Potential crisis looms in Malawi amid reports of president's death
By Faith Karimi, CNN
April 6, 2012 -- Updated 2308 GMT (0708 HKT)
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President leaves Malawi in ruin
STORY HIGHLIGHTS


NEW: Government official declares vice president ineligible for presidency
Bingu wa Mutharika, 78, took office in 2004 and was re-elected five years later
Citizens welcomed his programs to help farmers in the largely agricultural nation
His popularity took a hit in recent years amid a faltering economy and diplomatic spats

(CNN) -- A possible constitutional crisis loomed Friday in Malawi following the reported death of President Bingu wa Mutharika, once hailed as a positive steward for the southern African country.

Mutharika, 78, died of a heart attack on Thursday and his body was flown to South Africa, according to government sources.

However, there was no formal government statement announcing his death, and the chaotic politics of the impoverished southern African nation raised questions about what happens next.

Under the constitution, Vice President Joyce Banda would succeed Mutharika. However, Banda was expelled from the ruling Democratic People's Party in 2010 in a dispute with Mutharika, involving the president's efforts to position his brother as his eventual successor, rather than the vice president. Banda formed her own party after her expulsion from Mutharika's ruling party, but remained vice president.

At a news conference late Friday, government spokeswoman Patricia Kaliati declined to discuss reports of Mutharika's death, but instead declared that Banda cannot take over the presidency.

"The conduct of the honorable Joyce Banda in forming her own opposition party precludes her from being eligible to succeed the presidency," said Kaliati, who serves as information and civic education minister.

Banda held a news conference earlier Friday to tell reporters she was being kept "in the dark" regarding the president's condition. However, the Malawi Defence Force, which provides security for the sitting president, reportedly shifted security members to Banda's residence amid news of Mutharika's death.

While declining to comment on Mutharika's condition, Kaliati appealed to Malawi residents to remain calm and listen to information only coming from official government sources.

The United States and Britain have urged Malawi to observe the succession process in the constitution.

"We are concerned about the delay in the transfer of power. We trust that the vice president who is next in line will be sworn in shortly," said a statement by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.

During her news conference, Banda, along with former President Bakili Muluzi, called on Malawians to adhere to the constitution regarding the issue of succession.

Mutharika, a former World Bank economist who studied in the United States and other countries, was elected president in 2004 after campaigning as an "economic engineer." He won re-election five years later for a term scheduled to end in 2014.

His initial years in office were considered a success as Mutharika focused on battling corruption and working to improve the economy.

He implemented a subsidy program for agricultural products that was credited with boosting the economy of the largely agrarian nation. Malawians welcomed his focus on reducing reliance on food aid and attaining self-sufficiency.

However, his popularity plunged in recent years as the economy faltered and the nation faced chronic fuel shortages and frequent power blackouts.

Anti-government groups accused Mutharika of dragging Malawi back into a dictatorship, citing the passage of bills they say infringe on citizen rights.

Protesters took to the streets last year demanding immediate government action to address the economic plight. Security forces cracked down, leading to more than a dozen deaths and sparking international condemnation.

Critics also accused Mutharika of jeopardizing international relations and risking foreign aid that benefits the nation's poor.

Last year, Mutharika expelled a British envoy who was quoted criticizing him in a leaked diplomatic cable, straining relations with one of Malawi's largest foreign donors. In return, Britain asked Malawi's top envoy to leave the country and rescinded her invitation to the royal wedding.

At the time, London said it was halting "all general budget support."

Last month, the United States announced it was suspending $350 million allocated to Malawi because of concerns about its democratic governance.

Source:http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/06/world/africa/malawi-president/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

If Banda the Vice president at the time of death of the sitting president Surmounts the political hurdle she faces she will become Africa's Second Head of state :A feat in and off itself which is a welcome development however i worry for Africa in that the political players in the continent (even supposedly democratic countries) have a proclivity to not follow laid down /agreed rules IE: the constitution as soon as events turn out to not be in their favor and they are unabashed and brazen about this.This is a major factor stunting our growth/progress in a aspects of development.
As an aside when are we going to see a female VICE PRESIDENT TO SAY THE LEAST?