President Bingu wa Mutharikas drive to rid Malawi of high-level corruption has opened up deep divisions within the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party, according to political observers.
Since assuming power in May this year, Mutharika has made good on his election promise to tackle graft, earning praise from donors and opposition parties for his efforts, reports IRIN.
– Some people want to be in the cabinet for life, and because they have not been included in my cabinet they are not happy, the new president said.
Compared to former president Bakili Muluzi, who was often chided for his bloated government, Mutharika began his tenure with a leaner cabinet.
His role as a corruption buster was underlined when his administration recently arrested three top ruling party officials.
The three were the newly appointed UDF publicity secretary, Humphrey Mvula, charged with corruption and tax evasion at the state-run Shire Bus Lines, the partys secretary-general, Kennedy Makwangwala, charged with damaging property belonging to an independent MP, and Salim Bagus for tax evasion. Bagus, who served as a cabinet minister under Muluzi, is now the UDFs organising secretary.
Mutharika, a surprise choice as the UDFs candidate for the 2004 elections, was seen as Muluzis final attempt to influence the future of Malawian politics after increasing pressure by civil society forced him to abandon his bid for a third term. However, analysts point to Mutharikas apparent about-turn on Muluzi.
During the election campaign Mutharika promised to protect the former president but recently said he had been misquoted and would not protect anybody as long as “it is proved that they are corrupt”.
Last week the director of public prosecutions, Ishmael Wadi, ordered the Malawi Revenue Authority to impound (beslaglægge) all the UDF vehicles registered in Muluzis name.
Under the Presidents Salaries and Pension Act, the president is exempt from paying duty on any item purchased for personal use, but according to Wadi, the 111 vehicles Muluzi bought were not for personal use and the ex-president is said to have avoided the duty.
Last week a planned demonstration by a group of UDF parliamentarians to protest against Mutharikas “political witch-hunting” following the arrests of top UDF officials, failed to take place.
While political observers say the ongoing debate among the countrys politicians is a sign of a maturing democracy, donors prefer to focus on Mutharikas push for greater transparency in government.
Kilde: FN-bureauet IRINnews
