Malawi’s president seeks opposition talks amid crisis

BLANTYRE – Malawi’s president yesterday sought talks with opposition parties which are trying both to impeach him and to vote down the 2005/06 budget crucial to securing new International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid.

“My government will keep an open-door policy. As Malawians we must move forward by uniting to work together despite our political differences,” President Bingu wa Mutharika said in an independence day radio address.Wa Mutharika’s speech appeared to mark a step toward resolving a political crisis sparked by his campaign against official corruption.The southern African nation is ranked by the World Bank as one of the globe’s poorest countries with more than three-quarters of its population living below the poverty threshold of US$1 a day.Wa Mutharika has angered members of the dominant United Democratic Front (UDF) by pushing anti-graft efforts targeting associates of his predecessor Bakili Muluzi, who remains a formidable political force.Wa Mutharika survived an impeachment motion two weeks ago when parliament went in recess after the speaker of the house collapsed and later died – delaying a vote on the 2005/2006 budget which is key to securing a new IMF aid package.Wa Mutharika’s opponents in parliament have said they will vote down the budget after the legislature reconvenes this week, and may also resurrect the impeachment motion.Wa Mutharika took office under the UDF banner last year but has since resigned from the party, leaving him vulnerable to votes in parliament where he has few official allies.The UDF has accused him of violating the constitution by dropping out of the party that fielded him as a candidate as well as of misusing government funds to buy a Mercedes and to pay for his grandchildren’s education.- Nampa-ReutersAs Malawians we must move forward by uniting to work together despite our political differences,” President Bingu wa Mutharika said in an independence day radio address.Wa Mutharika’s speech appeared to mark a step toward resolving a political crisis sparked by his campaign against official corruption.The southern African nation is ranked by the World Bank as one of the globe’s poorest countries with more than three-quarters of its population living below the poverty threshold of US$1 a day.Wa Mutharika has angered members of the dominant United Democratic Front (UDF) by pushing anti-graft efforts targeting associates of his predecessor Bakili Muluzi, who remains a formidable political force.Wa Mutharika survived an impeachment motion two weeks ago when parliament went in recess after the speaker of the house collapsed and later died – delaying a vote on the 2005/2006 budget which is key to securing a new IMF aid package.Wa Mutharika’s opponents in parliament have said they will vote down the budget after the legislature reconvenes this week, and may also resurrect the impeachment motion.Wa Mutharika took office under the UDF banner last year but has since resigned from the party, leaving him vulnerable to votes in parliament where he has few official allies.The UDF has accused him of violating the constitution by dropping out of the party that fielded him as a candidate as well as of misusing government funds to buy a Mercedes and to pay for his grandchildren’s education.- Nampa-Reuters