Malawi: Heads of State: 1966-2026

President of the Republic of Malawi
6 Jul 1966 - 6 Jul 1971	Hastings Kamuzu Banda [1]
Life President of the Republic of Malawi [2]
6 Jul 1971 - 17 Nov 1993	Hastings Kamuzu Banda
President of the Republic of Malawi
17 Nov 1993 - 21 May 1994	Hastings Kamuzu Banda
21 May 1994 - 24 May 2004	Elson Bakili Muluzi
24 May 2004 - 5 Apr 2012	Bingu wa Mutharika [3]
5 Apr 2012 - 7 Apr 2012	office vacant
7 Apr 2012 - 31 May 2014	Joyce Hilda Banda [4]
31 May 2014 - 28 Jun 2020	Arthur Peter Mutharika
28 Jun 2020 - 4 Oct 2025	Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
4 Oct 2025 -	Arthur Peter Mutharika

Original name: Akim Kamunkhwala Mtunthama Banda.
The lifelong term of office for Banda was approved in accordance with the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Act, 1970, passed by the Parliament of Malawi on 3 Dec 1970 and assented to on 10 Dec 1970. Banda took the oath of office as Life President at a public ceremony held in Blantyre on 6 Jul 1971.
Original name: Brightson Webster Ryson Thom Mutharika (changed to Bingu wa Mutharika in 1963).
Née Ntila.