EU denies interfering in election

The European Union (EU) election observer mission to Malawi has denied an allegation by outgoing President Bakili Muluzi that foreign observers were campaigning for the opposition ahead of the 18 May poll. "We refute [the charge] that the observers are interfering with the election," deputy head of the EU mission, Alistair Baird, told IRIN. The 22-member EU team is the only foreign observer mission currently in the country for the presidential and legislative poll. "We have experienced observers [in the team], who have observed elections in a lot of countries," noted Baird. Muluzi reportedly told a weekend rally in the northern town of Mzuzu that he would expel international observers found to be partisan. "I want the foreign observers to hear this ... their duty should be to observe, and not conduct elections. If they come here to decampaign my government, I will ask them to leave the country," Muluzi, who retires in May after two terms, was quoted as saying. The EU, which is partly funding Malawi's third multi-party elections since 1994, was invited by Malawi's electoral commission to observe the ballot, AFP reported. Observers from the Commonwealth are due to arrive later. "We take [Muluzi's comments] as a warning to all observers that they stick to the task of observing," said Baird. Malawi has had a strained relationship with some Western donors over accusations of corruption and overspending, leading to embargoes on financial aid by major European governments as well as the International Monetary Fund, which were lifted early this year. Up to 80 percent of Malawi's development budget is funded by donors. "There is a perception about Western donor intentions vis-a-vis his [Muluzi's] government ... The fear is that the donors want a change of government," Rafiq Hajat, co-director of Malawi's Institute for Policy Interaction told IRIN. "Certainly over the past 10 years, economic performance has been well below what it should have been and corruption has shot up so high that the donor community has made critical comments, indicating dissatisfaction," said Hajat. Muluzi has also slammed civil society organisations and the church for their perceived support for the opposition. A broad coalition of civic groups was instrumental in preventing Muluzi from securing an amendment to the constitution to lift the two-term limit on holding presidential office. Six candidates are contesting the presidential election, with the frontrunner regarded as Bingu wa Mutharika from the governing United Democratic Front. Wa Mutharika, an economist with little political experience, has had Muluzi's energetic support on the campaign trail. According to Hajat, "unease and tension" are mounting in Malawi ahead of the poll, with fear of political violence and concern over the accuracy of the voters' roll.