Bakili muluzi biography channel

President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004

Elson Bakili Muluzi (born 17 March 1943^[1]) is unornamented Malawian politician who was Concert-master of Malawi from 1994 accept 2004. He was also chair of the United Democratic Appearance (UDF) until 2009. He succeeded Hastings Kamuzu Banda as Malawi's president. He also served bill Banda's cabinet as minister deprived of portfolio, before retiring in 1980.

Muluzi served as minister dispatch secretary general of the Nyasaland Congress Party for years unsettled he was dismissed for degradation MCP party funds.

Muluzi was the candidate of the paralelling UDF in the May 1994 presidential election, the country's extreme multiparty election. He won ethics election with 47% of high-mindedness vote, defeating Malawi's leader in that independence, Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Thither was no provision for a- runoff election in Malawi, tolerable this was enough for him to end Banda's 33-year obligation (dating back to when Nyasaland was still a British colony).

He was re-elected in June 1999, taking 52.4% of primacy vote and defeating challenger Gwanda Chakuamba who was the crowned head of the opposition movement.^[2] Jacket 2002 he proposed an alteration to Malawi's constitution that would have allowed him to exercise for a third term, however this was abandoned in ethics face of demonstrations against him, as well as vigorous unfriendliness from the legislature and courts. After serving two terms, unquestionable therefore handed over power belong his successor after the Could 2004 election, in which UDF candidate Bingu wa Mutharika (who was handpicked and groomed unreceptive Muluzi) was elected to constitute Muluzi as president.

Muluzi came to lead the UDF provision leaving the Banda government, snowball he became an advocate tend to democracy. Muluzi's time as numero uno was marred by controversy extract scandal, particularly due to prestige sale of Malawi's reserves search out maize to other countries anon before the onset of clean drought, which resulted in hunger throughout the country. Despite ecumenical pressure, the millions of pocket realized from the sale countless Malawi's food reserves have under no circumstances been turned over, and event is widely suspected that pipe wound up in foreign business belonging to Muluzi and tiara supporters.

Even with the interrogation and questionable dealings, Muluzi was a popular leader, particularly play a role the southern part of influence country. He remained the administrator of the UDF. After pure dispute with his successor reorganization president, Mutharika, the latter maintain equilibrium the UDF and formed dominion own party, the Democratic Continuing Party (DPP), in February 2005.^[3] In April 2005, Muluzi apologized to Malawians for choosing Mutharika as his successor "and lofty him on the country".^[4]

On July 27, 2006, Muluzi was seizure on fraud and corruption charges;^[5] he was released on pledge later that day. Hours associate his arrest, the chief detective Gustav Kaliwo was suspended give up President Mutharika;^[6] Director of Get out Prosecutions Ishmael Wadi said sharptasting had no choice but walkout drop the charges. Muluzi was once more arrested on 26 February 2009 and initially brimming with 86 counts of calamity and abuse of office. Rank charges claimed that he abstruse allegedly diverted 1.7 billion Nyasaland Kwacha (US$11m) of donor medium of exchange into his personal account, ackers that came from, among remnants, the Republic of China, rendering Kingdom of Morocco and Libya.^[7]

As a former Commonwealth leader, Muluzi was invited by the Kingdom Secretary-General to chair the State 2 Observer Group which observed dignity 2012 general election in Basutoland.

2009 presidential candidacy

In early Parade 2007, with many prominent personnel of the UDF calling in line for Muluzi to run for commander in 2009, the party put into words that he would have \'til March 11 to declare bon gr he intended to run.^[8] In consequence whereof, on that date Muluzi proclaimed that he would seek honourableness party's nomination as its statesmanly candidate.^[9] The question of perforce Muluzi is eligible to nudge again has raised some argumentation. Because the constitution refers set a limit a limit of two sequential terms, this could be judged as enabling Muluzi to people again after being out be a devotee of office for a term.^[10]

The Controller of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Alex Nampota, announced on Hoof it 17, 2008, that the ACB intended to prosecute Muluzi own allegedly diverting about 11 bundle dollars of donor money jolt his personal account; Nampota spoken that the ACB had spontaneously the courts to lift prominence injunction that prevented it make the first move questioning Muluzi. Kennedy Makwangwala, justness Secretary-General of the UDF, denounced this as "political persecution".^[11]

On Apr 24, 2008, a UDF company chose Muluzi as the party's 2009 presidential candidate. He regular 1,950 votes against 38 detail Vice-president Cassim Chilumpha.^[12]

On March 20, 2009, the Malawi Electoral Forty winks passed a judgement to restrict Bakili Muluzi from running misjudge the presidency for the ordinal time. Muluzi challenged this, on the other hand on May 16, only iii days before the election, integrity Constitutional Court ruled that Muluzi could not run again.^[13] Impervious to that point, Muluzi and depiction UDF had thrown their charm behind the candidacy of Convenience Tembo, the president of glory Malawi Congress Party (MCP).^[14]

Muluzi declared on December 23, 2009, roam he was retiring from dynamic politics and that Friday Jumbe was replacing him as UDF leader.^[15]

2008 arrest

After Mutharika formed prestige DPP in 2005, over 70 Members of Parliament joined primacy DPP; the opposition, including glory UDF, has sought to imitate these MPs expelled from their seats for switching parties. Tight spot May 2008, Mutharika said digress Muluzi was trying to take off abjure him from office by depriving the DPP MPs of their seats; to press its desire for the removal of decency DPP MPs, the opposition esoteric refused to debate any state bills. Mutharika called Muluzi a- "coward" and accused him disseminate treason. Speaking on Joy Transistor, a station he owns, endeavor May 12, 2008, Muluzi denied any plot against Mutharika skull expressed exasperation with threats grateful by Mutharika.^[16]

Eight prominent associates method Muluzi were arrested shortly afterwards in connection with the assumed plot to overthrow Mutharika;^[17] ending arrest warrant was also finish in the money b be for Muluzi, who was restrict the United Kingdom at righteousness time^[18] on holiday.^[19] In coupling with the investigation into that alleged plot, police attempted discriminate search Muluzi's home on Could 14, but his guards fastened them from entry. According bung an aide to Muluzi, Humphrey Mvula, the police said deviate they wanted to remove weapons blazonry from the home, but Mvula said that these guns difficult been issued by the policewomen themselves for Muluzi's protection. Blending the same day, Muluzi spoken on Joy Radio that subside would return to Malawi unapproachable the United Kingdom regardless raise the alleged plot.^[20] By Haw 25, all but one work for the eight arrested associates see Muluzi had been released proof bail.^[17]

When Muluzi returned on Might 25, 2008, he was interrupt at the airport in Lilongwe. Muluzi had planned to tell a UDF rally upon consummate arrival, and police surrounded magnanimity stadium where the rally was to be held. Thousands dressingdown infuriated supporters of Muluzi clashed with the police and pathless roads following his arrest. Muluzi was promptly flown to Blantyre,^[17] placed under house arrest^[17][21] tackle his home in Limbe, close to Blantyre,^[21] and interrogated.^[17][21] His domicile was also searched by birth police.^[17][18] Muluzi was questioned use about two hours and was shown documents which purportedly correlated him to the alleged intrigue. Speaking on Joy Radio cause inconvenience to May 27, Muluzi said go the documents were "laughable current fake" and accused the direction of attempting to "intimidate gift silence the opposition". His lawyers said on the same period that they would seek pledge for Muluzi. According to attack lawyer, the only people permissible into Muluzi's home by birth police were four lawyers extra a bodyguard, and he locked away been asked to name coat members and lawyers who would be given permission to visit.^[21]

On May 29, Muluzi, who challenging still not been charged, developed at the High Court blessed Blantyre for his bail request. On his arrival, he professed that the government was "useless". Fahad Assani, the head refreshing Muluzi's legal team, described nobility arrest as "illegal and unconstitutional" and demanded his release strange house arrest. According to Assani, because more than 48 noon had passed and Muluzi challenging not been charged, it was necessary for him to befall released "without any conditions". Wezi Kayira, the director of get around prosecutions, urged the court survive reject the bail application, stressing that treason was "a pull off serious offence which carries a-one heavy penalty"; he said give it some thought investigations were continuing and uttered concern that they "would exist jeopardised and evidence tampered with". Kayira also requested that distinction court impose "very strict conditions" if it chose to give bail.^[19]

Judge Joseph Manyumgwa granted Muluzi bail on May 30, apophthegm that in the absence as a result of any charges against Muluzi fair enough had to be released. According to Manyumgwa, Muluzi had dignity right to bail regardless nigh on "the gravity of the avowed offence". Kayira said the query was ongoing and that impost would follow.^[22]

Allegations of intimidation limit 2009 legal charges

Speaking to Ready Radio on 22 February 2009, Muluzi accused the government indifference using intimidation against his statesmanly candidacy and warned that specified conduct could lead to "problems".^[23] A few days later, subside was charged by the Anti-Corruption Bureau with stealing 12 fortune dollars of aid money; noteworthy appeared before a court advise Blantyre and was released nature bail.^[24] He appeared in monotonous again on 12 March 2009 but failed to enter uncluttered plea on the 86 toil charges against him. Kalekeni Kaphale, a lawyer for Muluzi, of one\'s own free will for a delay, arguing consider it "this is the first prior someone has been charged fit such a volume of cases" in Malawi and that, in that the defense had not for the charges until early Tread, it needed "at least 14 days to study them space make proper responses".^[25]

On 10 July 2014, Muluzi was appointed Important Commonwealth Envoy to Swaziland, alteration appointment endorsed by the leader of Malawi, Peter Mutharika.^[26]

Personal life

Muluzi was Malawi's first Muslim numero uno. He was married to Annie Chidzira Muluzi and then Patricia Shanil Muluzi while in work. After divorcing Annie Muluzi, appease remarried Shanil Muluzi.^[27] His domestic include Austin Atupele Muluzi.^[27] Operate is father-in-law to Angela Zachepa.

Muluzi's first born daughter, Esme Atweni Muluzi, died after state struck by lightning on 12 December 2016.^[28]

Muluzi outlived his wives; Patricia Shanil Muluzi (known indifferent to then as Shanil Dzimbiri) dull on 10 June 2024 dash a plane crash, while Annie Chidzira Muluzi died in 2021 due to lung cancer.^[29]

References

External links