Kaunda to help resolve political impasse

Political analysts have welcomed former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda's willingness to resolve the political crisis in Malawi. Kaunda arrived in the capital, Lilongwe on Wednesday to mediate between President Bingu wa Mutharika and his political rivals, former president of the country and now chairman of the United Democratic Front (UDF) party, Bakili Muluzi, and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader, John Tembo. Last month the UDF proposed a motion to amend the constitution to allow MPs to impeach Mutharika and his deputy because the president had left the UDF, which sponsored him in the national elections. The political bickering has delayed the approval of the national budget, causing widespread concern over the impact of the political impasse on the country's economy. The UN has also expressed its disquiet. Rafiq Hajat, Executive Director of the Institute for Policy Interaction, a local think-tank, told IRIN, "This is a welcome development - Kaunda is one of the right persons for the job [of mediation]. I expect Kaunda to come out with a working agreement between the two sides." "We have a lot of problems that we are facing as a country, such as hunger, diseases and unemployment. It is not good for politicians to be fighting instead of tackling the problems," he commented. Information Minister Ken Lipenga said the government was prepared to iron out its differences with the opposition. The Public Affairs Committee (PAC), a grouping of religious organisations, has been mediating between the two rival groups. PAC chairman Boniface Tamani said the talks were "going on well, and the two sides are ready to sort out their differences".