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President Bakili Muluzi’s fears on his return Sunday from a two-week private visit to Europe that an opposition coalition would undermine multiparty democracy by killing the parties involved have been dismissed as “empty and uncalled for”.
On arrival from the visit which took him to the United Kingdom and Germany, President Muluzi said at Lilongwe International Airport the opposition coalition, which he said is not a threat to the UDF, would see the end of the parties “after their defeat in the general elections”.
He was asked to react to the signing of a coalition agreement by seven opposition parties forming what is called Mgwirizano Coalition.
“The coalition is not a threat at all. Actually I have always looked forward to that. But my only worry is that the arrangement is detrimental to democracy,” said Muluzi. “We chose a multiparty system where a number of parties are players. But the arrangement will see the parties involved dying out.”
Ironically his party is also forging an electoral alliance with Aford, and he boasted that with the deal in place the Mgwirizano coalition would not stand a chance.
“Anyone who knows politics knows that the UDF/Aford alliance will beat them hands down,” said Muluzi.
But political scientist Nixon Khembo said Muluzi’s view that the coalition will exterminate multiparty democracy was not correct.
“The view is empty. A coalition is not a merger. A coalition is where many parties with a common purpose come together as a strategy. A merger is where many parties dissolve into one,” said Khembo, wondering why Muluzi’s fears were selective. “Why is he forging an electoral alliance with Aford, if coming together is a threat to democracy?”
Khembo said Muluzi’s remarks of multiparty democracy “on this account are misconceived”.
“It is not the existence of political parties that creates a framework for multiparty democracy,” argued Khembo. “The framework is in our constitution.”
“Under that framework some parties can die, others will be born and yet others will go into coalitions. A threat can only emerge if someone decided to amend the constitution so that multipartyism should not longer exist.”
Muluzi also expressed concern that churches were presiding over the coalition negotiations, saying the move would undermine the integrity of the clergy and confuse the faithful.
But Khembo argued that the churches were strengthening democracy, saying by mobilising the parties they were strengthening democratic competition.
Meanwhile, Muluzi confirmed that the British Government was giving Malawi 15 million pounds in balance of payments support.
British High Commissioner to Malawi Norman Ling who was present at the press conference said his government would continue to support Malawi on condition that she remains in good books with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“We are releasing the money in tranches. We already released 5 million pounds, and we are releasing another 5 million pounds and another tranche will be released in March. But all this will depend on Malawi government’s commitment to the conditions of the IMF,” said Ling.
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