WHEN a loose alliance of opposition and civil society groups backed by influential religious leaders late last month gave Malawi's late President Bingu wa Mutharika a two-month deadline to step down or face even larger protests, he said if he wanted, he could rule his poor nation forever.
"If I wanted to, I would use the majority I have and amend the constitution to rule for another term, or forever," he told supporters at a rally.
Instead of ruling forever, like all mortals, Mutharika died after a heart attack yesterday aged 78, leaving behind intrigues and political suspense over his succession.
Under the country's constitution, Vice President Joyce Banda is next in line. But that succession is dicey because Mutharika kicked her out of the ruling party in 2010 as he chose to groom his brother as heir apparent instead of her.
Her ouster had angered many urban voters who saw the move as an attempt by Mutharika to consolidate his power.
Mutharika first came to power in a 2004 election, and was overwhelmingly re-elected five years later. Elections are not due again in Malawi until 2014.
The late president, a former World Bank official, was once heralded for his stewardship of the southern African country which is among the world's poorest. He was commended as a corruption-buster who ended a devastating famine, but his stubbornness divided his people and alienated vital donors.
In recent years, he was accused of trampling on democratic rights. He came increasingly under fire for attempting to rein in the media and to shield the government from public criticism.
The impoverished nation was plunged into a long night of intrigue after Mutharika suffered a heart attack in the capital, Lilongwe on Thursday and was rushed to hospital. But doctors were unable to save him, a source at the hospital said.
The Guardian