UNCLAS LILONGWE 000977

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/S MELINDA TABLER-STONE
STATE FOR INR/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2010
TAGS: KDEM PGOV MI
SUBJECT: VICE-PREZ ASSERTS HIMSELF, VERBALLY ATTACKS
PRESIDENT

REF: A. LILONGWE 649

B. LILONGWE 914


1. (SBU) Malawi's Vice-President has stepped out from the
shadows over the past few weeks, criticizing Mutharika's
policies and taking sides in the ongoing conflict between the
president and the opposition. VP Cassim Chilumpha, who has
maintained his links to the opposition United Democratic
Front (UDF), has begun openly criticizing President Mutharika
and his policies. Chilumpha's comments have made front-page
news over the previous two weeks, resulting in a significant
increase in the VP's visibility and perceived association
with the opposition.


2. (SBU) The VP had been noticeably disengaged throughout his
first year in office, failing to attend official functions
and even cabinet meetings. Chilumpha was widely believed to
have been involved in corrupt activities during the Muluzi
administration, and the new president's anti-corruption drive
understandably prompted him to keep a low profile. When
Mutharika resigned from the UDF and formed his own party last
spring Chilumpha chose to remain in the UDF. Then in the
August cabinet reshuffle (reftel A) the president took away
Chilumpha's ministerial post, further estranging the VP.
However, until two weeks ago Chilumpha had remained silent on
disagreements with the President, and he did not speak out
publicly in the debate over impeachment and possible
scenarios for presidential succession.


3. (SBU) At an event for Eid al-Fitr on November 3 Chilumpha
publicly criticized the government over the arrest of two
opposition MPs who were key actors in the opposition's
impeachment case. Chilumpha was reportedly linked to a press
statement issued on November 8 by several NGOs (including the
Muslim Association of Malawi) that strongly criticized human
rights organizations, the judiciary and donors for allegedly
seeking to muzzle criticism of President Mutharika. During
Mutharika's recent trip to Scotland, the attorney general and
other senior GOM officials took pains to inform the media
that the VP was not in charge of the country in the
president's absence. Chilumpha made the front pages again on
November 14 when he failed to appear with Mutharika at the
Mzuzu University graduation, an act widely perceived as a
snub to the president.


4. (SBU) Comment: Whether Chilumpha's decision to step out
from the shadows is his own, or that of UDF leader Bakili
Muluzi is difficult to say. Chilumpha and Muluzi, both
Muslims, are still very close. Chilumpha's public criticism
of the president coincided closely with the Anti-corruption
Bureau's raid of Muluzi's homes (reftel B). Muluzi, who
lives in Southern Malawi and generally keeps out of the
press, could be using Chilumpha as a way to strike back at
the President. With charges of corruption now being leveled
at Mutharika as part of the impeachment, Chilumpha may now
feel emboldened to actively join the fight. Regardless, by
speaking out publicly the Vice-President has also made
himself fair game for criticism, and a number of government
supporters have gone as far as to call for his resignation.
While that appears unlikely at this point, it seems that the
Vice-President will continue to clash with Mutharika and his
government, possibly throughout the rest of their terms.
GILMOUR