FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED IN DEATH OF PRESIDENT'S

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000214

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCOR PGOV PINR KDEM MI
SUBJECT: FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED IN DEATH OF PRESIDENT'S
BUSINESS ASSOCIATE


SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) A March 2 autopsy report revealed that Kalonga
Stambuli, Chief Executive Officer of President Muluzi's Trade
and Investment Company, was poisoned and strangled on
December 29, 2003. In the weeks following Stambuli's death,
"The Dispatch" weekly newspaper printed a series of excerpts
from Stambuli's personal journal, entitled "Corrupt Practices
by Muluzi." Since Stambuli's death, the opposition National
Democratic Alliance (NDA) and civil society organizations
have repeatedly called for the ruling United Democratic Front
(UDF) and GOM to launch an official investigation into the
matter, and the police announced on March 12 that an inquiry
had begun. The allegations in Stambuli's journal are the
most personal and direct accusations of corruption ever made
publicly against the President. END SUMMARY.

AUTOPSY REPORT RELEASED
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2. (U) On March 2 an autopsy report on the death of Kalonga
Stambuli, Chief Executive Officer of President Muluzi's Trade
and Investment Company, was released. The autopsy, which had
been initiated by a friend of the family, revealed that on
December 29, 2003 Kalonga Stambuli was poisoned with a
organophosphate compound and, immediately after, strangled.
Declaring "asphyxia due to manual strangulation" the
immediate cause of death, the report concluded that the death
"was unlikely to have been suicidal." In addition, the
report indicated a handwritten note was found beside
Stambuli's body and read, "You are very sinful." The
autopsy, which was not initiated by the police, came after
the opposition political party National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) made repeated public calls for the ruling United
Democratic Front (UDF) and GOM to make official inquiries
into Stambuli's death. Since the report's release, several
local human rights NGOs have pressed for an official
investigation, which the police announced on March 12 had
begun.

STAMBULI'S BEYOND-THE-GRAVE ACCUSATIONS
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3. (U) In the weeks following Stambuli's death, "The
Dispatch" weekly newspaper serialized portions of what it
claimed was the late Stambuli's personal journal, entitled
"Corrupt Practices by Muluzi." While providing no evidence
to substantiate the allegations, the entries detailed
Muluzi's purported involvement in several illegal activities,
including misappropriation of public funds and private
business scandals. The final article concluded by describing
Stambuli's March 1997 decision to resign as Personal Advisor
to the President and Secretary for Economic Planning and
Development, though never indicated the exact circumstances
around Stambuli's departure. According to Stambuli, an
unhappy Muluzi then had Stambuli arrested on trumped-up
charges. The ensuing legal battle had not been resolved at
the time of Stambuli's death.

COMMENT
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4. (SBU) Rumors of corruption and illegal activities are not
new to Muluzi or his administration. However, Stambuli's
accusations are the most personal and direct ever made
publicly against Muluzi, and well-placed sources indicate
some may be founded. If official inquires are made into the
Muluzi administration after the President steps down in May,
the Stambuli case may feature prominently among them. END
COMMENT.
BROWNING