US embassy cable - 04LILONGWE1035

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 001035 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS USAID 
AF/S FOR MOZENA, CECSARINI, GALANEK 
AF/PD FOR RILEY SEVER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2014 
TAGS: OPRC, MI, GOV, Media, President 
SUBJECT: MUTHARIKA CREATES NEW WEEKLY TO COUNTER PRO-MULUZI 
MEDIA 
 
REF: LILONGWE 1018 
 
Classified By: DCM DAVID GILMOUR FOR REASONS 1.5 (b/d). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY.  A new newspaper, Democratus, has begun 
circulation in Malawi amid a growing fragmentation of the 
ruling United Democratic Front (UDF).  President Mutharika 
and his closest advisors are reportedly providing financial 
support and other resources for the new weekly. In the wake 
of a public disagreement on fundamental political issues 
between Mutharika and former president Muluzi, Democratus 
will apparently offer the Mutharika camp,s version of the 
news. END SUMMARY. 
 
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More Political News for Malawi's Readers 
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2. (C) A new Malawian national weekly, Democratus, arrived at 
newsstands October 30 under the banner "Growing With 
Democratic Values."  Although required under Malawian media 
rules, the paper contained no statement of ownership, however 
mission contacts believe the paper is being financed by 
President Mutharika and senior political advisors.  The paper 
has already hired some of Malawi's leading print journalists, 
including Dennis Mzembe, former chief reporter for national 
daily the Nation (ciculation 20,000), who assumed the role of 
editor-in-chief.  Public Affairs contacts report that 
salaries and perks for Democratus' staff are the highest in 
the country. 
 
3. (C) The news coverage in the first edition was plainly 
pro-Mutharika, and supported his anti-corruption efforts 
against senior UDF officials affiliated with former president 
Bakili Muluzi.  In its maiden editorial comment, Democratus 
pledged to be a public watchdog that would provide accurate 
and balanced information: "We commit ourselves to the ideals 
of fair play and professional journalism."  The most powerful 
statement of the first edition, however, came from the 16 
full pages of advertisements (worth over $6,000 USD) from the 
Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF).  MASAF is a large-scale 
poverty alleviation and infrastructure project funded by the 
World Bank.  The chairman is appointed directly by the 
President. 
 
4. (C) Media insiders have asserted that President Mutharika 
was advised to create a media organ to counter the strong 
pro-Muluzi bias in many papers.  These continue to 
characterize Mutharika's anti-corruption efforts as political 
"persecutions" rather than legitimate prosecutions of 
corruption cases.  Democratus' lavish funding and 
government-generated advertising revenue are already 
producing a backlash among other media houses. 
 
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Muluzi Falls Silent in the Media 
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5. (C) For several months, President Mutharika has maintained 
an acrimonious and public dispute with the Muluzi-dominated 
UDF about the supremacy of a sitting government over the 
party that put it in power.  Muluzi had insisted that the 
UDF, of which he is president, was "above" the government. 
In recent weeks, however, Muluzi has fallen silent.  Despite 
a series of scathing attacks by leading Malawian clergy on 
corruption in his government, and the recent arrests of 
several high-profile corruption defendants (reftel),  Muluzi 
has surprised local observers by not defending himself and 
his political cronies in the media. 
 
6. (C) COMMENT. Overall the print media is equally critical 
of Mutharika and Muluzi, but clearly Mutharika has felt it 
necessary to try to level the media playing field with his 
predecessor by establishing this newspaper.  At the same 
time, Mutharika is softening his tone toward the UDF, in 
order to strengthen his base in the party.  On November 2 
Mutharika declared the UDF to be Malawi's ruling party, a 
significant position shift.  It remains to be seen whether 
Mulizi's sudden silence is a short-term tactical move or a 
willingness to finally begin to settle into the role of 
ex-president. 
 
7. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED. Mutharika's new paper will have to 
exercise some degree of restraint  in order to be taken 
seriously by the wider public: too much government funded 
advertising may risk the credibility of his efforts to 
promote fiscal responsibility and transparency.  Mutharika's 
political strategy must simultaneously seek to maintain his 
fragile base within the UDF while keeping Muluzi, the party 
president, at arm,s length. END COMMENT. 
 
GILMOUR 
GILMOUR