Zomba, Malawi – Just months before the September 16 General Election, a new Afrobarometer report has exposed a troubling shift in Malawians’ views on democracy. According to findings released Thursday by the Centre for Social Research (CSR) at the University of Malawi, public support for democratic governance has sharply declined over the past decade.
The data shows that only 53% of Malawians now prefer democracy over any other form of government—down from 76% in 2012. Satisfaction with how democracy is functioning has also plummeted to 39%, marking a significant drop from 53% in the same period.
The report paints a concerning picture: despite widespread access to political freedoms such as voting rights and freedom of association, most respondents view the country as either a democracy riddled with serious issues or not a democracy at all.
CSR Director Dr. Joseph Chunga, who also serves as Afrobarometer’s national investigator in Malawi, said in an interview that the trend mirrors similar shifts across the continent. However, he stressed that the key driver of the decline in Malawi is poor delivery of essential services by successive governments.
“People are disillusioned. When governments fail to meet the basic needs of their citizens, trust in democratic processes erodes,” Chunga said.
Afrobarometer’s Malawi team gathered the data through face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative group of 1,200 adults in August 2024. The survey, which has a margin of error of ±3%, is part of a larger continental effort to track public sentiment on democracy, governance, and daily life.
Boniface Chibwana, Executive Director of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), said the findings reflect a deeper civic disengagement.
“Compared to a decade ago, fewer Malawians are participating in elections or getting involved in governance. People have grown weary, and the culture of holding leaders accountable is fading,” Chibwana said. “This growing silence is dangerous—it allows bad leadership to flourish unchecked.”
Despite the grim outlook, some see signs of democratic resilience. Human rights advocate and public policy analyst Undule Mwakasungula said Malawi’s democracy is still alive, though under strain.
“Yes, corruption and poverty are undermining our democratic gains, but we have a functioning electoral system, freedom of expression, and active civil society organisations,” Mwakasungula noted. “These are the foundations we must protect and build upon.”
Politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties also reacted to the survey.Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Jessie Kabwila said the findings are not surprising, especially considering that much of the 12-year period under review was governed by administrations prior to the MCP’s return to power.
“Democracy drives development. When it fails, people are excluded from decision-making. We acknowledge the concern, but we also know that the damage started long before we came into office,” Kabwila said.
Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary General Peter Mukhito blamed the decline on broken promises and lack of transparency from those in power.
“There’s a huge gap between what leaders promise and what they deliver. Citizens are frustrated, and rightly so. Until we start holding leaders accountable, democracy will continue to lose its meaning,” Mukhito warned.
Since its inception in 1999, Afrobarometer has conducted nine rounds of surveys across up to 42 African countries, providing key insights into citizens’ views on governance, rights, and quality of life.
With general elections looming, the survey’s message is clear: Malawi’s democracy is at a crossroads. Whether it rebounds or continues to falter may depend on the ability of leaders—and citizens—to reclaim the promise of democratic governance.
