MORE ATTACKS ON MUTHARIKA'S CREDIBILITY

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000411

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PINR KPAO MI
SUBJECT: MORE ATTACKS ON MUTHARIKA'S CREDIBILITY

REF: A. 03 LILONGWE 1202


B. LILONGWE 404

C. LILONGWE 392


1. (U) "The Nation" daily newspaper published a front-page
story on May 17 questioning the authenticity of United
Democratic Front (UDF) presidential candidate Bingu wa
Mutharika's doctoral degree. In a carefully constructed
article, the newspaper points out that Mutharika's CV does
not list the dates when he attended Pacific Western
University (PWU),an American university where he claims to
have obtained his Ph.D. in Development Economics. The
article also details information on diploma mills in the U.S.
and indicates that a university with the same name is listed
"among 550 non-accredited American colleges and universities
and colleges offering fake academic papers." The story has
been repeated in independent radio broadcasts.

COMMENT
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2. (SBU) The article artfully alleged, but did not say, that
Mutharika bought his much ballyhooed degree from an American
diploma mill. This information, along with the reports of
ineptitude and corruption while he led COMESA (reftel C),has
been known by opposition leaders and independent media houses
for some time. That the stories would surface during the
final, critical days of the campaign period appears planned.
With the UDF campaigning Mutharika as the solution to
Malawi's economic problems, these recent attacks on his
credentials have done much to damage Mutharika's credibility,
at least among the urban audiences with access to newspapers.
DOUGHERTY