Donors to halt aid if Malawi leader impeached

Britain and other key aid donors to Malawi said on Thursday they would not support a new government if President Bingu wa Mutharika, a campaigner against graft in the Southern African country, was impeached.

Top foreign lender Britain was joined by the European Union, South Africa, the United States, Norway and Germany, in saying in a statement that impeachment would mar Malawi's image abroad.

It was a rare intervention by foreign governments in the domestic politics of an African country, apparently reflecting international effort to back Africa's campaign to fight corruption in return for more foreign aid and investment.

The statement was issued as Malawi's opposition-dominated parliament started a debate on whether to go ahead with impeaching wa Mutharika on charges that he abused his office and violated the constitution. Malawi's constitutional court on Wednesday issued an injunction against the impeachment pending a judicial review of the procedure.

Wa Mutharika is locked in a power struggle with his former mentor and predecessor Bakili Muluzi, who is still a powerful figure in Malawi, linked to the incumbent's anti-graft drive that has targeted Muluzi and his aides in the former ruling United Democratic Front party.