AFRICANEWS

Malawi

An official campign starts in Malawi

As the country prepares for elections in 1999, the government is faced with alot of challeges. The opposition is now in full swing and the economy is in a mess.

The second multi-party general elections are only 14 months way, but the campaign for the presidential and parliamentary polls has kicked off. In 1994 polls eight parties contested, but in 1999 a record of eighteen parties might feature their candidates.

There is no limit as to how many parties can be registered in Malawi, and since the first democratic elections many parties have been registered. This seems to please the ruling United Democratic Front, led by President Bakili Muluzi responsible for late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda's defeat in 1994. Leaders in the party feel the opposition will split the vote, and they believe this will work in their favour.

"In 1993 referendum we voted for multi-politics. Even in true democracies they don't have more than three parties. But we can not stop anymore from forming a party. If they want to team up, that's fine, then I will defeat them together," President Bakili Muluzi said during a political rally. Muluzi is confident of winning, because his popularity continues to rise despit economic difficulties the poor country faces. Salaries in the civil service ramain static while commodity prices are are rising.

"Muluzi has done nothing and his days at Sanjika, the country's presidential place, are numbered. What can he show to the world for the four years he has ruled this country?" argues Gwanda Chakuamba leader of opposition Malawi Congress Party which was led by late Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda for 40 years. The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has 53 seats in parliament seconde to the ruling United Democratic Front (UNF) which has 87, while Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) led by former trade unionist Chakufwa Chihana has 35.

Chihana puts it more bluntly: "We have no leadership in Malawi, we are living by the grace of the Lord." Chihana served as second Vice President in Muluzi's government but pulled out after 18 months citing corruption and nepotism as Muluzi's excesses.

The three parties, UDF, MCP, and AFORD rely on regional support with the UDF banking on the populous south where Muluzi comes from, MCP feeling secure in the centre where late Dr. Banda came from and Chihana having all the support from his home, the north, the least populated and developed part of the country.

It is unlikely that the 1994 voting characterised by tribalism will be repeated because the MCP now has Gwanda Chakuamba a former Banda loyalist, who comes from the south.

Muluzi, analysts say will have a tough time in the home base because already there are other presidential contenders likely to split the vote apart from Gwanda Chakuamba ,of MCP, Kalonga Stambuli, Muluzi's former economic adviser has launched his own party, Forum Party. It is said to have attracted intellectuals from the south disappointed by Muluzi's leadership style.

Another big name in the south is former COMESA boss Bingu wa Mutharika who has launched his own United Party also attracting a large following. A controversial former cabinet minister in Muluzi's government Rolf Patel formed Peopls Democratic Party two years ago after being dropped in a cabinet reshuffle amidst rumours of his of his involvement in corruption.

Muluzi is confident of being returned to a second and last year term because in by-elections held so far in many parliamentary seats falling vacant due to death, his party has retained them, has even won two from the former ruling MCP.

However his tenure of office is marred by corruption charges. Story of politicians and senior government officials becoming opulent through unscrupulous means abound, though unsubstantiated in most cases, they are doing the damage. Most ,of Muluzi's ministers are rich and unpopular.

Despite the setting up of the Anti-corruption Bureau, no corrupt official has been brought to court. The Director of Anti-corruption Bureau Gilton Chiwaula, a presidential appointee has admitted that his office has received over 300 corruption cases which are under investigations, but due to lack of resources no case has so far been brought before the courts.

Fiscal management is another area which will prove difficult to explain for Muluzi. Despite low rate of inflation and a drop in bank interest rates, the country's currency, the kwacha which was stable between 1995 to 1997 has suddenly fallen, and remains unstable. The country relies of exports of manufactured goods and the unstable currency has led to price hikes which are hurting the poor.

Many government projects and services are poorly funded due to a budget deficit. Critically hit are the education and health sectors where teachers spend so many months before getting their pay and drugs are not available in hospitals.

Probably the most critical issue at hand is the breakdown of security in the country. Armed robbers have killed, and broken into banks prompting Muluzi to deploy the army to help the poorly trained and equipped police. However Muluzi blames the opposition on the issue of insecurity.

He argues that the remnants of former president's personal army, the pioneers who were disarmed during the transition period are responsible for the armed robberies. He claims they are financed by the opposition especially Malawi Congress Party to intimidate people and bring chaos in the country before the general elections. The MCP denies this but blames Muluzi for poor funding for the police.

Muluzi is not entirely a sad man. He is praised by his followers for uniting the country in terms of spreading development projects and appointments to high offices throughout the country, a thing which was not there before. He has set up Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF) to spearhead self help projects in construction of schools, roads, hospitals, in rural areas funded by the World Bank with the local community providing their own labour and materials. Though only two years old the project is rated a success.

Malawi's human rights record is a success too, though there are problems especially with trade unions which are alleged to be infiltrated by politicians, said to be inciting them in the country to stage strike before proper discussions.

Notorious prisons built by Banda were closed and suspects are not tortured as was the case before. The courts are adhering to the country's new constitution, and there is no interference with the judiciary by the executive.

Muluzi's popularity has led the MCP and AFORD to conceive an idea of a merger unfortunately their followers have rejected the move. The two parties joined by a few others have instead come up with an alliance, and are planning to come up with one presidential candidate and field the most popular candidates in the parliamentary contest from either of the two parties of other parties which will join their alliance.

"Chihana wants to use Chakuamba to Sanjika but whether Chakuamba will see the trick is another story," reads a letter in UDF news, the ruling party's mouthpiece. This is what many analysts conclude, that the alliance is being forged by two dishonest politicians and the chances are that it will not succeed.

While campaign for the general elections has started though unofficially silence still remains on local Government elections which were last held in 1992 during one party rule. Recently a law governing local Government was being drafted and it is yet to be presented to parliament. The Government elections will be held at the same time as the general elections to cut costs.

Critics have accused the government of denying the people their right to participate in their Government. But the Government says donors gave the advice by holding the general elections together with local Government elections costs will be minimized.

However despite the numerous rallies political leaders are holding, nothing has been put in place in readiness for the May 1999 general elections.

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