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afrol News, 5 July - Malawian President Bakili Muluzi will have to step down in two years after having served his country for 10 years. "Only" 65 percent of Malawi's Members of Parliament held that Muluzi was the only man who can head their country as an amendment to the constitution, allowing a third office term, fell only three votes short of obtaining a 2/3rds majority. President Muluzi yesterday on state radio publicly accepted defeat. He said that he held no grudges against those who opposed his third term and called for forgiveness and reconciliation. "Those that have succeeded in the present debate should as well accept the fact that they should reconcile their position with those that held opposite views so that everyone is taken on board," Muluzi said. He added that there would be no "vengeance against the people who spoke against or made negative remarks on me." Although Muluzi never had said he would want to run for a third term, he had been active in promoting the controversial amendment, which has dominated Malawian politic over the last year. His ruling party, the United Democratic Front (UDF), on the other hand has pressured strongly - at times violently - to secure a third term for Muluzi. Muluzi further has supported controversial decisions to silent the large public opposition to the amendment. Thursday's parliamentary vote over the amendment indeed was a thriller. Controlling 95 of Parliament's 192 seats, UDF needed the support of an additional 33 opposition MPs to obtain a 2/3rds majority of 128 votes. Both opposition parties - the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) - were split on the issue and the amendment was even introduced by an Aford MP. 29 opposition MPs and one independent voted for the amendment, but a total of 59 opposition votes against was enough to block it. Several of those voting against more than indicated that opposition members voting in favour had been paid by UDF. Aford MP Khwauli Msiska however explained that he would vote in favour of the amendment because it was "about empowering our people even more by enabling them to chose the president of their choice." With the amendment defeated, signs are positive for the strenghtening of democratic institutions in Malawi, observers hold. Even President Muluzi agreed, saying democracy called for "tolerance of different views," which this debate had shown. The third term debate however had not been marked by democratic practices. State media only presented the UDF position in favour of a third term and independent media crying out against the bill were repeatedly harassed by UDF militants. The increased opposition by civil society - led by Malawi's churches and civil rights groups - was met with a presidential decree, banning demonstrations and a ban on public debates in the main urban centres. The undemocratic tendencies demonstrated during the unofficial third term campaign has cost Malawi - southern Africa's poorest country - further goodwill among international partners and donors. The European Union and the United States in June warned against the amendment, thus indicating that funds again could be frozen. Muluzi's defeat, if not spoiled, could initiate the return of Malawi to the folder of donor countries' favourites. The next test of Malawi's dedication to democracy will be in the run-up to the 2004 elections.
Sources: Based on Malawi govt, 'The Chronicle' through Misanet and afrol archives
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