2005-10-27,+Malawi+parliament+suspended,+B+Day

Business Day, 26 October 2005 = Malawi parliament suspended after violent protests = Sapa-AFP

BLANTYRE - Malawi has temporarily suspended its parliament after a violent protest by supporters of embattled President Bingu wa Mutharika, who faces the threat of impeachment, state television reported today.

Speaker Louis Chimango suspended parliament late yesterday after demonstrators smashed at least five cars belonging to opposition lawmakers, who are currently trying to impeach Mutharika, forcing them to leave the building via a back route.

Chimango told lawmakers in the administrative capital Lilongwe that he was suspending parliament until this afternoon, provided that “the security situation improved and that there were no threats that State House would again be stormed."

“Nowhere in the world can people hold hostage their own parliament,” Chimango was quoted as saying in a broadcast of parliamentary proceedings on Television Malawi.

The demonstration led by Harry Makandawire, a leading member of Mutharika’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), started peacefully in the city centre yesterday afternoon, but turned violent as the group approached State House, where parliament is based, police said.

The group carried placards which voiced support for Mutharika and denounced former president Bakili Muluzi, while protesters chanted “we want food and not impeachment. We will not tolerate impeachment."

“Many lawmakers had to use another dusty road to drive to safety when the House adjourned to avoid protesters who did not leave the gates of parliament until early last night” police spokesman Willie Mwaluka said.

“Demonstrators smashed five vehicles and two protestors were arrested for malicious damage to property,” he added.

“Parliament at this time is under siege,” added George Mtafu, parliamentary leader of the Muluzi’s former ruling United Democratic Front (UDF).

“MPs said they were turning back as they could not enter the gates yesterday,” Mtafu said.

Malawi is in political upheaval with opposition parties moving to have Mutharika impeached, a move that if successful would be a first for Africa.

He is expected to appear in parliament Thursday to answer to the charges.

A formal vote on the impeachment motion is due to be taken shortly afterwards and would require a two-thirds majority to be adopted.

After that, Mutharika will face an impeachment tribunal which is to take the final decision on his fate.

Critics accuse Mutharika of having flouted the constitution by summarily sacking senior government officials and for using public funds and resources to support his newly formed DPP.

The impeachment move started after Mutharika fell out with his mentor and predecessor Muluzi, and founded his own political party after winning elections on a Muluzi ticket in May 2004.

From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/world.aspx?ID=BD4A105748