VZCZCXRO8309
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLG #0269/01 1391826
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 191826Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0504
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 1013
RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE IMMEDIATE 0038
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0356
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000269 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR AF WATCHER PETER LORD 
ADDIS ABABA FOR AU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI ELECTORATE TURNS IN HIGH NUMBERS FOR WELL 
ORGANIZED AND PEACEFUL POLLS 
 
REF: LILONGWE 267 
 
LILONGWE 00000269  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. Record numbers of voters turned out for presidential and 
parliamentary elections today.  Voting was well organized, 
with no reports of intimidation or violence.  Counting is 
just underway and appears initially to be proceeding without 
major problems, though there are sporadic reports of 
inadequate electricity.  Police are investigating campaign 
violations by a pro-opposition radio station, and have 
arrested three of its employees.  End summary. 
 
RECORD TURNOUT 
-------------- 
 
¶2. Malawians cast their votes for president and members of 
parliament today in record numbers in a well-organized poll, 
free of intimidation or violence.  Though seven candidates 
are vying for President, the real race is between incumbent 
President Bingu wa Mutharika and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) 
President John Tembo, who is leading the united MCP and 
United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition.  Post has 15 
observer teams spread throughout the country, all of whom 
have reported better than expected processes and turnout, 
some in the 75 - 80 percent range. 
 
ORGANIZATION BETTER THAN EXPECTED 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3. Pre-election concerns about voter apathy and confusion 
over voter rolls appear overplayed.  Overall, voting was 
consistently characterized by observer teams as calm and 
technically better than expected.  The Deputy Head of the EU 
Observer Mission shares out perspective and believes that 
problems were small-scale and adequately handled.  Of the few 
election hiccups, none seem widespread.  The most common 
observation was that the training and caliber of presiding 
officials was uneven, with some well-equipped and flexible 
while others were overwhelmed.  There were a few reports of 
voters being turned away for not appearing on the roll, but 
in most cases, presiding officers allowed voters to vote 
provided they had cards whose registration numbers fell 
within the range for that district. 
 
¶4. Polls closed at 6pm as scheduled and observer teams report 
that counting has begun and is proceeding well, although some 
teams noted delays due to lack of electricity or adequate 
light.  Other reports include one polling station where 
ballots have been lost after being blown away by the wind. 
 
OPPOSITION RADIO ACCUSED OF CAMPAIGN VIOLATION 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5. Radio Islam reported this morning that police had entered 
the premises of pro-UDF Joy Radio and arrested three Joy 
reporters.  According to the report, police searched the 
radio station's computers on the grounds that it had violated 
campaign laws prohibiting campaign activities two days before 
the election.  The spokesperson for the Malawi Electoral 
Commission (MEC) publicly confirmed on Malawi television that 
Joy Radio had been accused of the violation. 
 
 
UDF-MCP FORMALIZE COALITION AT LAST MINUTE 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶6. The MCP and UDF signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) 
on May 18 establishing the framework under which they would 
share power should MCP candidate John Tembo win.  The MoU 
states the parties would equally share 12 key ministries, 
including ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Health and 
Population, Education, Local Government, Agriculture and Food 
Security, Lands and Housing, Justice, Transport and Works, 
Energy and Mining, and Water and Irrigation.  The remaining 
cabinet positions and key ambassadorial and senior diplomatic 
positions, specifically singling out US, UN, South Africa, 
Germany, China, and India, would be shared on a 60-40 basis 
favoring UDF.  Hiring and firing would be the prerogative of 
both Muluzi and Tembo. The parties also said they would 
support a common candidate for the position of Speaker of 
Parliament. 
 
LILONGWE 00000269  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
COMMENT: STILL A WAY TO GO 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7. Though voting has gone smoothly so far, there is still 
room for disputes or unrest.  After counting, constituency 
results will be transmitted by fax to the MEC's central tally 
center in Blantyre where they intend to post them publicly 
and provide them to various media outlets for broadcast.  The 
MEC has said it hopes to announce final results on May 21. 
BODDE