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

From 1964 to 1966 the head of state under the Constitution of 1964 was the Queen of Malawi, Elizabeth II, who was also the Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Malawi by a governor-general. Malawi became a republic within the Commonwealth 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 Name
(Birth–Death)		 Reign Royal House Prime minister
Reign start Reign end Duration
1 Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–2022)		 6 July 1964 6 July 1966 2 years Windsor Banda

Governor-general

Governor-General's standard

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. Since Malawi was granted independence by the Malawi Independence Act 1964, rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous dominion and later promoted to independence as defined by the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was to be always appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Malawi without the involvement of the British government. As Malawi became a republic before Glyn Jones, the former colonial governor, was replaced, this has never happened. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice would have served as the officer administering the government.

Status
No. Portrait Name
(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

Presidential standard

Under the country's 1966, 1994 and 1995 constitutions, the president is executive head of state.

The first president, Hastings Banda, was elected by the National Assembly and subsequently had himself declared president for life in 1970. He was defeated in 1994, a year after his life term was abolished as part of Malawi's transition to democracy. Since then, presidents have been elected in direct popular elections for a five-year term. Presidents may be elected any number of times, but not more than twice in a row. In the event of a vacancy, the vice-president becomes president for the balance of the term.

  Denotes Vice-President acting as President
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Hastings Banda
(c. 1899–1997)[lower-alpha 1]		 — 6 July 1966 24 May 1994 27 years, 322 days Malawi Congress Party
2 Bakili Muluzi
(born 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
(born 1950)		 — 7 April 2012 31 May 2014 2 years, 54 days People's Party
5 Peter Mutharika
(born 1940)		 2014
2019		 31 May 2014 28 June 2020 6 years, 28 days Democratic Progressive Party
6 Lazarus Chakwera
(born 1955)		 2020 28 June 2020 Incumbent 3 years, 201 days Malawi Congress Party

Notes

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