Muluzi to head observer group in Lesotho

The Commonwealth has appointed former Malawi president Bakili Muluzi to chair the Commonwealth Observer Group to the 2012 Parliamentary Elections in Lesotho.

Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) chairperson Aloisius Nthenda is also in the team to monitor the elections.

In a telephone interview on Wednesday, Muluzi confirmed being approached by the secretary general of the Commonwealth to chair the Observer Group.

He described the appointment as a challenge and an opportunity for him to put into practice his role as Africa’s Goodwill Ambassador on governance and human rights accorded to him last year.

“I am yet to inform Her Excellency the President Mrs Joyce Banda. I am very grateful to the Commonwealth for recognising my role. This means that the administration of [late president] Bingu [wa Mutharika] made my role redundant. I know invitations were coming, but were hidden for reason I do not know.

“Former presidents still play a role in their countries and the world. It makes me happy that the new administration of Mrs. Joyce Banda would want to recognise my role,” said Muluzi.

He said he would leave for Cape Town for medical check-up on Saturday and connect to Lesotho from there before the elections on May 26 2012. Observer Group members are expected to arrive in Lesotho by
May 19.