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The Chronicle / afrol News, 17 February - While millions of Malawians are facing drought and hunger, the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) is spending funds and time on preparing an amendment to the constitution allowing President Bakili Muluzi to stand for a third term. Now, even UDF representatives are distancing themselves. A proposal to amend the constitution has failed two times in the Malawian parliament, where a two thirds majority is needed. The UDF campaign has included political violence against the opposition and the press. Now, UDF officials reveal there has been spent significant amounts in these campaigns, including election campaigning materials from abroad and regular bribes of opposition MPs. Some UDF luminaries are undecided as to how to proceed following the failure of attempts to create the constitutional amendment. The failure has created a lot of anger in the UDF with the President now making ambiguous and confusing statements about his position at public rallies. Reports reaching 'The Chronicle' indicate that more than kwacha 12 million (about US$ 140,000) has already been spent on campaign material depicting the incumbent president as the party¹s candidate in next year¹s elections, an inside source has disclosed. However, according to the current legal situation, Mr Muluzi is banned from candidating. The source, a UDF luminary who opted for anonymity, revealed that several UDF regional governors, together with a few UDF National Executive Committee members managed to convince the state president to approve the spending saying that the majority of people in the country were of the opinion that he 'had to stand' for a third term of office, hence the need to have campaign materials prepared in advance. The anonymous party source says these people had "misled the president". They had done this "in the interest of lining their pockets with the president's money," he added, telling him that they would ensure a 'Yes' vote so they "could confidently prepare campaign materials ahead of next year's elections." - Twelve million [kwacha] was spent on the printing and transportation of yellow UDF T-shirts bearing Muluzi's face as the party's presidential candidate, clothe wraps (zitenje), peaked caps and plates with the smiling portrait of the president. These came from South Africa, he added. The anonymous UDF source claims there are indications of the disunity in our party because central players had not been informed. "At least we should all be briefed that this was going on so that at least we know," further said the source. The disunity in the ruling party is further emphasised by the recent expulsions from the UDF after several high officials had indicated one should respect parliament's 'No' to amend the constitution. Several ministers have been thrown out of office after refusing to propagate a constitutional amendment. The last victim of these expulsions was former Trade Minister Peter Kaleso, dismissed in January. A named provincial governor however rejects these critiques when interviewed by 'The Chronicle'. "There is nothing wrong with having campaign material printed or distributing them ahead of any election. We have no special time to distribute these materials because we believe that any time is campaign time for the UDF, says Governor Mussa. But the party leadership is also increasingly being criticised internally by UDF officials for channelling large amounts of funds to the opposition's MPS, bribing them to vote in favour of an amendment to legalise Mr Muluzi's third term. Many opposition MPs had voted in favour of the amendment. MPs from the ruling party have characterised this flow of funds towards the opposition as treason. It was unadvisable to channel funds to "outsiders with no loyalty" when they themselves had shown their open support to the president, without receiving any compensation.
Based on an article by Mallick Mnela in 'The Chronicle', Lilongwe (Malawi). Distributed though Misanet (Windhoek), adjusted by afrol News.
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