ELECTIONS: CLERGY COME OUT AGAINST FRONTRUNNER

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000392

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PINR MI
SUBJECT: ELECTIONS: CLERGY COME OUT AGAINST FRONTRUNNER
MUTHARIKA

REF: A. 03 LILONGWE 1202


B. LILONGWE 381


1. (SBU) Presbyterian Church Synod Moderator Reverend Felix
Chingota, speaking on behalf of the Presbyterian clergy in
Malawi, told poloff that the Presbyterian Church has begun
telling its approximately 3.5 million members that "it has
difficulties with the United Democratic Front (UDF),and it
would prefer a change in government." Chingota said that
although the clergy has come out publicly against the UDF and
Mutharika, it does not plan to tell its congregations which
opposition leader they should vote for.


2. (SBU) The Presbyterian clergy's newly public anti-UDF
stance comes as UDF presidential candidate Bingu wa Mutharika
attempts to defend himself against opposition claims that he
was fired from the COMESA Secretary Generalship for
corruption and mismanagement (reftel B). Mutharika announced
on May 10 that he plans to take legal action against the two
newspapers that reported the "devious fabrication" and the
Mgwirizano Coalition leaders Gwanda Chakuamba and Sam Kandodo
Banda who have repeated the story. The two newspapers have
announced that they stand by their stories and have no
intention of making retractions. Opposition parties continue
to push Mutharika for satisfactory answers to the allegations.

COMMENT
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3. (SBU) Although the Catholic Church has been less public
with its anti-UDF message, it is significant that both the
Presbyterian and Catholic Churches, which played a central
role in bringing down the Banda regime, have come out against
the UDF and Mutharika. Considering the influence of the
churches, this is not good news for the UDF.
BROWNING