964 6 July 1966 2 years Windsor Banda

Governor-General

The Governor-General was the representative of the monarch in Malawi and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Malawi without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

Status
  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government
No. Portrait Governor-General
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Monarch Prime Minister
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Sir Glyn Jones
(1908–1992)		 6 July 1964 6 July 1966 2 years Elizabeth II Banda

President of Malawi

Under the country's 1966, 1994 and 1995 constitutions, the President is executive head of state. The first President was elected by the National Assembly, but later presidents were elected in direct popular elections for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the Vice-President becomes President.

  Denotes Vice-President acting as President
No. Portrait President
(Birth–Death)		 Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Hastings Banda
(1899–1997)[lower-alpha 1]		 6 July 1966 24 May 1994 27 years, 322 days Malawi Congress Party
2 Bakili Muluzi
(1943–)		 1994
1999		 24 May 1994 24 May 2004 10 years United Democratic Front
3 Bingu wa Mutharika
(1934–2012)		 2004 24 May 2004 5 April 2012
(died in office.)		 7 years, 317 days United Democratic Front
2009 Democratic Progressive Party[lower-alpha 2]
4 Joyce Banda
(1950–)		 — 7 April 2012 31 May 2014 2 years, 54 days People's Party
5 Peter Mutharika
(1940–)		 2014
2019		 31 May 2014 28 June 2020 6 years, 28 days Democratic Progressive Party
6 Lazarus Chakwera
(1955–)		 2020 28 June 2020 Incumbent 1 day Malawi Congress Party

Standards
  • Governor-General's Standard
  • Presidential Standard

Living former heads of state

There are four living former Malawian heads of state:

Image Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1964–1966 Queen of Malawi (1926-04-21) 21 April 1926
Bakili Muluzi 1994–2004 President of Malawi (1943-03-17) 17 March 1943
Joyce Banda 2012–2014 President of Malawi (1950-04-12) 12 April 1950
Arthur Peter Mutharika 2014–2020 President of Malawi (1940-07-18) 18 July 1940

Notes
  1. Served as President for Life from 6 July 1971 to February 1994.
  2. Founded in 2005.
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