Yearbook 2008
Malawi. According to
Countryaah reports, a long run-up to the 2009 presidential election
marked political life throughout the year in Malawi. Former
President Bakili Muluzi, who was forced to resign in 2004
after a maximum of two terms of office, was named in April
by his party the UDF (United Democratic Front) presidential
candidate. The government claimed that this violated the
Constitution.
Shortly thereafter, the country was shaken by information
about a coup attempt against President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Several prominent members of the UDF were arrested, as was a
former national police chief and a former army chief.
Muluzi, who was abroad, was accused of participating in the
coup attempt and arrested on his return. However, all but
one of the arrested were released against the bail after a
short time and the charges ebbed out.
Muluzi was subjected to continued harassment and was
prevented by police from holding a post-release election. A
radio station owned by his family was closed, but the
license was revived shortly after. In July, a court granted
Muluzi the right to reappoint. The Court pointed out that
the Constitution does not explicitly prohibit an
ex-president from running for office after standing in
office for a term of office.
In January, the government decided that those of the
country's 120,000 government employees infected with HIV
would receive up to 50 percent higher salaries in order to
buy better food. In October, however, wages were lowered
again and the HIV-infected were offered food products
instead. The change was explained by the fact that salary
increases were not always used correctly.
In March, the government announced that birth
certificates should be issued to all citizens. The intention
is to avoid mistakes in connection with adoption cases,
something that came to light when the artist Madonna in 2006
adopted a child who was thought to be an orphan but where it
turned out that the father was alive. Malawi has very
defective laws for the protection of children and according
to the UN agency ILO (International Labor Organization) it
is common for children to be sold as labor or for sexual
exploitation.
|
