US embassy cable - 04LILONGWE382

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000382 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
NAIROBI FOR REGIONAL LABOR OFFICER 
GENEVA FOR ILO REP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB, PGOV, EFIN, KDEM, MI, Political Issues, Corruption 
SUBJECT: GOM AGAIN CO-OPTS LABOR UNION; "APPOINTS" ILO 
REPRESENTATIVE 
 
1. (U) At Labor Day festivities on May 1, President Muluzi 
appointed Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) President 
Sunduzwayo Madise, who was recently convicted of corruption, 
as Malawi's "representative" to the International Labor 
Organization (ILO).  Muluzi also donated MK 10 million (USD 
95,000) to MCTU and instructed government to find a building 
for the umbrella union to use, as it cannot afford its 
current rent. 
 
2. (U) While ostensibly supporting the principles of fair 
labor practices, Muluzi said: "Unions are not enemies of the 
government.  When they get help from government, they should 
not be seen as having been bought." 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
3. (SBU) Apparently uninformed about ILO operations, Muluzi 
appointed Madise as Malawi's "representative to the ILO," a 
position which does not exist, rather than as Labor Attache 
in Brussels, as Malawi has not had diplomatic representation 
in Geneva since 1994.  Opposition parties have condemned the 
move, saying that with Malawi's current budgetary problems, 
the government should be reducing the number of its 
diplomatic missions.  Muluzi has also been criticized for 
making the eleventh hour appointment so close to the May 18 
general elections when his term expires.  Many perceive the 
appointment as a payback for Madise keeping Malawi's largest 
union quiescent. 
 
4. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: Muluzi's politically-motivated 
appointment of the MCTU President and his "government help" 
for the union, while clearly prompted by the approaching 
elections, typify the GOM's interference in union activities. 
 The once robust labor movement, which played an influential 
role in Malawi's 1994 transition to multi-party democracy, 
has been crippled by internal disputes, much of which has 
been inspired by meddling from the highest levels of 
government.  END COMMENT. 
 
BIO NOTE: Sunduzwayo Madise 
--------------------------- 
5. (U) Madise was convicted on two counts of corruption in 
November 2001 and was fined MK 50,000 (USD 500).  He was 
found guilty of accepting a USD 4,000 bribe from Global 
African Football Incorporated (GAF) consultant Ian Riley to 
award the television firm rights to air a Malawi-South Africa 
World Cup soccer match.  Madise also wrongfully allowed Riley 
to pay hotel bills amounting to USD 400. 
 
6. (SBU) Madise was elected MCTU President in January 2004 
amid great controversy and calls for a re-vote.  Madise's 
position was further challenged in February 2004, when the 
Ministry of Labor ordered Madise to leave the position 
because Malawian law enjoins convicted criminals from holding 
union offices.  The matter has been referred to the courts, 
and in the meantime Madise has been acting as the MCTU's 
president. 
BROWNING