Political crisis may hinder aid, UK tells Malawi

BLANTYRE – Opposition attempts to impeach Malawi’s president have sparked a political crisis that could hinder international aid to millions of hunger victims in the southern African country, a major donor warned yesterday.

The face-off between President Bingu wa Mutharika and opponents who accuse him of violating the constitution comes comes amid United Nations warnings that malnutrition levels in Malawi are rising faster than expected. “Government is distracted.Parliament has lost focus.In a turbulent political environment donors could find it increasingly difficult to play the part they want,” British High Commissioner David Pearey told Reuters in an interview.About five million people face food shortages – almost half the population – after staple crops failed.AIDS has also taken a deadly toll on farmers and breadwinners.Malawi’s parliament is expected to debate an impeachment motion against the president when it convenes between October 11 to 25.INSULTS UNHELPFUL The United Democratic Front, under whose banner wa Mutharika took office last year, wants to impeach him – accusing the president of violating the constitution and misuse of state cash to buy a car and to pay for his grandchildren’s education.”It is a simple fact that, if the political and government process becomes dysfunctional, the channels for directing assistance to those most in need weaken,” Pearey said.He said it was time for Malawi’s political elite to engage in open debate free of recriminations to solve the problems of one of the poorest countries in the world.He said public trading of insults by figures on all sides of Malawi’s political divide was unhelpful.Britain is Malawi’s biggest bilateral donor and its aid is estimated at 60 million pounds (about N$672 million) this year.It has pledged a further 100 million pounds (N$1,1 billion) to help improve the country’s health sector.Analysts say that after failing to win support from other opposition parliamentary groups, wa Mutharika could now be vulnerable to any impeachment vote.”He is now more vulnerable than last July because he goes into parliament with less support after the fallout between him and (former Water Minister) Gwanda Chakuamba, who commands 15 MPs,” Blantyre analyst Boniface Dulani said.Chakuamba, leader of the small Republican Party, was sacked last month amid investigations into his use of donor funds.Wa Mutharika has made the fight against corruption the hallmark of his administration since winning the presidency in May last year, earning praise from international lenders but isolating him from former allies in the administration of his predecessor Bakili Muluzi.In the last parliamentary sitting legislators listed 11 grounds to indict the president, claiming that he violated the law when he decided to quit the UDF, the party that propelled him to power, and form another one instead.- Nampa-Reuters”Government is distracted.Parliament has lost focus.In a turbulent political environment donors could find it increasingly difficult to play the part they want,” British High Commissioner David Pearey told Reuters in an interview.About five million people face food shortages – almost half the population – after staple crops failed.AIDS has also taken a deadly toll on farmers and breadwinners.Malawi’s parliament is expected to debate an impeachment motion against the president when it convenes between October 11 to 25. INSULTS UNHELPFUL The United Democratic Front, under whose banner wa Mutharika took office last year, wants to impeach him – accusing the president of violating the constitution and misuse of state cash to buy a car and to pay for his grandchildren’s education.”It is a simple fact that, if the political and government process becomes dysfunctional, the channels for directing assistance to those most in need weaken,” Pearey said.He said it was time for Malawi’s political elite to engage in open debate free of recriminations to solve the problems of one of the poorest countries in the world.He said public trading of insults by figures on all sides of Malawi’s political divide was unhelpful.Britain is Malawi’s biggest bilateral donor and its aid is estimated at 60 million pounds (about N$672 million) this year.It has pledged a further 100 million pounds (N$1,1 billion) to help improve the country’s health sector.Analysts say that after failing to win support from other opposition parliamentary groups, wa Mutharika could now be vulnerable to any impeachment vote.”He is now more vulnerable than last July because he goes into parliament with less support after the fallout between him and (former Water Minister) Gwanda Chakuamba, who commands 15 MPs,” Blantyre analyst Boniface Dulani said.Chakuamba, leader of the small Republican Party, was sacked last month amid investigations into his use of donor funds.Wa Mutharika has made the fight against corruption the hallmark of his administration since winning the presidency in May last year, earning praise from international lenders but isolating him from former allies in the administration of his predecessor Bakili Muluzi.In the last parliamentary sitting legislators listed 11 grounds to indict the president, claiming that he violated the law when he decided to quit the UDF, the party that propelled him to power, and form another one instead.- Nampa-Reuters