Post date: Apr 21, 2011 4:50:28 PM
Malawi is seeking to expel the British ambassador for criticizing the southern African country's leadership of being autocratic.
LILONGWE, MALAWI (APRIL 20, 2011) REUTERS - Malawi has given the British ambassador three days to leave the southern African country for criticizing it's leadership of being autocratic, a government statement released on Thursday (April 21).The move will likely antagonise, Britain, a major donor of aid to the impoverished country, which already faces a freeze of millions of dollars in foreign assistance from countries protesting its hostile stance towards homosexuals and a crackdown on media.
The Foreign Office said in a statement on Tuesday that Malawi is considering declaring the British high commissioner (ambassador) to the country, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, "persona non grata."
Malawi's Weekend Nation published excerpts of what it said was a March 2011 British diplomatic cable where the mission to the country said: "President (Bingu wa) Mutharika is becoming ever more autocratic and intolerant of criticism".
The newspaper did not disclose how it obtained the document. Diplomatic sources at the British mission confirmed the authenticity of the cable.
"What the High Commissioner should have done was to consult the government first and hear from their side of the story, other than just write something criticizing the government without offering even alternatives. So to me I think the High commissioner rushed," said Ramsey Khumbanyiwa, a resident of Lilongwe.
"The Government should do something on what is going on. It should think twice. Every sector of the society is talking about these ills, the media, civil society and others are all talking about the wrongs of this government and it is a wake-up call. What is needed now is contact and dialogue to come into play," said John Nkolokosa, a resident of Blantyre.
The British High Commission (embassy) press office said the ambassador was summoned by the foreign affairs minister on Monday to explain what was said in the cable.
Malawi's government is heavily dependent on foreign aid, with donor funding normally accounting for more than 40 percent of official receipts.
Mutharika has been heavily criticised by rights groups for trying to suppress free speech. The U.S. State Department said in its annual human rights report that "journalists were harassed, intimidated, and threatened with arrest."
"If indeed this directive came from the president then our worry is that the president is not beginning to open up and listening to constructive views that are coming from different people because those issues are not strange they are issues that have been discussed within the country. And now it vindicates the speculations that have been coming across the board that the president is tampering on human rights and governance issues and is not a listening man," said Billy Banda, an activist with Malawi Watch, a local rights organisation.
The government of Malawi had planned a news conference to discuss the matter but postponed the briefing.
Mutharika was re-elected in 2009 for a second five year term in office. During his first term he is credited for improving the country's food production and economy.