Mutharika meets his predecessor to ease tensions

Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika met his predecessor Bakili Muluzi last week to iron out differences that have threatened the stability of the ruling party, the United Democratic Front (UDF). No official details were released of the three hour meeting held last Wednesday in Zomba, in the south of the country, to heal the split triggered by Mutharika's launch of an anti-corruption drive, which netted several senior UDF officials who had served under Muluzi. Chancellor College political analyst Boniface Dulani said that while he welcomed the move by the two leaders to talk face to face rather than exchanging barbs in the media, "I personally do not see much being achieved because both leaders are so entrenched in their positions." Muluzi, who ruled Malawi for a decade, is UDF chairman and handpicked Mutharika to run as his successor. Plucked from relative political obscurity, Mutharika, a technocrat, holds no position in the party but leads the governing coalition. He has faced opposition from some senior UDF officials loyal to Muluzi. In November UDF executive member Dumbo Lemani, together with John Chikakwiya, the governor for the Southern Region, alleged that the party had rigged the May elections to put Mutharika in power. "The issue in UDF goes beyond the two leaders. They can agree between themselves but their supporters will not," Dulani told IRIN. "There are some UDF supporters who support Muluzi much more than the party." A day after the meeting in Zomba, Mutharika called on all his detractors to "leave me alone to run the affairs of government" and urged unity among Malawians for the sake of the development of the country. Mutharika and Muluzi are due to meet again in January, according to government and UDF sources.