Malawi’s 2025 Presidential Debate: Strengthening Accountability Through Democratic Dialogue

Malawi’s 2025 presidential debates marked a significant step forward for democratic dialogue, offering citizens a rare, nationally broadcast opportunity to see and hear candidates articulate and defend their policy platforms ahead of the September 16 general elections. In a context where political competition has often been shaped by personalities and regional loyalties, the debates advanced a fundamental democratic principle: that voters deserve clear and accessible information to make informed choices about their country’s future. 

The debates were staged by the Presidential Debates Task Force, a coalition of media outlets, civil society organizations and private-sector partners working to institutionalize presidential debates in Malawi. Since 2014, the Task Force has sought to strengthen transparency, accountability and political competition by creating a trusted national platform for issue-based campaigning. 

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) provided technical support to complement the Task Forces’ past experience in holding debates. This assistance drew on NDI’s global experience working in partnership with organizers to hold effective debates. To date, NDI has contributed to more than 450 debates at all levels of government in more than 45 countries. In Africa, this encompasses debates in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, the Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Somaliland. In Malawi, NDI supported the Task Force throughout the debate process – including drawing on peer support from Debates International (DI), a 41-country network of debate-sponsoring organizations. Through exchanges with DI members, practitioners from Jamaica and Kenya shared comparative practical approaches  to moderation, fundraising, TV production and digital outreach. This included on-the-ground support from a seasoned Kenyan TV producer for the Task Force production team.  

Candidate debates are widely recognized as a cornerstone of open and transparent elections, and Malawi’s experience was no exception. A survey by the Institute of Public Opinion Research (IPOR) found broad public support for debates, with 61% of Malawians interested in seeing their candidates participate, and 77% reporting that the debates were an important factor in their voting decision. Commentators also hailed the forums as a way to empower voters by shifting the national conversation toward policies and commitments that will shape citizens’ lives. “Debates are not just a spectacle, they are a critical platform for accountability, responsiveness and transparency. By bringing together candidates from across the political spectrum, these forums allow voters to hear real policy discussion, not just personality politics,” said Golden Matonga, Chairperson of the Presidential Debates Task Force / Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi.

For the three of the five invited presidential candidates who participated in the first debate – Mr. Atupele Muluzi (UDF), Dr. Dalitso Kabambe (UTM), and former president Dr. Joyce Banda (PP) – the platform provided a unique opportunity to speak directly to voters. Although some candidates opted not to participate, the debates generated nationwide discussion, underscoring both strong public demand for issue-based politics and the importance of independent organizations capable of delivering them.

By connecting Malawi’s Presidential Debates Task Force to global expertise and supporting a rigorous, citizen-informed debate process, NDI contributed to strengthening national capacity to deliver debates that were credible, professional and grounded in voters’ priorities. Over several election cycles, the  work of the Task Force has contributed not only to better campaigns, but to stronger democratic norms – where leaders are expected to answer to the public and citizens are empowered to shape the future of their democracy.