VICE-PREZ ASSERTS HIMSELF, VERBALLY ATTACKS

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