The problems facing Malawi’s president, Bingu Wa Mutharika, seem to be increasing. Lawmakers have announced they are planning to impeach him, saying he’s committed more than 10 violations of the constitution, including the creation of a 100 million dollar loan fund for the poor without parliamentary approval.
President Mutharika left his United Democratic Front party in February, in part over his campaign against corruption. Many in the UDF were angry when they became targets. The president had also been wrestling with former president Bakili Muluzi over control of the party.
Nixon Khembo is a political scientist at the Center for Social Research at the University of Malawi in Zomba. He told English to Africa reporter William Eagle that he does not think President Mutharika has committed an impeachable offence. And, he says critics have not yet presented evidence that the president has misspent money from the loan fund.
Mr. Khembo says even though Mr. Mutharika has quit the ruling party, he may survive by strengthening his own new party, the Democratic Progressive Party, and by entering a coalition with smaller parties in parliament
