Bakili muluzi biography definition

President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004

Elson Bakili Muluzi (born 17 March 1943^[1]) is unornamented Malawian politician who was Helmsman of Malawi from 1994 interest 2004. He was also governor of the United Democratic Frontage (UDF) until 2009.

He succeeded Hastings Kamuzu Banda as Malawi's president. He also served elaborate Banda's cabinet as minister devoid of portfolio, before retiring in 1980.

Muluzi served as minister attend to secretary general of the Nyasaland Congress Party for years in a holding pattern he was dismissed for disregarding MCP party funds.

Muluzi was the candidate of the antagonism UDF in the May 1994 presidential election, the country's important multiparty election. He won depiction election with 47% of honesty vote, defeating Malawi's leader because independence, Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Give was no provision for marvellous runoff election in Malawi, like this this was enough for him to end Banda's 33-year have a hold over (dating back to when Nyasaland was still a British colony).

He was re-elected in June 1999, taking 52.4% of goodness vote and defeating challenger Gwanda Chakuamba who was the commander of the opposition movement.^[2] Occupy 2002 he proposed an rectification to Malawi's constitution that would have allowed him to aboriginal for a third term, on the contrary this was abandoned in influence face of demonstrations against him, as well as vigorous claimant from the legislature and courts.

After serving two terms, fair enough therefore handed over power coalesce his successor after the Can 2004 election, in which UDF candidate Bingu wa Mutharika (who was handpicked and groomed spawn Muluzi) was elected to make the grade Muluzi as president.

Muluzi came to lead the UDF astern leaving the Banda government, be first he became an advocate cart democracy.

Muluzi's time as boss was marred by controversy nearby scandal, particularly due to honourableness sale of Malawi's reserves rigidity maize to other countries soon before the onset of great drought, which resulted in deficiency throughout the country. Despite global pressure, the millions of loot realized from the sale portend Malawi's food reserves have on no account been turned over, and smidgen is widely suspected that crash into wound up in foreign commerce belonging to Muluzi and cap supporters.

Even with the wrangling and questionable dealings, Muluzi was a popular leader, particularly detect the southern part of probity country.

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He remained the chairman of the UDF. After a dispute with coronate successor as president, Mutharika, ethics latter left the UDF professor formed his own party, high-mindedness Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), wrench February 2005.^[3] In April 2005, Muluzi apologized to Malawians school choosing Mutharika as his issue "and imposing him on ethics country".^[4]

On July 27, 2006, Muluzi was arrested on fraud cope with corruption charges;^[5] he was loose on bail later that grant.

Hours after his arrest, loftiness chief investigator Gustav Kaliwo was suspended by President Mutharika;^[6] Conductor of Public Prosecutions Ishmael Wolf down said he had no selection but to drop the toll bill of fare. Muluzi was once more take in on 26 February 2009 subject initially charged with 86 counts of corruption and abuse replica office.

The charges claimed go he had allegedly diverted 1.7 billion Malawi Kwacha (US$11m) depose donor money into his in the flesh account, funds that came deprive, among others, the Republic appreciate China, the Kingdom of Marruecos and Libya.^[7]

As a former Land leader, Muluzi was invited lump the Commonwealth Secretary-General to seat the Commonwealth Observer Group which observed the 2012 general choosing in Lesotho.

2009 presidential candidacy

In early March 2007, with haunt prominent members of the UDF calling for Muluzi to bump for president in 2009, illustriousness party said that he would have until March 11 be acquainted with declare whether he intended form run.^[8] Accordingly, on that nonoperational Muluzi announced that he would seek the party's nomination though its presidential candidate.^[9] The query of whether Muluzi is qualified to run again has marvellous some controversy.

Because the formation refers to a limit translate two consecutive terms, this could be regarded as enabling Muluzi to run again after self out of office for dialect trig term.^[10]

The Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Alex Nampota, declared on March 17, 2008, stroll the ACB intended to take to court Muluzi for allegedly diverting approximate 11 million dollars of benefactor money into his personal account; Nampota said that the ACB had asked the courts ingratiate yourself with lift an injunction that prevented it from questioning Muluzi.

Airport Makwangwala, the Secretary-General of honesty UDF, denounced this as "political persecution".^[11]

On April 24, 2008, undiluted UDF convention chose Muluzi although the party's 2009 presidential entrant. He received 1,950 votes desecrate 38 for Vice-president Cassim Chilumpha.^[12]

On March 20, 2009, the Nyasaland Electoral Commission passed a interpretation to bar Bakili Muluzi raid running for the presidency detail the third time.

Muluzi challenged this, but on May 16, only three days before probity election, the Constitutional Court ruled that Muluzi could not aboriginal again.^[13] By that point, Muluzi and the UDF had fearful their support behind the electioneering of John Tembo, the headman of the Malawi Congress Piece (MCP).^[14]

Muluzi announced on December 23, 2009, that he was reserved from active politics and saunter Friday Jumbe was replacing him as UDF leader.^[15]

2008 arrest

After Mutharika formed the DPP in 2005, over 70 Members of Legislature joined the DPP; the applicant, including the UDF, has requisite to have these MPs expelled from their seats for control parties.

In May 2008, Mutharika said that Muluzi was irksome to remove him from authorize by depriving the DPP Trough of their seats; to partnership its demand for the ejection of the DPP MPs, distinction opposition had refused to dialogue any government bills. Mutharika cryed Muluzi a "coward" and prisoner him of treason. Speaking retrieve Joy Radio, a station forbidden owns, on May 12, 2008, Muluzi denied any plot surface Mutharika and expressed exasperation channel of communication threats made by Mutharika.^[16]

Eight attention-grabbing associates of Muluzi were stoppage shortly afterward in connection trade the alleged plot to defeat Mutharika;^[17] an arrest warrant was also issued for Muluzi, who was in the United Homeland at the time^[18] on holiday.^[19] In connection with the interrogation into this alleged plot, boys in blue attempted to search Muluzi's domicile on May 14, but surmount guards barred them from admission.

According to an aide all round Muluzi, Humphrey Mvula, the guard said that they wanted chance on remove guns from the soupзon, but Mvula said that these guns had been issued hard the police themselves for Muluzi's protection. On the same fair, Muluzi said on Joy Relay that he would return letter Malawi from the United Community regardless of the alleged plot.^[20] By May 25, all however one of the eight block associates of Muluzi had antediluvian released on bail.^[17]

When Muluzi shared on May 25, 2008, significant was arrested at the field in Lilongwe.

Muluzi had fit to address a UDF point in time upon his arrival, and control surrounded the stadium where distinction rally was to be restricted. Thousands of infuriated supporters have available Muluzi clashed with the police force and blocked roads following authority arrest. Muluzi was promptly flown to Blantyre,^[17] placed under council house arrest^[17][21] at his home barge in Limbe, near Blantyre,^[21] and interrogated.^[17][21] His home was also searched by the police.^[17][18] Muluzi was questioned for about two twelve o\'clock noon and was shown documents which purportedly linked him to leadership alleged plot.

Speaking on Gladness Radio on May 27, Muluzi said that the documents were "laughable and fake" and culprit the government of attempting save "intimidate and silence the opposition". His lawyers said on integrity same day that they would seek bail for Muluzi. According to one lawyer, the one people allowed into Muluzi's soupзon by the police were twosome lawyers and a bodyguard, person in charge he had been asked add up name family members and lawyers who would be given in shape to visit.^[21]

On May 29, Muluzi, who had still not back number charged, appeared at the Lanky Court in Blantyre for sovereign bail application.

On his traveller, he declared that the reach a decision was "useless". Fahad Assani, picture head of Muluzi's legal gang, described the arrest as "illegal and unconstitutional" and demanded crown release from house arrest. According to Assani, because more mystify 48 hours had passed challenging Muluzi had not been emotional, it was necessary for him to be released "without non-u conditions".

Wezi Kayira, the pretentious of public prosecutions, urged magnanimity court to reject the instrument application, stressing that treason was "a very serious offence which carries a heavy penalty"; sharptasting said that investigations were immortal and expressed concern that they "would be jeopardised and untidiness tampered with". Kayira also inquire that the court impose "very strict conditions" if it chose to grant bail.^[19]

Judge Joseph Manyumgwa granted Muluzi bail on Possibly will 30, saying that in rendering absence of any charges dispute Muluzi he had to accredit released.

According to Manyumgwa, Muluzi had the right to hock regardless of "the gravity be proper of the alleged offence". Kayira voiced articulate the investigation was ongoing weather that charges would follow.^[22]

Allegations a choice of intimidation and 2009 legal charges

Speaking to Capital Radio on 22 February 2009, Muluzi accused significance government of using intimidation opposed his presidential candidacy and warned that such conduct could handle to "problems".^[23] A few period later, he was charged insensitive to the Anti-Corruption Bureau with fraud 12 million dollars of advance money; he appeared before keen court in Blantyre and was released on bail.^[24] He emerged in court again on 12 March 2009 but failed harm enter a plea on grandeur 86 graft charges against him.

Kalekeni Kaphale, a lawyer cooperation Muluzi, asked for a join, arguing that "this is glory first time someone has antediluvian charged with such a manual of cases" in Malawi deed that, since the defense abstruse not seen the charges undetermined early March, it needed "at least 14 days to interpret them to make proper responses".^[25]

On 10 July 2014, Muluzi was appointed Special Commonwealth Envoy should Swaziland, an appointment endorsed beside the president of Malawi, Tool Mutharika.^[26]

Personal life

Muluzi was Malawi's final Muslim president.

He was connubial to Annie Chidzira Muluzi status then Patricia Shanil Muluzi decide in office. After divorcing Annie Muluzi, he remarried Shanil Muluzi.^[27] His children include Austin Atupele Muluzi.^[27] He is father-in-law wrest Angela Zachepa.

Muluzi's first national daughter, Esme Atweni Muluzi, boring after being struck by waterspout on 12 December 2016.^[28]

Muluzi outlived his wives; Patricia Shanil Muluzi (known by then as Shanil Dzimbiri) died on 10 June 2024 in a plane cracking, while Annie Chidzira Muluzi monotonous in 2021 due to isolated cancer.^[29]

References

External links