CABINET GROWS YET AGAIN IN PATRONAGE PAY-OFF

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000270 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM EFIN PINR MI SUBJECT: CABINET GROWS YET AGAIN IN PATRONAGE PAY-OFF ¶1. (U) New Congress for Democracy (NCD) president Hetherwick Ntaba has been appointed Minister of the new Ministry of Energy and Mining, the Office of President and Cabinet announced on March 29. Ntaba, who formed NCD after being dismissed from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) National Executive Committee for sympathizing with the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF),announced on March 26 that his party has joined the "government of national unity" and will contest the May presidential elections with the UDF/Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) coalition. COMMENT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The creation of the new ministry brings the number in cabinet-level positions to 46. In addition to the serendipitous creation of the new ministry just after Ntaba's announcement of support, the fact that there are fewer than 3,000 people employed in the formal mining sector in Malawi demonstrates that the new position was created for purposes of political patronage. ¶3. (SBU) Although Ntaba does not command a large following, he does have some support in the Central Region. With his inclusion, President Muluzi has successfully garnered support for his hand-picked successor Bingu wa Mutharika from regional political figures in all three regions. BROWNING