The president of Malawi has died

Publius · April 2012

He had a heart attack. I'm on my phone so I can't link.

Publius · April 2012

My head is spinning. There was talk of him holding onto power forever like Mugabe and he did some things that really hurt the country, but I can't help but wonder who will replace him.

Sibil · April 2012

He's been president forever, right? I think you, mxolisi, and I are the only people here who even think about malawi?

Publius · April 2012

The succession is going to be a giant clusterf*ck. The state media is reporting that he's still alive, but doctors and cabinet members are saying he died yesterday. Under the constitution, if the president dies or is incapacitated the vice president becomes president. But Vice Preaident Banda and President Mutharika got into an argument about succession (she didn't think he should have been running again) about a year ago and he had her expelled from the party. His brother, the foreign minister, is running with him for the 2014 election and has essentially been acting as President during the President's incapasitation.

Sibil · April 2012

Hmmm, all the people I knew well there have left. Honestly, when you're literally the poorest country in the world, who's going to pay attention? Who's going to think it matters? They'd been effed for so long I don't think anyone cares.

Publius · April 2012

Sibil:
He's been president forever, right? I think you, mxolisi, and I are the only people here who even think about malawi?

This is only his second term, but the Preaident of Malawi is constitutionally limited to two terms and he was running again.

Sibil · April 2012

Publius:
Sibil:
He's been president forever, right? I think you, mxolisi, and I are the only people here who even think about malawi?
This is only his second term, but the Preaident of Malawi is constitutionally limited to two terms and he was running again.

ok, so he wasn't the same guy who legalized pants for women in the 90s? I honestly don't know much about the country except what I saw/experienced.

Publius · April 2012

It's sad how much it is starting to resemble what has happened in Zim. We might actually be moving to Lilongwe after KL, so I might be seeing the aftermath of all of this.

Publius · April 2012

Sibil:
Publius:
Sibil:
He's been president forever, right? I think you, mxolisi, and I are the only people here who even think about malawi?
This is only his second term, but the Preaident of Malawi is constitutionally limited to two terms and he was running again.
ok, so he wasn't the same guy who legalized pants for women in the 90s? I honestly don't know much about the country except what I saw/experienced.

No. Terms are only five years and since the next elections are in 2014, he's only been president since 2004.

Sibil · April 2012

That's kinda crazy, although llwe had a cool expat community from what I saw. However, I need to be sleeping. We can talk later when I read more. I also want to hear about your nz trip

Sibil · April 2012

Publius:
Sibil:
Publius:
Sibil:
He's been president forever, right? I think you, mxolisi, and I are the only people here who even think about malawi?
This is only his second term, but the Preaident of Malawi is constitutionally limited to two terms and he was running again.
ok, so he wasn't the same guy who legalized pants for women in the 90s? I honestly don't know much about the country except what I saw/experienced.
No. Terms are only five years and since the next elections are in 2014, he's only been president since 2004.

I was there in 2007 and still had to wear a skirt in the villages, although interestingly enough, the company I worked for had a franchise office there. It was weird to see a tech company in a place with unreliable electricity.

Publius · April 2012

When I was there in 2006 I was strongly encouraged to wear one in the third largest city of Mzuzu as well. It's a crazy place but I love it. Kind of hoping the posting there works out.

Publius · April 2012

Sorry, dupe.

mxolisi · April 2012

I think this has been predicted for a few days. He has not been well. Unfortunately Mali is already in the news and the world can't possibly take two stories about messy regime change in 2 African countries whose names begin with Mal at once.

Publius · April 2012

Yeah, the only real news coverage I'm seeing is on the BBC an I think that probably has seething to do with the semi-recent diplomatic row between the two governments.

LittleMoxie · April 2012

Publius:
The succession is going to be a giant clusterf*ck. The state media is reporting that he's still alive, but doctors and cabinet members are saying he died yesterday. Under the constitution, if the president dies or is incapacitated the vice president becomes president. But Vice Preaident Banda and President Mutharika got into an argument about succession (she didn't think he should have been running again) about a year ago and he had her expelled from the party. His brother, the foreign minister, is running with him for the 2014 election and has essentially been acting as President during the President's incapasitation.

Does expelling someone from the party automatically make them lose their position in the government? I don't see why Banda still isn't VP. Yes, I realize that obviously people are not exactly following the letter of the law anyway, but I'm just wondering on the exact effects of being booted out of the party.

What's better - a peaceful solution to end up with an authoritarian in power with no respect for the rule of law, or a civil war where there is hope to get someone better? I'd probably prefer the peaceful solution, as a civil war is no guarantee you don't get another strong man. Perhaps that is short-sighted though.

mxolisi · April 2012

I just talked to my friend in Zomba. Apparently many believe the president is still alive...and the national media has conflicting reports.

Hoping this does not go in a comical Yar'Adua direction.

Publius · April 2012

LittleMoxie:
Publius:
The succession is going to be a giant clusterf*ck. The state media is reporting that he's still alive, but doctors and cabinet members are saying he died yesterday. Under the constitution, if the president dies or is incapacitated the vice president becomes president. But Vice Preaident Banda and President Mutharika got into an argument about succession (she didn't think he should have been running again) about a year ago and he had her expelled from the party. His brother, the foreign minister, is running with him for the 2014 election and has essentially been acting as President during the President's incapasitation.

Does expelling someone from the party automatically make them lose their position in the government? I don't see why Banda still isn't VP. Yes, I realize that obviously people are not exactly following the letter of the law anyway, but I'm just wondering on the exact effects of being booted out of the party.

What's better - a peaceful solution to end up with an authoritarian in power with no respect for the rule of law, or a civil war where there is hope to get someone better? I'd probably prefer the peaceful solution, as a civil war is no guarantee you don't get another strong man. Perhaps that is short-sighted though.

Mrs. Banda is still the VP. She just isn't in the party any more. For all I know of her she seems pretty level headed. If the constitution is actually followed this could end up being a very good thing for Malawi.

LittleMoxie · April 2012

Publius:
LittleMoxie:

Publius:
The succession is going to be a giant clusterf*ck. The state media is reporting that he's still alive, but doctors and cabinet members are saying he died yesterday. Under the constitution, if the president dies or is incapacitated the vice president becomes president. But Vice Preaident Banda and President Mutharika got into an argument about succession (she didn't think he should have been running again) about a year ago and he had her expelled from the party. His brother, the foreign minister, is running with him for the 2014 election and has essentially been acting as President during the President's incapasitation.

Does expelling someone from the party automatically make them lose their position in the government? I don't see why Banda still isn't VP. Yes, I realize that obviously people are not exactly following the letter of the law anyway, but I'm just wondering on the exact effects of being booted out of the party.

What's better - a peaceful solution to end up with an authoritarian in power with no respect for the rule of law, or a civil war where there is hope to get someone better? I'd probably prefer the peaceful solution, as a civil war is no guarantee you don't get another strong man. Perhaps that is short-sighted though.

Mrs. Banda is still the VP. She just isn't in the party any more. For all I know of her she seems pretty level headed. If the constitution is actually followed this could end up being a very good thing for Malawi.

Is there any news on her reaction to the reports? Who (Mrs. Banda or the president's brother) has more support within the country? It sounds like the brother, but hopefully enough people recognize the value in sticking to the Constitution and working towards rule of law.

Publius · April 2012

mxolisi:
I just talked to my friend in Zomba. Apparently many believe the president is still alive...and the national media has conflicting reports.
Hoping this does not go in a comical Yar'Adua direction.

Yeah, the national media is reporting he's alive in RSA being treated, but the doctors who treated him in RSA have said he's died. It wouldn't surprise me if they insisted he was still alive when he wasn't just to head off the succession problem.

Publius · April 2012

LittleMoxie:
Publius:
LittleMoxie:

Publius:
The succession is going to be a giant clusterf*ck. The state media is reporting that he's still alive, but doctors and cabinet members are saying he died yesterday. Under the constitution, if the president dies or is incapacitated the vice president becomes president. But Vice Preaident Banda and President Mutharika got into an argument about succession (she didn't think he should have been running again) about a year ago and he had her expelled from the party. His brother, the foreign minister, is running with him for the 2014 election and has essentially been acting as President during the President's incapasitation.

Does expelling someone from the party automatically make them lose their position in the government? I don't see why Banda still isn't VP. Yes, I realize that obviously people are not exactly following the letter of the law anyway, but I'm just wondering on the exact effects of being booted out of the party.

What's better - a peaceful solution to end up with an authoritarian in power with no respect for the rule of law, or a civil war where there is hope to get someone better? I'd probably prefer the peaceful solution, as a civil war is no guarantee you don't get another strong man. Perhaps that is short-sighted though.

Mrs. Banda is still the VP. She just isn't in the party any more. For all I know of her she seems pretty level headed. If the constitution is actually followed this could end up being a very good thing for Malawi.

Is there any news on her reaction to the reports? Who (Mrs. Banda or the president's brother) has more support within the country? It sounds like the brother, but hopefully enough people recognize the value in sticking to the Constitution and working towards rule of law.

All I've read from her is that she doesn't know what is going on and hasn't spoken to him in a year.

The president of Malawi has died

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