Bingu wa Mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika
President of Malawi
Incumbent
Assumed office  24 May 2004
Vice President	Cassim Chilumpha Joyce Banda
Preceded by	Bakili Muluzi
Chairperson of the African Union
In office 31 January 2010 – 31 January 2011
Preceded by	Muammar al-Gaddafi
Succeeded by	Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Born	24 February 1934 (1934-02-24) (age 77) Thyolo, Nyasaland
Political party	UDF DPP
Spouse(s)	Ethel Mutharika (?-2007; deceased) Callista Chapola (April 17, 2010-Present)
Religion	Roman Catholic[1]

Bingu wa Mutharika (born February 24, 1934) is a Malawi economist, politician, and the current President of Malawi. He first took office on May 24, 2004, after winning a disputed presidential election. With the support of President Bakili Muluzi, Mutharika won the 2004 election as the candidate of the United Democratic Front (UDF); he broke with the UDF (which remained under Muluzi's control) in February 2005, however, due to disagreements over Mutharika's anti-corruption campaign. He then formed a new party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but lacked a parliamentary majority for the rest of his first term. He won a second term in the May 2009 election.

Contents 1 Personal life 1.1 Name Change 1.2 Family Life 1.2.1 Ethel Mutharika 1.2.2 Callista Mutharika (Chapola-Chimombo) 1.2.3 Peter Mutharika 2 Education 3 Career & Politics 3.1 Early career 3.2 Early Political career 4 President and First Term (2004-2009) 4.1 Tensions with Muluzi & Formation of the DPP 4.2 Evil Spirits at State Mansion 4.3 Legacy of Banda 5 Re-election and Second Term (2009-2014) 5.1 2009 re-election 5.2 Second Term 5.3 Reinstating Education Quota System 6 Elections 2014 & Retirement 6.1 Third Term 6.2 Malawi Electoral Commission 7 AU Chair 2010 7.1 AU Chair 7.2 AU Ambassador for Maternal Health Appointment 8 External links 9 References

[edit] Personal life

Born Brightson Webster Ryson Thom in Thyolo, about 30 km from Malawi's commercial capital, Blantyre.

[edit] Name Change

He reverted to the family name of Mutharika and adopted the first name of Bingu during the 1960s when pan-Africanism was sweeping across the continent. He later added the prefix 'wa' between his names to disguise his identity from Hastings Kamuzu Banda's state security, even though he was not a political opponent of Banda.^{[citation needed]} In fact, and contrary to his resume presented to newsmen at a press conference during 2004 Presidential campaigning, Mutharika was actually a beneficiary of Banda's development programs. In 1964-shortly after the Cabinet Crisis, Mutharika was one of the 32 Malawians, selected by Banda to travel to India on an Indira Gandhi scholarship for 'fast track' diplomas and possible posting [upon return] into the white dominated civil service. In other words, Mutharika did not go into exile in reaction to the cabinet crisis. Instead, once in India, one way or the other, Mutharika stayed on for his Bachelor's degree in Economics. Indeed, on his way to India Mutharika was introduced to the true meaning of Pan-Africanism. During the mandatory layover in Kenya [Nairobi or Mombasa], a Zimbabwean man with Malawian origins Bernard Chidzero and then UNDP resident representative (in Kenya, 1963-68)welcomed the whole 32 Malawians into his home until it was time for the team to board the ship across the Indian Ocean.

[edit] Family Life

[edit] Ethel Mutharika

He was married to first lady, Ethel Zvauya Mutharika, a lady of Zimbabwean origins, who served as a stabilizing factor during Bingu's first-term political travails between 2004 and the time of her demise. Mutharika's wife, with whom he had four children, died on May 28, 2007 after a long battle with cancer, during which she sought treatment in France and South Africa. A day of mourning was declared for her [26] on January 22, 2010. Mutharika unveiled a two-story, multi-million dollar Mausoleum in December 2010 in her honor.

[edit] Callista Mutharika (Chapola-Chimombo)

Mutharika later announced he planned to marry Callista Chapola-Chimombo, a former Minister of Tourism who was 50, later in the year.[27]. In 2010, the 76 year old president became engaged to the former tourism minister Callista Chimombo, planning a K200 million wedding at the Civo Stadium in Lilongwe at public expense. They got married in 2010 and she is the current first lady of Malawi.

[edit] Peter Mutharika

Mutharika's brother, Peter Mutharika, is a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. In May 2009, he was elected to the Malawian Parliament, and was subsequently appointed to the Malawi Cabinet as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.[28] As the president is now becoming aged, he is promoting his younger brother to take the reigns. Peter Mutharika is widely expected to be the DPP candidate for President of Malawi in the 2014 elections. He is the current Minister of education in Malawi.

[edit] Education

Mutharika was the son of a primary school headmaster. He was educated in India at Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, India, where he obtained a B.Com.(Hons.) degree. Subsequently, he attended the Delhi School of Economics graduating with a M.A. degree in Economics. He later obtained a questionable Ph.D. degree in Development Economics from the unaccredited Pacific Western University.

[edit] Career & Politics

[edit] Early career

After serving in the Malawi civil service and also for a period in the government of Zambia, Mutharika joined the United Nations in 1978, where he eventually became Director for Trade and Development Finance for Africa. In 1991 he was appointed as Secretary-General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a regional body of 20 countries. In recent years the President has come under critisism because of his excessive spending of state funds, most recently in the building of a mansion in the south of the country.

[edit] Early Political career

After Banda was forced to liberalise his regime, Mutharika says that he was one of the founders of the United Democratic Front, the party that won Malawi's first multi-party elections in 1994.

Mutharika was at that time a supporter of the UDF leader, President Bakili Muluzi, but he soon became a critic of Muluzi's economic policies and left the UDF. He formed the United Party (UP) in 1997 and unsuccessfully opposed Muluzi in the 1999 presidential elections, taking less than 1% of the vote.^[2] Mutharika dissolved the UP and rejoined the UDF after being offered the deputy governorship at Reserve Bank of Malawi. He was appointed Minister of Economic Planning and Development in 2002, and was then nominated by Muluzi as his successor.

[edit] President and First Term (2004-2009)

Mutharika was nominated by Muluzi as his successor. Mutharika won about 36% of the vote in the presidential election of May 20, 2004, ahead of John Tembo and Gwanda Chakuamba, and took office a few days later.^[2] Soon tensions arose between Mutharika and Muluzi that led to the formation of the DPP.

On October 7, 2006, Mutharika stated his intention to seek re-election in the 2009 presidential election as the DPP candidate.^[3] Two years later, in October 2008, the DPP's national governing council unanimously chose Mutharika as the party's candidate for the 2009 election.^[4]

[edit] Tensions with Muluzi & Formation of the DPP

After taking office, Mutharika came into conflict with Muluzi, who remained the Chairman of the UDF, over Mutharika's campaign against corruption. The dispute between them was an important feature of wa Mutharika's first term in office, and this political conflict was said to interfere with the country's governance.^[5] On February 5, 2005, Mutharika announced his resignation from the UDF, saying that he had no support in the party because of his stand against corruption.^[6] There had previously been talk of expelling him from the party,^[7] and there had also been an alleged assassination plot against him by party members in early January 2005. Those accused were later pardoned by Mutharika, but he maintained the existence of the plot.^[8] After leaving the UDF, wa Mutharika formed his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).^[5] In April 2005, Muluzi apologized to the country for choosing Mutharika as his successor "and imposing him on the country".^[9]

Gwanda Chakuamba, who had been appointed as Minister of Agriculture, was dismissed from the cabinet and subsequently arrested in September 2005 for making a speech predicting that Mutharika would be out of office by Christmas.^[10] In 2006, Vice-President Cassim Chilumpha was arrested; he was accused of plotting Mutharika's assassination.^[11]

[edit] Evil Spirits at State Mansion

It was reported in March 2005 that Mutharika was not sleeping in the state mansion because of suspicions that it was home to evil spirits. A presidential aide was quoted as saying that Christian clergy had been asked to exorcise the spirits. Journalists responsible for the story, including a BBC reporter, were arrested. Mutharika said that "I do sometime see the ghosts, they are not nice to me".^[12]

[edit] Legacy of Banda

Mutharika has upheld the memory of Hastings Banda as a national hero, saying that he would continue Banda's work.^[13] In September 2004, he restored Banda's name to the national stadium, the central hospital, and the international airport; Muluzi had removed Banda's name from all three places.^[14] Mutharika was present at the May 2006 unveiling of a mausoleum for Banda that cost US$620,000.^[13]

[edit] Re-election and Second Term (2009-2014)

[edit] 2009 re-election

Mutharika stood as a candidate for the presidency again for the 19 May 2009 elections. He was nominated, in effect, by himself. Due to the success of his previous governments work on Malawi's economy during his previous presidential term with much help from foreign aid agencies he became was a popular candidate even in the regions outside of the traditional northern "Home of the DPP". A study conducted by African based research project Afrobarometer projected that Bingu Wa Mutharika would win the presidential race with a 60% share of the vote.^[15]

Official election results show Mutharika won the presidential election with 2.7 million votes against 1.2 million for the main opposition candidate, Malawi Congress Party President John Tembo, who was backed by Muluzi.^[16] Mutharika was inaugurated for a second term as President on 22 May 2009.^[16]

[edit] Second Term

The Presidents second term has been controversial. In 2009 Mutharika purchased a private presidential jet costing in excess of $20,000 000 USD. This was followed almost immediately by a nationwide fuel shortage which was officially blamed on logistical problems, but was more likely due to the hard currency shortage caused by the jet purchase.However, Mutharika insists that foreign currency shortages are a result of externalization and money laundering by "Asian traders" and other enemies of the state; alluding to his increasing paranoia. According to Mutharika, the purchase of the Jet has on the contrary helped to save more of the hard currency arguing that hiring a private jet, used to cost the economy up to US$10,000 per hour. As a consequence aid money given to Malawi by the United Kingdom as budjet support has been cut to the cost of the jet, over the next two years.^[17][18] <^[19] The overall cost to the economy (and healthcare system) is huge. Bingu has also come under pressure because of his persistant persecution of the church in the nort of the contry, last year throwing a highly regarded member of the clergy in gaol, a decision which he would later regret.

[edit] Reinstating Education Quota System

Bingu wa Mutharika is re-instituting a quota system for student selection into the University of Malawi.^[20] The district quota system was first introduced by Kamuzu Banda's Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in 1988. Mutharika reinstated this system amidst controversy. This has been a controversial move by the majority of the population in Malawi because even though it as a way to equalize access to higher education, entrance to the university has previously been influence by region^[21]. The system involves students being selected into higher education on the basis of district or region rather than straight merit. It was outlawed by the judiciary 15 years ago but reintroduced in 2008 ^[22]. The Malawian courts set out to block this move^[23]. Northerners in particular are against the quota system, citing that it will lead to discrimination against qualified students in the North which is an academic strong hold^[24]

[edit] Elections 2014 & Retirement

[edit] Third Term

The president refused to seek a third term although some of his lieutenants asked him to extend his term of office.

[edit] Malawi Electoral Commission

In a controversial move,on December 10, 2010, the President suspended the MEC for not being able to account for money.^[25] An audit report by private auditor, Price Water House Coppers (PWHC) revealed millions meant for the forthcoming April 2011 Local Government Elections (LGEs) could not be accounted for.^[26] A few days after this suspension, a High Court judge, Justice Anaclet Chipeta, granted an injunction stopping the president from firing the commissioners.^[26]

[edit] AU Chair 2010

On January 31, 2010 Mutharika replaced Muammar al-Gaddafi as leader of the African Union after his attempt to run as AU chair for an additional year failed.^[27] Mutharika is Malawis first head of state to assume the position of AU chair.^[28] In his acceptance speech as AU chair he reiterated that "Africa is not a poor continent, but the African population are poor" and called for "Africa to develop Africa". He shared his vision for the African Food Basket Initiative by making food security a priority in his agenda.

[edit] AU Chair

On April 4 he attended the 50th anniversary in celebration of Senegal Independence as AU chair. He also attended the G8 summit in Canada and the G20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea.^[29] On July 26 , he attended the AU summit in Kampala, Uganda.^[29] His speech here concentrated on condemning the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing a warrant to arrest Omar al Bashir because it undermined African authority.^[29] They adopted the African Food Basket Initiative here which was presented to the UN on September 29, 2010.^[29] On September 6, 2010, he attended the inauguration of Rwandas Paul Kagame.^[29] He attended the Iran-Africa Conference which aimed at strengthening ties between Iran and African countries.^[29] During a speeach at Boston University, Mutharika defended his subsidy program and noted that although western countries say African governments should not subsidize agriculture, western governments subsidies their own farmers.^[29] Malawi hosted Africas first conference that brought together Ministers of Agriculture in Africa where they were urged to fight for subsidies in agriculture.^[29] He did not attend the Africa-EU Trade summit in Libya but no official reason was provided for this move.^[29] During his tenure, he joined international calls for Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast to accept defeat in 2010 elections in the Ivory Coast.^[29]

[edit] AU Ambassador for Maternal Health Appointment

As AU chair Bingu replaced Joyce Banda as AU ambassador and appointed his wife, Callista (a former politician) as the AU ambassador for maternal health.

[edit] External links

• Video: Address by President Bingu Wa Mutharika at the General Debate of the 65th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, September 23, 2010

Now after Cabinet reshuffle, Peter Mutharika holds Minister of Education, Science & Technology on August 11, 2010.

[edit] References

Political offices
Preceded by Bakili Muluzi	President of Malawi 2004–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Muammar al-Gaddafi	Chairperson of the African Union 31 January 2010 - 31 January 2011	Succeeded by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

v · d · ePresidents of Malawi Hastings Banda • Bakili Muluzi • Bingu wa Mutharika

v · d · eChairpersons of the Organisation of African Unity and the African Union (AU) Selassie · Nasser · Nkrumah · Ankrah · Selassie · Mobutu · Boumédienne · Ahidjo · Kaunda · Daddah · Hassan II · Gowon · Barre · Amin · Ramgoolam · Bongo · Nimeiry · Tolbert · Senghor · Stevens · Moi · Mengistu · Nyerere · Diouf · Nguesso · Kaunda · Traoré · Mubarak · Museveni · Babangida · Diouf · Mubarak · Ben Ali · Meles · Biya · Mugabe · Compaoré · Bouteflika · Eyadéma · Chiluba · Mwanawasa · Mbeki · Chissano · Obasanjo · Nguesso · Kufuor · Kikwete · Gaddafi · Mutharika · Mbasogo

Persondata
Name	Mutharika, Bingu wa
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 24, 1934
Place of birth	Thyolo, Nyasaland
Date of death
Place of death