Malawi votes for president in latest round of feud

BLANTYRE – Voters were choosing yesterday between re-electing Malawi’s president or replacing him with a candidate backed by his predecessor – in the latest round in a five-year feud that has triggered rioting, an impeachment bid and parliamentary paralysis.

The race between President Bingu wa Mutharika and challenger John Tembo was too close to predict going into the polls. Five other candidates were running, but were not considered serious contenders.Mutharika, a 75-year-old former World Bank official, is credited with bringing economic gains to the southern African nation of 12 million – one of the world’s poorest.Tembo, 77, was a leading figure in the dictatorship of Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who ruled from the end of British rule in 1964 until 1994.He also has the backing of Mutharika’s predecessor and rival, Bakili Muluzi – who in 2004 had supported Mutharika’s first run for the presidency.Malawi, which has enjoyed relative peace and stability in the past decade, may be better known as the place where pop star Madonna has fought adoption battles and launched a development project for 1 million orphans.Parliament has been paralysed, however, by the feud between Mutharika and Muluzi. The two sides have accused one another of coup and assassination plots, and Mutharika faced down efforts to have him impeached.The two fell out after Mutharika won the 2005 vote, with Muluzi’s help, and arrested senior officials of Muluzi’s party on fraud and corruption charges. Muluzi himself is being tried on charges of siphoning $10 million from donor countries, but insists the charges are politically motivated.Annie Msapha said yesterday she was voting for Tembo in hopes that he would end the squabbling that has distracted leaders from dealing with the country’s problems.The ongoing feud shows Mutharika ‘has no leadership skills,’ the 27-year-old secretary said.Other voters saw Tembo as a threat to the country’s democratic and economic progress.’I don’t want John Tembo to steal government,’ recent university graduate Aubrey Phiri said after voting.Early voting was peaceful, with long lines at polls in the commercial capital.Nearly 6 million voters were registered, and were also choosing members of the 193-seat parliament. Results are expected tomorrow. – Nampa-AP