Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika warned opposition legislators today against trying to impeach him, saying he would block any attempt to destabilise the country.
“Let me warn these opposition leaders that want to foment political unrest in this country that there are rules and regulations that deal with that,” Mr wa Mutharika said in a special radio address.
“From now on, those who will be disturbing the peace and security of this country under the pretext of democracy will be dealt with the full force of the law. I have so far been patient enough,” he said.
The United Democratic Front (UDF), under whose banner Mr wa Mutharika took office last year, lodged an impeachment motion against him on Wednesday.
It accused the president, who has quit the party, of violating the constitution and misusing government funds to buy a Mercedes and to pay for his grandchildren's education.
The impeachment motion marked a new development in a struggle between Mr wa Mutharika - who has pushed an anti-corruption campaign - and former president Bakili Muluzi, whose associates have been targeted in the anti-corruption drive.
Under Malawian law, the vice president takes over if the president is impeached, which would give the job to Cassim Chilumpha, a UDF leader with close links to Mr Muluzi.