The United Democratic Front (UDF) Party is set to impeach the current President Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika, in parliament on the basis of violating the country’s constitution.

The Party claims that it has identified six serious violations on the country’s constitution, which could lead to Mutharika's downfall.

According to Local Media reports there are indications that six constitutional violations have been identified and are ready to be tabled in the house on March 30, 2005.

The violations are (1) the withdrawal of K1 billion from the consolidated funds loan facility for the Malawi Rural development fund (2) the appointment of chief secretary of civil service, a position which does not exist in the act of government civil service, (3) the removal of former Inspector General of Police Joseph Aironi without the approval of the Malawi Police Services as per requirement (4) sucking of the Director of the Public Prosecutions (DPP) Fahad Assan before his term of office expired (5)the dismissal of 32 principal secretaries and (6) the removal of Army Commander Joseph Chimbayo without the approval of the defence council and the hiring of political ally Ken Zikhale Ng_oma as chief of staff at the state house.

The current underground working relationship that exist between UDF and the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) poses a great challenge to Mutharika administration in Parliament.

UDF secretary General Kennedy Makwangwala has confirmed the move by his party to impeach the president this week if the opportunity arises.

“We are going a head to impeach the President if we don't succeed we will do it in the next sitting in June, which will be budget session,” Makwangwala was quoted as saying.

A document is said to have been developed by the party outlining the alleged violations of the constitution by Mutharika.

The document, which is said to be entitled “constitutional and political observations since May 2004” is rumoured to have been circulated to donor communities notably the British Government, European Union (EU) and other diplomatic sources. Sam Mpasu a UDF spokesman said the MPs will use the opportunity to move the motion of impeachment after seeing the alleged violations. “The UDF will rally behind the move because they have an obligation to defend the country’s constitutions,” he said.

Over 65 parliamentarians are said to be in agreement with the party.

The success of the move will largely depend on the numbers because the constitution provides two-thirds majority to impeach the president.

If the impeachment succeeds in accordance with the constitution the cabinet would have to elect a stand in president who will then hold office for 60 days until fresh elections are held.

The working relationship between UDF and MCP paid dividend last week when they jointly blocked the confirmation of first Lady Police chief in the country. Again, a number of MPs from the two parties are said to in doubt the success of the impeachment plot.

Attorney General Ralph Kasambara told the National Television station recently that grounds to impeach the president are not valid. “There are not serious cases in which some quarters could claim that the president has violated be country’s constitution in any way,” he said.

The leader of Government business in the House, Yusuf Mwawa who is also Minister of Education was upbeat when quizzed about the issue, “We have numbers and government would emerge the winner at end or the day,” he said.

Garton Kumchedzera University of Malawi, Dean of law lecturer, said “The massive support Mutharika enjoys it because of his anti- corruption drive and this may sport public anger if he was impeachment,”

Power struggle openly surfaced in January this year, when the UDF National executive committee (NEC) was planned to oust Mutharika from the party for not being committed to the party’s ideals.

Later, Mutharika accused his predecessor Muluzi for backing a plot to assassinate and he quit the party and has since found the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has since being registered.

The formation of the new party saw the massive exodus of top high-ranking UDF officials and some UDF mps have declared themselves independent in order to work with the Mutharika administration effectively. UDF asserted to power in the May, 2004 elections.