US embassy cable - 05LILONGWE438

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000438 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, KCOR, MI 
SUBJECT: EDUCATION MINISTER ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION 
 
 
1.  On May 17 President Bingu wa Mutharika fired Education 
Minister Yusuf Mwawa after Mwawa was charged with using 
government funds for his own wedding reception.  Earlier that 
day, Mwawa was arrested and charged on four counts: theft by a 
public servant, forgery, altering an official document, and 
misuse of public office.  Mwawa, who has denied the charges, 
allegedly used a check meant for a cancelled official meeting 
to pay for the $1,700 wedding reception at a hotel in 
Blantyre, Malawi's commercial capital.  He was granted bail 
and released on the same day.  His wife, who works for the 
Vice President's press office, was present at the court. 
 
2.  COMMENT: This marks the first time that a sitting Malawian 
government minister has been arrested for corruption, and it 
sends a strong message about the president's zero-tolerance 
stance on corruption.  There is, however, a political aspect 
to the case.  Mwawa, a political holdover from the Muluzi 
administration, was from day one an unlikely Mutharika ally. 
Prior to the arrest, rumors abounded that charging Mwawa would 
open a can of worms about previously unreported corruption 
allegations in the Education Ministry.  Mwawa, now with 
nothing to lose, may be more willing to discuss the details, 
and in all likelihood will seek retribution on his now-former 
boss. 
GILMOUR