Muluzi denies plans for third term

Malawi President Bakili Muluzi this week denied media reports that he intended changing the country's constitution and running for a third term in 2004, news reports said. Information minister and chief government spokesman, Clement Stambuli, was quoted as saying that Muluzi would honour existing constitutional restrictions limiting presidents to two consecutive five-year terms. "The ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), of which Muluzi is president, has also just reviewed its own internal constitution to include the same limitation. We would not do this if there were plans for Muluzi to run for a third term as national president," said Stambuli.

Recently, Blantyre mayor John Chikakwiya alleged at a rally that Muluzi would seek re-election despite criticism from opposition parties and local human rights groups. UDF parliamentarian Elwin Maluwa added that the party was already preparing a motion to change the constitution.