JOHANNESBURG - The United States expressed concern about the future of the impoverished African nation of Malawi on Friday after a swirl of reports that its heart-attack stricken president had died, suggesting that the delay in an official announcement reflected possible succession problems.
Medical and government officials in Lilongwe, the Malawian capital, said the president, Bingu wa Mutharika, died after suffering a heart attack Thursday. But the government has not announced his death. Instead, Information Minister Patrice Kaliati announced on the radio in Malawi late Friday that the president was receiving medical treatment in South Africa and that she would update his condition after speaking to his doctors Saturday morning.
Joyce Banda, the country’s vice president and the next in line for the presidency under Malawi’s constitution, said in a brief statement to a private radio station that she had sought clarification from the government of South Africa on the president’s condition but did not say what reply she received.
The minister had frequently stood in for his brother during the president’s absences. On Friday, the president’s party announced that Peter Mutharika would take over as party president, but made no mention of the president’s condition.
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"Malawi acknowledges president’s death after two days" April 08, 2012|By Donna Bryson
BLANTYRE, Malawi - Malawi has known rule by Britain and by a mercurial dictator. Over the last few days, however, it was not clear who was leading this impoverished southern African country, as doctors disclosed that President Bingu wa Mutharika had died but the government insisted he was only ill.
In the end, Joyce Banda, who had held onto her post of vice president despite falling out with Mutharika, was sworn in on Saturday in a brief ceremony in Lilongwe, the capital. Earlier, she held a news conference at which she was flanked by Cabinet ministers, the army commander, and the national police chief and announced a period of mourning for her predecessor.
The Malawi government only confirmed the president’s death on Saturday, two days after the leader of the impoverished southern African country died and a day after it was announced by doctors.
The delay in announcing Mutharika’s death and allowing Banda to step in led to speculation that politicians were squabbling over succession.
Banda may have to contend with powerful enemies at home as she tries to lead her country out of economic crisis and repair relations with international donors with whom Mutharika had clashed.
Gift Mwakhawa, president of the Law Society of Malawi, is convinced that some members of the Cabinet tried to stop Banda from taking over, even though Malawi’s constitution makes it clear that power should pass to the vice president if the president dies.
“Most Malawians wanted the constitution to prevail,’’ Mwakhawa said. “The security forces wanted the constitution to prevail. And the constitution has prevailed.’’
Under the constitution, Banda will serve out Mutharika’s term, which ends in early 2014. Mutharika first won office in 2004 and was reelected in 2009.
Doctors, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters, said the 78-year-old Mutharika died Thursday, before his body was flown to South Africa. Taking the body to South Africa was apparently done to buy time for politicians to work out a succession plan.
Local and international media had carried reports of his death since Thursday, and Malawians had furiously discussed it among themselves and on social media platforms.
When Mutharika first came to power, he was backed by his predecessor, Bakili Muluzi. A feud ensued after Mutharika had Muluzi charged with corruption and fraud. Mutharika left the ruling party to establish his own. Political bickering between the two men led to extensive legislative delays, rioting, a failed impeachment bid, and accusations of coup and assassination plots.
John Kapito, chairman of the Malawi Human Rights Commission, said more bickering could lie ahead. Men who had gained power under Mutharika may not give it up without a political fight. Among them is Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Arthur Mutharika, the late president’s brother.
President Mutharika had favored his brother after clashing with Banda, naming him as acting president when he traveled. The president did not have time to consolidate the succession before his heart attack, which took many by surprise.
The late president’s party named his brother as its president on Friday, though it did not then confirm that Mutharika had died.
“She will be tested,’’ Kapito said of Malawi’s first female president.
Banda, 62, takes over a country in which shortages of sugar, fuel, and other commodities have created long, restive lines at shops and service stations.
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Related: Bingu wa Mutharika, 78, autocratic president of Malawi
Also see: Malawians on the March
