GOM PROPOSES TO POSTPONE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000483 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/S, INR/AA USAID FOR AYANNA TOURE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM KCOR MI SUBJECT: GOM PROPOSES TO POSTPONE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS TO 2009 REF: Lilongwe 286 LILONGWE 00000483 001.4 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary: After a year of delay in staging local government elections that were due in May 2005, the GOM has announced its intention to amend the constitution to postpone local elections to 2009, to coincide with the next regular presidential and parliamentary elections. The move will save money and provide an opportunity for the government to carry out electoral reform, but it is not a positive development for the growth of democracy in Malawi. End summary. A New Electoral Calendar and Proposed Reforms -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In a May 30 briefing for select donors (US, UK, UN, Germany and Norway) the Malawi ministers of local government and transport revealed the GOM's intention to present a bill in the June session of Parliament that would amend the constitution to hold local government elections (LGE) simultaneously with national elections, next scheduled for ¶2009. Currently, the Malawi Constitution specifies that local elections must be held one year after the national elections. The last LGE was due in May 2005. At that time, President Mutharika dissolved district and municipal assemblies in anticipation of an election, but polls were never held because of a looming food crisis. The GOM decided that scarce resources were needed for food aid and donors agreed, with the caveat that LGEs would be held as soon as practicable. In the months since the food crisis passed, donor pressure has increased on the GOM to honor its commitment to hold local elections. ¶3. (SBU) The ministers also stated the GOM's desire to amend Malawi's electoral code to establish minimal education requirements for locally elected officials and create a system of proportional representation. The two complained that many of the previous local councilors were illiterate, saying that "it's important to get the right people in those local assemblies." Government opponents will surely wonder who the "right people" are, in the eyes of the GOM. Words of Caution from Donors -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Donor reps expressed concern that the proposed changes would endanger the momentum of the country's decentralization program, in which European donors have invested considerable sums of money since the process began in 1998. In response, the two ministers said repeatedly that the GOM is "committed" to both decentralization and LGEs. When questioned about the current lack of political accountability of local administrators, the ministers said that the GOM had recently instituted a system of "consultative meetings" between local chiefs, MPs and local administrators in order to inject public input into decision making at the local level. They admitted that the consultative meetings have been irregular and may not have taken place yet in all districts. Donors pointed out that the proposal to delay elections could prompt negative perceptions overseas about Malawian democracy, particularly since the country's democratic reputation had already suffered greatly in recent months, due to continual instability caused by actions of both government and opposition. ¶5. (SBU) In pushing off the local elections for three more years, critics will undoubtedly see this as another move by President Mutharika to centralize power, as part of a pattern of emulating the governing style of former strongman Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Since coming to office in 2004, Mutharika has undertaken a number of initiatives and policy changes aimed at strengthening the presidency, and observers are increasingly comparing his style to that of Dr. Banda. At the recent launch of Malawi's constitutional review process, Mutharika declared that he would not be pushed by foreigners in determining the date for local elections (reftel). Comment: Not Good News for Malawi's Democracy -------------- ¶6. (SBU) While this move makes sense from a logistical and budgetary standpoint, it is not healthy for Malawian democracy. Local administrators have functioned without any local political oversight for a year, and it appears that LILONGWE 00000483 002.2 OF 002 situation will continue for another three years. The GOM is clearly violating the constitution, despite the ministers' contention that the government will "restore constitutional order" by setting a new electoral schedule. The lack of locally elected positions also denies the country of the opportunity to develop a "farm team" of young politicians who could learn the craft of politics at the local level before moving up to the national stage. This is particularly critical for Malawi's immature democratic system where, at the moment, the entry level for politics is election as an MP of the National Assembly. ¶7. (SBU) Malawi's democracy is in a fragile state, with persistent instability over the past 18 months due to Mutharika's resignation from UDF, impeachment, repeated attempts to remove the Vice President, politically motivated arrests, attacks on press freedom, and the recent Mugabe visit. The delay of local elections is one more sign of a governance environment that is making investors nervous and impeding the country's development. EASTHAM