Misanet / The Chronicle, 28 June - Malawi's ex-President and ruling UDF party leader Bakili Muluzi is moving from Blantyre, where he lived all through his presidency, to the capital, Lilongwe. He thus follows the move of President Bingu wa Mutharika and there concerns Mr Muluzi will attempt to influence Malawi's new leader.

Ahead of the next sitting of Parliament, Malawi's former Head of State Bakili Muluzi, who is also chairperson of the United Democratic Front (UDF) party has, after 10 years of adamantly refusing to do so while President, moved from his BCA Hill mansion in Blantyre to take up semi permanent residence in Lilongwe, 'The Chronicle' has learnt.

Sources in government said ex-President Muluzi was to move to Lilongwe on Saturday last, ahead of the Parliamentary session which starts today (Monday) where MPs are expected to elect a Speaker of the House, among other important state business.

The sources said Mr Muluzi occupies a government rented house in Lilongwe's Area 43, which was previously the official residence of former Vice President Justin Malewezi while he was in office.

The house, which belongs to Reserve Bank of Malawi (RMB) and is leased to government, has been undergoing extensive renovations to the tune of K150 million in readiness for ex-President Muluzi's occupancy.

An official at Knight Frank - whose company administers the property on behalf of the RBM - said so far, there was no indication that a new lease agreement had been signed to indicate a new change of ownership of the house.

It is alleged that Mr Muluzi has moved to Lilongwe to be physically close to his successor, President Bingu wa Mutharika who, as part of his pledge to create a leaner, more efficient government machinery decided he would operate from Lilongwe rather than from Sanjika Palace in Blantyre. Both Mr Muluzi and Malawi's first President Kamuzu Banda preferred to manage their national agendas and live in the pleasant, southern city of Blantyre when they were Heads of State.

- As the President has ordered, all government business will be taking place in Lilongwe, one source told 'The Chronicle'. "Muluzi wants to take party business to Lilongwe as well and be in close touch with Mutharika. This only shows that Mutharika will continue to take directives by Muluzi," the source ruefully said.

There was no immediate comment from government. Information Minister Ken Lipenga could not be reached as his phone was constantly on his answering machine while Acting Secretary to President and cabinet Bright Msaka was reported to be locked up in meetings all day Friday.

The actions of the UDF chairperson has raised fears that he would continue to rule, through the back door causing civil society organisations to threaten that they would push for legislation to bar former presidents from engaging in politics after they retire from office and their mandate has expired.

During the swearing in of cabinet ministers in Blantyre recently, President Mutharika ordered them to pack their bags and operate from Lilongwe arguing that it made no economic sense for the President and his ministers to operate from Blantyre while government headquarters, parliament and Malawi's development partners were all housed in the capital, Lilongwe.

Meanwhile, most of the ministers who have their homes in Blantyre are putting up in hotels due to the lack of adequate housing. The arrangement to have all the ministers live and operate from Lilongwe is currently costing government kwacha 8 million (euro 60,000) per day in hotel bills.

Information Minister Ken Lipenga, who confirmed the development, said the ministers are waiting for houses, which are undergoing maintenance after many of the former cabinet ministers, who lost in the elections, were not included in President Mutharika's starting line-up.

Mr Lipenga, who is also Tourism Minister, described the arrangement to have ministers booked into hotels in the capital as a boost to tourism and only a temporary measure.

Ex-President Muluzi's move to Lilongwe has caught Malawians by surprise with many voicing concern, especially in the private sector that President Mutharika's efforts to turn the economy around, which the former president allowed to shrink and decline will not be given an opportunity to succeed.

A ray of hope, enthusiasm and optimism followed the swearing in of the new president, which was fuelled by his largely positive inaugural speech. The move to Lilongwe by Mr Muluzi is interpreted as being unnecessary and a distinct damper to economic recovery.

By Levison Mwase

© afrol News / The Chronicle

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