MALAWI: MULUZI TELLS AMBASSADOR CONSTITUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000676 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2018 TAGS: PGOV KDEM MI SUBJECT: MALAWI: MULUZI TELLS AMBASSADOR CONSTITUTION ALLOWS CANDIDACY REF: LILONGWE 573 LILONGWE 00000676 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Peter Bodde for reasons 1.4 b, d ¶1. (C) Summary: During the Ambassador's initial call on Bakili Muluzi,the former president said he will not seek an early decision from the Malawi Electoral Commission regarding his candidacy for next May's elections because he believes the Constitution clearly allows it. Muluzi contends that his previous two presidential terms will not disqualify him from serving again. In addition, Muluzi asked for more dialogue between donors and all political parties as well as international observers to ensure free and fair elections. Muluzi said his campaign would focus on social and human rights issues, economic openness, industrial development and food security. Muluzi also gave the Ambassador a copy of his recent "confidential" written correspondence with President Mutharika. In the letters, Mutharika accuses Muluzi of sedition and libel, and threatens him with arrest. Comment: The personal feud between Muluzi and Mutharika continues to escalate. Muluzi's refusal to seek an early legal decision on his nomination increases the likelihood of violence, and may leave the UDF without a viable candidate, thus reducing the popular legitimacy of the elections. This seems to be precisely what Muluzi intends. End Summary. UDF Continues to Express Concerns about Mutharika -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador and emboffs recently paid an introductory call on former president Bakili Muluzi. Muluzi was joined by former United Democratic Front (UDF) Secretary General Harry Thomson, UDF Director of Research Humphrey Mvula, and potential UDF vice-presidential candidate Brown Mpinganjira. Muluzi and the UDF reiterated many of their past complaints that donors had remained silent about President Mutharika's rule of law violations, government intimidation of the opposition and media, corruption in the current administration, and the lack of access to state broadcasters (ref A). Muluzi added that there must be a frank on-going dialogue between political parties and diplomatic missions to ensure free and fair elections. He thanked the U.S. for continuing to meet with opposition parties and said other donors had refused his requests for appointments. Muluzi: No Need to Seek Clarification Regarding My Candidacy -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador asked if Muluzi would pursue an early decision regarding the constitutionality of his candidacy for the presidency, but Muluzi insisted there was no need because the constitution was clear. He contended that Malawi's Constitution limits only consecutive terms, but not lifetime terms, so that he can now serve as president again after being out of office for a term. To bolster his point, he cited the Malawi Law Commission Constitutional review which proposed an amendment to remove the word "consecutive" in the section 83 which describes term limits for the president. Muluzi instead blamed Mutharika for deceiving the people about his eligibility, claiming it was a ploy designed to convince UDF supporters not to register to vote. Campaign Will Focus on Fighting Poverty While Promoting Rights -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador asked Muluzi about his campaign plans. Muluzi said his focus will be to fight poverty. However, he said Malawi cannot win the battle against poverty without accountability and performance. He cited the inability of the legislature to check the executive as one of Malawi's biggest weaknesses. He stressed that compromise would yield better solutions than intimidation, citing government threats to private grain traders as an example of Mutharika's short-sightedness. Muluzi maintained that Mutharika's macroeconomic improvements are not trickling down to the people. Prices are higher, but wages remain stagnant. He questioned how the government could implement decentralized programs in agriculture and health care when it refused to hold local government elections to select the people who should manage these programs. Lastly, Muluzi stressed he will encourage value-added industrial development in Malawi to create wealth. Muluzi agreed with the Ambassador that both the African Growth and Opportunities Act and a Millennium Challenge Compact sought to foster this type of growth in Malawi. ¶5. (C) Muluzi expressed deep concerns about the upcoming elections. He said international observers were necessary for credible polls next May. With few media outlets for the LILONGWE 00000676 002.2 OF 002 opposition, he feared that biased state broadcasters would raise tensions. Muluzi warned that there would be conflict after the election without the international community's help. Mutharika and Muluzi Exchange "Unpresidential" Letters -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Muluzi shared a copy of an October letter President Mutharika wrote to him, as well as his own response. Mutharika's letter accused Muluzi of criminal libel and sedition, and of making up false health claims and other stories through the Nyasa Times website to discredit Mutharika. Mutharika also wrote that Muluzi and the UDF had destroyed his reputation as chairman of COMESA and gotten him fired from the position. Mutharika threatened to arrest Muluzi for his actions. Muluzi said this was the third such letter he had received from Mutharika. ¶7. (C) Muluzi's response refuted Mutharika's claims, and reminded Mutharika that he (Muluzi) had campaigned tirelessly for his election. Muluzi claimed he had offered numerous times to help Mutharika's government. (NOTE: In mid-November, the letters were leaked to the press. Several leading NGOs publicly commented that the exchanges were unprofessional and immature. Mutharika publicly slammed the NGOs for commenting on private correspondence, thus confirming their authenticity. Mutharika has now instructed police to investigate Humphrey Mvula for the release of the letters and which could result in his arrest for breaching the Official Secrets Act. End note.) Comment: Personal Fued Continues to Escalate -------------- ¶8. (C) Comment: The written exchange between Mutharika and Muluzi underscores the personal feud that remains a defining feature of Malawian politics. Moreover, Muluzi's refusal to seek clarification about his nomination status until after the filing deadline is designed to cause chaos and incite his supporters if the decision does not go his way. Muluzi's overarching goal, even above recapturing the presidency, is to remove Mutharika from office. If he is not able to run, plan B continues to be an alliance with John Tembo and the Malawi Congress Party that would place the UDF's Brown Mpinganjira as the running mate. End Comment. BODDE