Malawi President divisive, says analysts

President Bingu Mutharika wild accusations against former Head of State, Dr Bakili Muluzi of planning to overthrow him have been condemned by analysts as divisive that could potentially undermine peace negotiations between government and the opposition.

Mutharika said Dr Muluzi currently in UK on private visit and members of the opposition planned to unseat him using section 65 of the constitution which forbids lawmakers from joining another party in Parliament leaving parties that sponsored them.

Opposition demands that Speaker of National Assembly should implement the provision, which Supreme Court validated when Mutharika made a referral on the court for its interpretation.

However, the President has vowed to suppress the constitution provision as he risks losing out after he lured several members of the opposition to defect to his DPP which he formed when he ditched UDF the party that sponsored him to power.

"It is disappointing that our state president is attacking his opponents when at the same time discussing with them. We humbly appeal to him to refrain from such attacks," said Undule Mwakasungula, executive director of Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation.

"This is not the time to attack the opposition, this is the time to talk peace for the interest peace and harmony of our country," he said.

The Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral letter to every Catholic parish Sunday May 11 at the feast of Pentecost highlighted about Malawian seizing an opportunity in the elections due next to change in a democracy.

The clerics said Malawians should make soul searching on the performance of democracy and good governance.

They enlighten their flock to consider electing to power a leader who promotes unity, peace and who is listen to others.

"A good leader leads by example and therefore uses words that unite, that heal, and those that promote peaceful coexistence," said the Bishops in the letter titled ‘Taking Responsibility for our future: Together Towards the 2009 Elections,’

Mustapha Hussein a senior political science lecturer at the University of Malawi, Chancellor College it is a disappointment that the revelation is coming in at the time when people have great expectations and hope in view of the negotiations between government and opposition.

"So, the revelations are seen to be dampening the spirits regarding the outcome and what we should expect from the negotiations underway," Hussein pointed out to VOA.

He said some Malawians are waiting to see what becomes of President Mutharika’s accusation as he said they have not heard about it before and don’t have enough information about it.

"Since the revelation was made in public, we hope probably certain moves would be taken to pursue that allegation. But on the other hand, since people have seen not much progress have been made regarding the vice president’s case, Dr. Cassim Chilumpha, many people have viewed that probably this will end as mere politicking strategy to weaken the UDF or to intimidate the UDF," he said.

Meanwhile, there has been a wave of arrests of UDF politicians on treason charges and some senior Malawi Defence Force officers.

UDF leader in parliament, Dr George Nga Ntafu informed the House today that Police arrested party executive member Joseph Chimbayo who is retired Army General.

He also said police nabbed party secretary general Kennedy Makwangwala, former Blantyre city Mayor John Chikakwiya and former Inspector General of Police Joseph Aironi.

Ntafu said the arrests are politically motivated aimed at sewing panic and fear in the ranks and file of the opposition.

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Muluzi in an immediate reaction rebutted Mutharika’s accusations and said he is not a violent man who would use any other route to get to power other than democratic means.

Many observers have said the President has become paranoid because of his insistence in fighting the implementation of the constitution provision despite swearing to defend the country’s charter.

Mutharika has been a serial violator of the constitution and disrespect of court orders since he assumed power in 2004. He is already classified as a dictator and a carbon copy of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.