US embassy cable - 05LILONGWE977

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000977 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/S MELINDA TABLER-STONE 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2010 
TAGS: KDEM, PGOV, MI 
SUBJECT: VICE-PREZ ASSERTS HIMSELF, VERBALLY ATTACKS 
PRESIDENT 
 
REF: A. LILONGWE 649 
     B. LILONGWE 914 
 
1. (SBU) Malawi's Vice-President has stepped out from the 
shadows over the past few weeks, criticizing Mutharika's 
policies and taking sides in the ongoing conflict between the 
president and the opposition.  VP Cassim Chilumpha, who has 
maintained his links to the opposition United Democratic 
Front (UDF), has begun openly criticizing President Mutharika 
and his policies.  Chilumpha's comments have made front-page 
news over the previous two weeks, resulting in a significant 
increase in the VP's visibility and perceived association 
with the opposition. 
 
2. (SBU) The VP had been noticeably disengaged throughout his 
first year in office, failing to attend official functions 
and even cabinet meetings.  Chilumpha was widely believed to 
have been involved in corrupt activities during the Muluzi 
administration, and the new president's anti-corruption drive 
understandably prompted him to keep a low profile. When 
Mutharika resigned from the UDF and formed his own party last 
spring Chilumpha chose to remain in the UDF.  Then in the 
August cabinet reshuffle (reftel A) the president took away 
Chilumpha's ministerial post, further estranging the VP. 
However, until two weeks ago Chilumpha had remained silent on 
disagreements with the President, and he did not speak out 
publicly in the debate over impeachment and possible 
scenarios for presidential succession. 
 
3. (SBU) At an event for Eid al-Fitr on November 3 Chilumpha 
publicly criticized the government over the arrest of two 
opposition MPs who were key actors in the opposition's 
impeachment case.  Chilumpha was reportedly linked to a press 
statement issued on November 8 by several NGOs (including the 
Muslim Association of Malawi) that strongly criticized human 
rights organizations, the judiciary and donors for allegedly 
seeking to muzzle criticism of President Mutharika.  During 
Mutharika's recent trip to Scotland, the attorney general and 
other senior GOM officials took pains to inform the media 
that the VP was not in charge of the country in the 
president's absence.  Chilumpha made the front pages again on 
November 14 when he failed to appear with Mutharika at the 
Mzuzu University graduation, an act widely perceived as a 
snub to the president. 
 
4. (SBU) Comment:  Whether Chilumpha's decision to step out 
from the shadows is his own, or that of UDF leader Bakili 
Muluzi is difficult to say. Chilumpha and Muluzi, both 
Muslims, are still very close. Chilumpha's public criticism 
of the president coincided closely with the Anti-corruption 
Bureau's raid of Muluzi's homes (reftel B).  Muluzi, who 
lives in Southern Malawi and generally keeps out of the 
press, could be using Chilumpha as a way to strike back at 
the President. With charges of corruption now being leveled 
at Mutharika as part of the impeachment, Chilumpha may now 
feel emboldened to actively join the fight.   Regardless, by 
speaking out publicly the Vice-President has also made 
himself fair game for criticism, and a number of government 
supporters have gone as far as to call for his resignation. 
While that appears unlikely at this point, it seems that the 
Vice-President will continue to clash with Mutharika and his 
government, possibly throughout the rest of their terms. 
GILMOUR