SPARKS OF INDEPENDENCE FROM THE COULD-BE REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000719

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2014
TAGS: PGOV KDEM EFIN PINR MI
SUBJECT: SPARKS OF INDEPENDENCE FROM THE COULD-BE REFORM
PRESIDENT

REF: LILONGWE 652

Classified By: Pol/Econ Officer Peter W. Lord, reasons 1.5 (b/d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) Mere days after former President Muluzi left on his
annual (government-funded) ex-presidential vacation,
President Bingu wa Mutharika replaced several key government
officials. He appointed a new Commander of the Army
(reftel),a new Director of Public Prosecutions, and a new
Chief of Staff. In addition, he divided the Secretary to the
Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) into two separate
positions: a secretary to OPC and a head of the civil
service. Appointing professionals and personal loyalists,
Mutharika demonstrated a sudden display of independence from
the former President, albeit in Muluzi's absence from the
country, that has come much to the consternation of the
United Democratic Front's (UDF) old guard. With the ruling
UDF's working majority in Parliament a result of Muluzi's
dealings, Mutharika is gambling on the notion that people
want reform so badly that opposition parties will support his
initiatives. END SUMMARY.

NEWLY FOUND INDEPENDENCE?
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2. (C) Within days after former President Muluzi departed on
his annual (government-funded) ex-presidential vacation,
President Bingu wa Mutharika replaced key government
officials loyal to Muluzi and the ruling United Democratic
Front (UDF) with professionals and Mutharika loyalists.
Muluzi is expected to return to Malawi in mid-August.

DPP TO PROSECUTE FOR CORRUPTION
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3. (C) The largely ineffectual (and often counterproductive)
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Fahad Assani was
controversially replaced with Ishmael Wadi, an unknown,
seemingly idealistic lawyer with little experience. In a
July 28 meeting with poloff, Wadi forthrightly outlined
several corruption cases involving former and current
ministers (including the Vice President) and declared his
intention to take their cases to court. Clearly versed in
the outstanding cases in his office and the authorities of
his position, Wadi said he planned to maintain the
independence of the DPP and indiscriminately try cases based
on the facts.


4. (C) Talking about the political pressure on his position,
Wadi said he would rather resign than compromise on a case
and that he plans to use the media to expose anyone trying to
pressure him. Wadi also said he has already assigned three
new public prosecutors to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which
had lost all of its lawyers to political pressure and salary
payment problems. (NOTE: Wadi has not yet been confirmed by
the parliamentary committee on Public Appointments. The
committee, which was formed on July 27, plans to consider the
Wadi appointment the week of August 2. The Malawi Congress
Party (MCP),the principal opposition party in Parliament,
has already publicly declared its support for Wadi. END NOTE.)

CHIEF OF STAFF COMMENTS ON FORMER ADMINISTRATION
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5. (C) On June 30, Mutharika appointed Ken Ng'oma as Chief of
Staff. Ng'oma, who was Secretary General of Mutharika's
pre-UDF political party, has made strong and public
statements about "gross mismanagement" in the Muluzi
administration. In a July 28 meeting with poloff, Ng'oma
said that weeding out corruption is one of his major
priorities and that he plans to deal with perpetrators
regardless of their status in the party. Ng'oma dismissed
the idea that Mutharika's newly found independence would
subside with Muluzi's return. He intimated that Mutharika
will be making further "big changes" and that we should
"expect fireworks" upon Muluzi's return. Discussing the
growing displeasure of the UDF's old guard, Ng'oma simply
commented that they were wrong to think that they could
control Mutharika because Mutharika is "a man of principle."

COMMENT
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6. (C) Mutharika's show of independence began when Muluzi
left the country, and the strong reform statements of his
prima facie free-thinking appointees have yet to be
translated into action. Without such action, Mutharika has a
long way to go to establish himself as the reform President
he advertises himself to be.


7. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED. However, if the Mutharika
administration does try to implement its proposed reforms, it
may find itself without the necessary political support,
having isolated many UDF parliamentarians and heavy-weights.
The gamble that Mutharika makes is that opposition and civil
society groups will politically support him if he brings
about genuine change and that he does not truly need the
support of his own party. END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC