US embassy cable - 05LILONGWE773

C O N F I D E N T I A L LILONGWE 000773 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/S 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2010 
TAGS: KDEM, PGOV, TBIO, MI, Political Issues 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT FIRES SENIOR MINISTER, WEAKENS 
GOVERNMENT COALITION 
 
REF: LILONGWE 649 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Alan Eastham for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Irrigation and Water Development Minister 
Gwanda Chakuamba, one of the most powerful politicians in 
Malawi, has left the government.  As a head of a governing 
coalition partner, he could take some of the 15 MPs from his 
Republican Party (RP) out of government with him,further 
weakening an already shaky coalition.  Chakuamba, who has 
been at the center of a number of corruption accusations, had 
already decided to resign when the President preemptively 
fired him September 7th.  End Summary. 
 
CHAKUAMBA AND MUTHARIKA 
------------------------ 
 
2. (C) Chakuamba, who has also been serving as the 
Vice-President of President Mutharika's Democratic 
Progressive Party (DPP), had come in third in 2004's 
Presidential election.  He then joined a government coalition 
with the understanding that RP members would receive a set 
number of Ministerial positions, Ambassadorial posts, and 
parastatal board slots.  Mutharika has continually failed to 
meet the terms outlined in that and other agreements with 
Chakuamba over decision making in government and the DPP. 
 
3. (C) In August 2004 Chakuamba was demoted from Minister of 
Agriculture (Reftel) to Minister of Irrigation and Water. 
This dropped him from the number three position to number 
five in Cabinet.  Chakuamba has not been happy about the 
demotion, and on Monday September 5 told the Minister of 
Finance that he was planning to quit. (Note: Though demoted, 
Chakuamba was able to keep the $150,000 car he bought for 
himself as agriculture minister.  The press has reported that 
the change of license plate number from MG 3 to MG 5 was 
another irritant to Chakuamba.  End note.) 
 
CHAKUAMBA AND CORRUPTION 
------------------------ 
4. (C) Shortly after his appointment as Agriculture Minister 
in mid-2005, Chakuamba went to South Africa to investigate 
the possibility of a GOM purchase of maize for the 
anticipated hunger crisis.  He was abruptly called back from 
this mission, amid allegations that he had been negotiating a 
deal for his personal profit.  The allegations have not been 
substantiated, but no grain deal ensued from his trip. 
 
5. (SBU) A second story revolves around Chakuamba's alleged 
purchase of a $150K BMW with drought-relief money.  The 
Anti-Corruption Bureau is investigating Chakuamba's purchase, 
while he was Minister of Agriculture, of the BMW for personal 
use.  The Malawian press has made a controversy of the car, 
pointing out that $150K would feed thousands of Malawians 
through this year's food crisis. 
 
POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS 
------------------------ 
6. (SBU) While he is not an MP, Chakuamba brought the 15 
Republican Party MPs into the government coalition last year. 
 However, RP Caucus Chair Aaron Sangala told Embassy 
officials that the 15 RP MPs are still officially a part of 
government.  He says they will remain so at least until their 
caucus the week of September 19th, when the party will decide 
what course to follow. 
 
7. (U) Former Deputy Minister for Transport and Public Works 
Sidik Mia has been appointed the new Minister of Irrigation 
and Water Development.  Mia had previously served as the 
Deputy Minister.  Rashid Gaffar, MP from Blantyre, will 
replace Mia at the Ministry of Transport. 
 
COMMENT 
-------- 
 
8. (C) While one source says at least 13 of the 15 MPs will 
resign from government, it remains to be seen how many RP MPs 
will follow Chakuamba out of government. A number of the MPs 
are in Deputy Minister or Minister positions, and it is 
doubtful they would give up the salaries and perquisites of 
high government office. If a significant number of RP MPs 
were to leave government, it could cause major headaches for 
Mutharika's already small coalition in Parliament. 
 
9. (C) After Chakuamba's decision to quit, Mutharika had 
little choice but to fire him.  However, it seems that with 
even rudimentary political finesse the entire situation could 
have been avoided. End Comment. 
EASTHAM