Malawi: To believe or not to believe rumors of a coup plot · Global Voices
Following <PERSON> Monday May 12th breaking news post of the unusual arrests in Malawi of high ranking former and current military and police officers, as well as opposition figures, amid government accusations of a coup plot, Malawian bloggers and netizens have been reacting to the news with shock, skepticism, bewilderment, and ambivalence.
The rumors of the coup plot are the culmination of a tense two-week period, during which parliament has been deadlocked, and peace talks amongst political party leaders, including the country's president Dr. <PERSON>, have been thwarted over the contentious Section 65 of the Malawi Constitution. In this post, we explore the genesis and trajectory of this unfolding story, pointing out how some Malawians are doubtful of the claims, while others believe the coup to be a possibility.
Canceled trip to Dubai
The roller coaster of events started on Saturday May 10th, with online newspaper Nyasatimes reporting that President <PERSON> would be embarking on an official tour of the Middle East, leaving behind a letter to be delivered in his absence to the speaker of parliament, instructing him to prorogue parliament. On Sunday May 11th, the president was reported to have addressed a political rally, where he warned that his predecessor, former president Dr. <PERSON>, currently in the United Kingdom on a private visit, risked being charged with treason on his return for plotting to overthrow the government using Section 65 as a pretext.
The same day, listserv-based Makongolomwinani News Services (MNS) posted a one-sentence item on the Malawi listserv Nyasanet, announcing that President <PERSON> had canceled the trip to the Middle East because the governor of the Reserve Bank, <PERSON>, had refused to release MK600 million (US$4 million) meant for the trip.
Rumors of arrests
On the morning of Tuesday May 13th one Nyasanetter, <PERSON>, posted the first mention of arrests, affecting former army commander Retired General <PERSON>, former Inspector General of Police <PERSON>, former mayor of the City of Blantyre, <PERSON>, and secretary general of the UDF, <PERSON>. It was later learned that former commissioner of Police <PERSON>, was also among those arrested, according to a Nyasatimes article. No mention of a coup was made in the posting, although the subject heading said the arrests were for “treason”.
The first blog reaction came from <PERSON>, also on Tuesday May 13th, who used a major portion of his post to react to allegations made earlier by minister of information and civic education, Hon. <PERSON>, insinuating that <PERSON> had leaked information to Nyasatimes for an article that claimed that the Malawi government was going to assist Zimbabwe clear a Chinese ship docked in Angola, carrying arms destined for the Zimbabwe military.
<PERSON> had written on his facebook page on Thursday May 8th, saying,
<PERSON> will be arrested anytime on false allegations. 830
The Minister of Information has told a press breifing this morning. Be ready for more news…
On Saturday May 10th he updated his status to “<PERSON> very safecalm down now people-just someone trying intimidate me. But am good and safe and will remain for as long as God wants to be.”
On Tuesday May 13th he expressed new fears, writing “<PERSON> is not sure where Malawi has gone to!!!Nobody is any longer safe!!” Towards the end of his blog post the same day <PERSON> indicated that there had been arrests in Malawi, pointing out that he did not see how the arrests would “solve the political impasse”.
Skepticism creeps in
As interest in the issue grew on Tuesday, doubts started showing almost immediately. <PERSON>, co-moderator of Nyasanet, posted his reaction to another set of allegations made by Hon. <PERSON> purportedly accusing British and Taiwanese governments of planning to supply military hardware to the coup plotters. <PERSON> wrote:
<PERSON> has made no secret of his desire to see <PERSON> vacate sanjika, so there is no news here. it is quite possible that <PERSON> may have been contemplating some “coup”, using opposition numbers in parliament, to bring down the government. but for <PERSON> to accuse britain of supplying artillery for the alleged coup, it is not only careless; it shows her luck of understand of what is happening around her. 830