US embassy cable - 04LILONGWE392

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000392 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, PINR, MI, Political Issues 
SUBJECT: ELECTIONS: CLERGY COME OUT AGAINST FRONTRUNNER 
MUTHARIKA 
 
REF: A. 03 LILONGWE 1202 
 
     B. LILONGWE 381 
 
1. (SBU) Presbyterian Church Synod Moderator Reverend Felix 
Chingota, speaking on behalf of the Presbyterian clergy in 
Malawi, told poloff that the Presbyterian Church has begun 
telling its approximately 3.5 million members that "it has 
difficulties with the United Democratic Front (UDF), and it 
would prefer a change in government."  Chingota said that 
although the clergy has come out publicly against the UDF and 
Mutharika, it does not plan to tell its congregations which 
opposition leader they should vote for. 
 
2. (SBU) The Presbyterian clergy's newly public anti-UDF 
stance comes as UDF presidential candidate Bingu wa Mutharika 
attempts to defend himself against opposition claims that he 
was fired from the COMESA Secretary Generalship for 
corruption and mismanagement (reftel B).  Mutharika announced 
on May 10 that he plans to take legal action against the two 
newspapers that reported the "devious fabrication" and the 
Mgwirizano Coalition leaders Gwanda Chakuamba and Sam Kandodo 
Banda who have repeated the story.  The two newspapers have 
announced that they stand by their stories and have no 
intention of making retractions.  Opposition parties continue 
to push Mutharika for satisfactory answers to the allegations. 
 
COMMENT 
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3. (SBU) Although the Catholic Church has been less public 
with its anti-UDF message, it is significant that both the 
Presbyterian and Catholic Churches, which played a central 
role in bringing down the Banda regime, have come out against 
the UDF and Mutharika.  Considering the influence of the 
churches, this is not good news for the UDF. 
BROWNING