Malawi is a multi-party state system (see list of political parties in Malawi). Malawi began as a one-party state in 1964, with the MCP being the only party until 1993. A movement called the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) under the leadership of Chakufwa Chihana grew, calling for the end of Kamuzu Banda's dictatorship.http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/1957.pdf Due to this internal and external pressure Banda agreed to hold a national referendum in 1993 where the nation voted to become a multi-party state.http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/1957.pdf AFORD became the first registered opposition political party, and other opposition parties formed thereafter. The first multi-party elections occurred in 1994 in which the UDF won votes as the first administration under a multi-party system under Bakili Muluzi.http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/1957.pdf Malawi is now a multi -party nation with 40 registered parties but only a few prominent ones.
