Only “Real Contenders” to Face Off in Presidential Debates — Small Parties Left Out

The stage for Malawi’s 2025 presidential debates is being set — but not every candidate will get a microphone. The Presidential Debates Task Force has announced that only candidates with a “realistic chance” of winning the September 16 polls will be invited, sparking debate over who makes the cut.

Taskforce chairperson and MISA Malawi leader, Golden Matonga, told journalists in Lilongwe that having all 17 presidential hopefuls on stage would turn the debates into “political noise” rather than a meaningful exchange of ideas.

“We cannot have all 17 candidates and expect a serious debate. We are looking at those with realistic chances of becoming the next president,” Matonga said, drawing parallels with the United States where only two major party candidates are allowed to debate.

Initially, six parties met the criteria, but shifting political alliances have narrowed the field to five: the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF), United Transformation Movement (UTM), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and People’s Party (PP).

These will square off in debates set for August 21, August 29, and September 4, 2025. To qualify, candidates must meet at least seven of eight strict conditions, including parliamentary representation, a nationwide presence, a publicly launched manifesto, and the ability to field candidates in over 50% of parliamentary and local wards across all regions.

Other criteria demand democratic internal party elections, a commitment to non-violence, MEC registration, and membership in the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD).

Boniface Chibwana of CMD urged all qualifying candidates to show up, warning that skipping the debates would be “a missed opportunity” to sell their vision to the nation.

The decision is already fueling political chatter, with some accusing the Task Force of sidelining smaller parties and voices — but Matonga insists this is about quality over quantity.