Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05LILONGWE555
2005-06-28 14:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:  

SPEAKER DIES AS PRESIDENT BLASTS OPPOSITION

Tags:  ECON KCOR KDEM PGOV PREL MI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000555 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR AF/S, INR/AA
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OMA FRANCES CHISHOLM
TREASURY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS/AFRICA/BEN CUSHMAN
MCC FOR KEVIN SABA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KCOR KDEM PGOV PREL MI
SUBJECT: SPEAKER DIES AS PRESIDENT BLASTS OPPOSITION

REF: A. LILONGWE 00508 B. LILONGWE 00540

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000555

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR AF/S, INR/AA
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OMA FRANCES CHISHOLM
TREASURY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS/AFRICA/BEN CUSHMAN
MCC FOR KEVIN SABA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KCOR KDEM PGOV PREL MI
SUBJECT: SPEAKER DIES AS PRESIDENT BLASTS OPPOSITION

REF: A. LILONGWE 00508 B. LILONGWE 00540


1. (U) Summary: The Speaker of Parliament passed away late on
June 27, after suffering a heart attack on the house floor on
June 23. This comes as the President, along with various
community groups, is blaming the opposition parties for the
Speaker's condition, as well as Parliament's delay in passing
the budget. The President has announced a five-day period of
national mourning for the Speaker. There is no indication
when Parliament will reconvene to discuss next year's budget
and possible impeachment motions. Further delay in passing
the budget may put in jeopardy Malawi's hopes for an IMF
agreement this quarter. End Summary.


SPEAKER DIES
--------------


2. (U) Speaker of Parliament Rodwell Munyenyembe passed away
on June 27 around 11pm at a Johannesburg hospital. The
Speaker had suffered a heart attack and major stroke last
Thursday on the floor of Parliament, as MPs were debating
Presidential and Vice-Presidential impeachment procedures.
The Speaker will be flown back from South Africa on Thursday
June 30, and will be buried on Saturday July 2. The
Government has declared a 5-day period of national mourning.


PRESIDENT AND PUBLIC BLAME OPPOSITION
--------------


3. (U) President Mutharika blamed the leadership of the
opposition MCP and UDF parties for the Speaker's collapse,
and has called for the resignation of opposition MCP leader
John Tembo. In a nationally broadcast speech on June 24, the
President lashed out at former president Muluzi and Tembo,
saying that the opposition had "degraded Parliament." He
angrily condemned the behavior of MPs, saying that "nowhere
in the world do MPs shout insults at the Speaker."


4. (U) The President concluded his speech with a stern
warning to those who might foment political unrest.
Referring to Banda-era security laws still on the books, he
cautioned the opposition, "I have not exercised the powers
conferred to me by the laws of Malawi to deal with
lawlessness, but do not consider this a sign of weakness... I

work by democracy, but if some elements in the society push
me to use the powers conferred upon me, I will do so."


5. (U) There has also been a public backlash against the
opposition, with many community groups calling on MPs to
focus on the budget and discard any impeachment motions.
Students, traditional chiefs, clergy, donors, and local
community groups have all come out in support of the
President and called for Parliament to reconvene and address
the budget. On Monday the 27th students marched in support of
the president in both the South and North of the country,
carrying signs against the opposition, while religious groups
planned to march in Lilongwe today.


6. (U) The United Nations Resident Coordinator released a
statement on June 27 outlining the consequences should
Parliament not reconvene over the next forty-eight hours to
address the budget. The statement made front-page news in
the local media, and outlined the IMF deadlines that Malawi
needs to meet in order to sign an agreement this quarter. If
Malawi does not pass a budget by "early July", the IMF
meeting could be pushed back till next quarter. This would
be a severe blow to the Malawian economy as a food crisis
looms on the horizon.


COMMENT
--------------


7. (U) The Speaker's passing is a great loss to Malawian
politics. Munyenyembe was an admired figure, and he
commanded the respect of all sides in the tumultuous
atmosphere of Malawi's National Assembly. Munyenyembe had a
reputation for honesty and fairness, and was a badly needed
force for moderation during this combative parliamentary
session.


8. (SBU) In choosing to attack the opposition, President
Mutharika missed an opportunity to unite the country after
the Speaker's collapse. The president could have used that
moment of crisis to his political advantage to pressure the
opposition into passing the budget in the name of national
unity. Instead, his sharp attack will likely harden the
attitude of the opposition, making it even more difficult to
pass the budget. Despite mounting public protests over the
opposition's behavior, Mutharika's foes remain defiant. The
occasion of the Speaker's funeral on July 2 may provide the
opportunity for a show of unity, although leaders may not be
in the mood for compromise.


9. (SBU) Post shares the same concerns that the UN Resident
Coordinator voiced over a delay in passing the budget. With
a public mourning period for the rest of the week, Parliament
will not come back together until July 4 at the earliest.
Further debate on the impeachment motion and continued
wrangling over the budget are likely. The deadline to pass
the budget in time for consideration by the IMF will be very
tight indeed.
GILMOUR