Political parties represented in Parliament have said they have been sourcing funds from their members, businesspersons and well-wishers both within and outside the country to finance campaigns for the September 16 2025 General Election.
Ahead of the beginning of the campaign period on July 14, the political parties have already spent millions of kwacha on rallies and party materials.
In an interview, Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enoch Chihana said his party has received donations from well-wishers and individual businesses with which it has printed thousands of T-shirts and other materials.
Said Chihana: “In Malawi, it is difficult for party followers to make contributions, so I am also forced to access loans to fund the party so that it should not die.”
He said a single rally can cost between K30 million and K40 million.
In a separate interview, Democratic Progressive Party secretary general Peter Mukhito said the aspirants procure their own campaign materials while the party organises fundraising activities.
“Whenever there is a rally, a budget is presented in our forums and members contribute. We want to avoid reliance on businesses but sometimes we also get funds from well-wishers,” he said.
UDF spokesperson Dyson Jangiya said the party gets contributions from its followers while leaders also fund some of the activities.
Malawi Congress Party deputy secretary general Gerald Kazembe said they depend on donations of cash or materials from supporters and well-wishers.
On his part, UTM publicity secretary Felix Njawala said the party raises funds through membership subscriptions and donations from individuals.
However, People’s Party secretary general Ben Chakhame said the party has been financing its activities on its own but is open to donations from well-wishers.
“We will submit details to the Registrar of Political Parties who will release the information to the public,” he said.
The Political Parties Act allows parties to receive membership fees and donations from any individual or organisation for the purposes of financing its activities.
Section 27 (2) of the Act compels political parties to declare to the Registrar of Political Parties any donation with a monetary value of at least K1 000 000 from an individual donor.
Meanwhile, political analysts Ernest Thindwa and Gift Sambo have said it is hard for parties in the country to raise enough money from their members which is why they mostly rely on businesses.
