[The current president is trying to root out corruption, but the corrupt MP’s as well as the former president, Muluzi, who is a socialist, are trying to get him thrown out!! Jan]

Bingu Faces Impeachment
The Chronicle Newspaper (Lilongwe)

January 31, 2005
Posted to the web January 31, 2005

Mundango Nyirenda, Chikondi Chiyembekeza And Levison Mwase
Lilongwe

as Muluzi sets aside K2OO million to buy MPs

Ahead of the next UDF National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Sunday planned to expel President Bingu wa Mutharika from the party, former President Bakili Muluzi is reportedly canvassing for support from MPs to table a motion to impeach Mutharika when Parliament convenes in March.

Information received by The Chronicle indicate that Muluzi wants MPs from the UDF party to move a private members motion that will set a process of the impeachment of Mutharika on the grounds that he has violated the principles of the Constitution and the written laws of the country.

The Chronicle has information to the effect that Muluzi has put aside over K200 million to buy support from MPs from the UDF, the opposition, mainly the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) which has the largest number of MPs in Parliament. He also intends to target the independent MPs.

The money, according to inside sources, has been sourced from the Northern African City of Casablanca in Morocco and is stashed in an offshore account.

The sources said MPs who agree to support the motion will be given K2 million each so as to obtain the required two thirds majority for the motion to pass without too much of a hitch.

“Muluzi thinks Mutharika will soon be on his neck so as to arrest him.

He is now more determined than ever to get rid of the President, no matter the consequences,” said one source.

In a bid to top up the money sourced from Morocco, sources say Muluzi has sold hundreds of acres of land at ITG in Limbe, and other plots in BCA Hill where his posh house is located.

Sources say some of the grounds that Muluzi wants to be advanced for the planned impeachment of the State President are top level appointments which the president has made since he assumed power.

For instance, the appointment of Gustav Kaliwo as the Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) who replaced Justice Michael Mtegha and DPP Ishmail Wadi who replaced Fahad Asani, who was unceremoniously dismissed from the post and the appointment of Mary Nangwale as the police chief, replacing Joseph Aironi, who was seen as a Muluzi’s ally.

Also, other possible impeachment reasons are; Bingu’s resolve to rid the country of high level corruption which Muluzi is having difficulty with and, recently in Mangochi he described the arrests as “arbitrary and political persecution” as it has affected most of his aides.

Meanwhile, sources say, a committee has been set up which is being co-chaired by UDF strategist and also deputy director of research, Humphrey Mvula and Brown Mpinganjira, formerly of the disbanded National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Included in the committee is former top cop who has just been rejected by the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of parliament for a diplomatic posting to Ethiopia, Joseph Aironi and the leader of the backbenchers in parliament, Leonard Mangulama.

It is also reported that the committee’s first task is to target all the MPs who come from the Southern region to woo them into supporting the idea.

When contacted Muluzi’s spokesperson Sam Mpasu acknowledged that the idea has been mooted but said it was not yet appropriate for Muluzi and the UDF party to impeach Mutharika.

“But is not entirely true and at the moment it is just pure speculation,” said Mpasu adding; “After all, where is Parliament going to meet. It has no home,” he joked.

Mpasu also said that Mvula, Mpinganjira and Mangulama could not be involved in those plans as both of them are strong and loyal UDF members.

When The Chronicle attempted to contact Mvula and Mpinganjira, their phone numbers went unanswered.

This is not the first time for Muluzi to canvass for support from the MPs to fulfil personal agendas.

Between 2000 and 2003, Muluzi was accused of spending millions of tax payer’s money in buying support from MPs from the opposition to vote in favour of his failed Third Term and Open Term Bills despite widespread disapproval from Malawians.

Party sources say Muluzi wants Bingu removed as Head of State so that his Vice Cassim Chilumpha, who has sided with Muluzi, takes over as President.

The Malawi Constitution under Section 86 says, the President or the first Vice President shall be removed from office where the President or the first Vice President has been indicted or convicted by impeachment.

The constitution further states that indictment and conviction by impeachment shall only be on the grounds of ‘serious violation’ of the Constitution or a ‘serious breach of the written laws of the Republic’ that either occurred or came to light during the term of office of the President or the first Vice President.

A constitutional analyst at the Chancellor College said the high profile appointments that Mutharika has made and the firing of those who occupied those positions does not amount to a serious violation of the Constitution.

The analyst said if anything Muluzi is the one who seriously violated the Constitution during his last five years in office.

The Zomba based analyst said he doubted serious minded MPs would support the motion to impeach ” the popular President” Mutharika.

Source: AllAfrica.Com
URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/200501311206.htm…/p>