President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has directed the reconvening of Parliament, less than a week after it was dissolved on July 23, 2025.
According to a government gazette we have seen, the decision has been made in line with Section 67(4) of the Constitution, which allows the President to recall the National Assembly if a constitutional crisis or emergency arises between its dissolution and the upcoming general election.
The President cited the need for urgent legislation addressing a legal provision that prohibits voters from casting ballots in areas where they may be deployed on election day—affecting sectors such as the police, medical personnel, and electoral staff.
“A matter relating to the exercise of the right to vote enshrined under section 40(3) of the Constitution has arisen,” reads an excerpt of the gazette, “requiring urgent consideration by the National Assembly and enactment of legislation concerning the conduct of the forthcoming general elections to be held on 16th September 2025.”
Parliament is therefore scheduled to reconvene on August 5, 2025, with lawmakers expected to deliberate on the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections (Amendment) Bill.
An excerpt of the gazette reads:
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, LAZARUS MCCARTHY CHAKWERA, president of the Republic of Malawi, under the powers conferred by section 67 (4)of the constitution, HEREBY RECONVENE THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY to meet on 5th August, 2025.
Recently, the Civil Society Electoral Integrity Forum (CSEIF) penned Chakwera to reconvene the National Assembly to amend the Law, which has the potential to bar over 50,000 registered voters from casting their votes.
