United Democratic Front (Malawi)

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United Democratic Front (Malawi)
Founder Bakili Muluzi
President Austin Muluzi
Founded 1992
Colors Yellow, Green
National Assembly
17 / 193
Election symbol
Pair of holding hands
Politics of Malawi
Political parties

The United Democratic Front is a political party in Malawi founded in 1992 by Bakili Muluzi.[1] It claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Bakili Muluzi, who was president of Malawi from 1994 to 2004, is the chairman of the UDF.


The United Democratic Front is a prominent political party in Malawi that was founded in 1992 by Bakili Muluzi.[2] Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994.[3]

Rise of DPP Faction[edit]

It came into power in 1994 under Bakili Muluzi who was in power until 2004, serving two terms. It continued in power under Bingu wa Mutharika, however since Muluzi remained the head of the party. After succeeding Muluzi, Mutharika came into conflict with much of the party, including Muluzi, and he left the party in February 2005 to form the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In 2009 it was the DPP which won the election. The lead to mass defections from the UDF to the ruling DPP. The party however, continued to restructure.

Political Performance[edit]

In 1994, the UDF candidate Bakili Muluzi came to power in Malawi. In the general election held on 20 May 2004, the UDF's candidate for president, Bingu wa Mutharika, won 35.9% of the vote and was elected. The party also won 49 out of 194 seats.

On April 24, 2008, a UDF convention, which included 2,000 delegates, chose Muluzi as the party's 2009 presidential candidate, despite questions about his eligibility due to term limits. He received 1,950 votes at the convention against 38 for Vice-President Cassim Chilumpha.[4]

UDF Presidents[edit]

Notable UDF members[edit]

See also[edit]