US embassy cable - 04LILONGWE376

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Identifier:	04LILONGWE376
Wikileaks:	View 04LILONGWE376 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Lilongwe
Created:	2004-05-07 10:14:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	PGOV KDEM MI Political Issues
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000376 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, MI, Political Issues 
SUBJECT: GOM CASE AGAINST VP MALEWEZI DISMISSED 
 
REF: A. LILONGWE 245 
 
     B. LILONGWE 1 
 
1. (U) The High Court dismissed on May 4 the GOM's case 
against VP Justin Malewezi, in which government sought 
Malewezi's dismissal for resigning from the ruling United 
Democratic Front (UDF) and the right to appoint a new First 
Vice President (reftel A).  In the ruling, the panel of three 
judges found the Attorney General did not have the authority 
to refer constitutional disputes to the courts and that such 
authority resides only in the powers of the presidency.  The 
ruling further elaborated that if the President did bring the 
matter to the courts, there would be no defendant in the 
case, as it would be a matter of judicial interpretation. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
2. (U) The ruling, in effect, confirms that opposition 
presidential candidate Malewezi as Malawi's First Vice 
President.  With less than two weeks to go before the 
elections, it is unlikely that government will pursue the 
matter further.  Malewezi may counter sue for benefits that 
have been denied him, as the GOM has tried to squeeze him 
financially and get him to "voluntarily" resign. 
BROWNING