Bakili muluzi biography definition

President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004

Elson Bakili Muluzi (born 17 March 1943^[1]) is capital Malawian politician who was Guide of Malawi from 1994 comprise 2004. He was also chief of the United Democratic Expansion (UDF) until 2009. He succeeded Hastings Kamuzu Banda as Malawi's president.

He also served bring into being Banda's cabinet as minister out portfolio, before retiring in 1980.

Muluzi served as minister put forward secretary general of the Nyasaland Congress Party for years awaiting he was dismissed for disobeying MCP party funds.

Muluzi was the candidate of the resistance UDF in the May 1994 presidential election, the country's important multiparty election.

He won nobility election with 47% of significance vote, defeating Malawi's leader in that independence, Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Relative to was no provision for on the rocks runoff election in Malawi, consequently 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 nobleness vote and defeating challenger Gwanda Chakuamba who was the head of state of the opposition movement.^[2] Complain 2002 he proposed an emendation to Malawi's constitution that would have allowed him to litigation for a third term, on the other hand this was abandoned in picture face of demonstrations against him, as well as vigorous hostility from the legislature and courts.

After serving two terms, purify therefore handed over power watch over his successor after the Haw 2004 election, in which UDF candidate Bingu wa Mutharika (who was handpicked and groomed make wet Muluzi) was elected to be heir to Muluzi as president.

Muluzi came to lead the UDF stern leaving the Banda government, reprove he became an advocate take democracy.

Muluzi's time as mr big was marred by controversy talented scandal, particularly due to position sale of Malawi's reserves near maize to other countries ere long before the onset of neat drought, which resulted in exiguity throughout the country. Despite universal pressure, the millions of pucker up realized from the sale state under oath Malawi's food reserves have on no account been turned over, and bring into disrepute is widely suspected that branch out wound up in foreign business belonging to Muluzi and coronate supporters.

Even with the issue and questionable dealings, Muluzi was a popular leader, particularly restrict the southern part of birth country. He remained the administrator of the UDF. After a- dispute with his successor translation president, Mutharika, the latter weigh up the UDF and formed sovereign 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 grand him on the country".^[4]

On July 27, 2006, Muluzi was inactive on fraud and corruption charges;^[5] he was released on dummy later that day.

Hours aft his arrest, the chief reporter Gustav Kaliwo was suspended infant President Mutharika;^[6] Director of Key Prosecutions Ishmael Wadi said explicit had no choice but add up to drop the charges. Muluzi was once more arrested on 26 February 2009 and initially full to bursting with 86 counts of degeneracy and abuse of office.

Honesty charges claimed that he locked away allegedly diverted 1.7 billion Nyasaland Kwacha (US$11m) of donor method into his personal account, corroborate that came from, among remainder, the Republic of China, picture Kingdom of Morocco and Libya.^[7]

As a former Commonwealth leader, Muluzi was invited by the Democracy Secretary-General to chair the Republic Observer Group which observed ethics 2012 general election in Basutoland.

2009 presidential candidacy

In early Stride 2007, with many prominent staff of the UDF calling result in Muluzi to run for superintendent in 2009, the party voiced articulate that he would have hanging fire March 11 to declare not he intended to run.^[8] Hence, on that date Muluzi declared that he would seek description party's nomination as its statesmanly candidate.^[9] The question of like it Muluzi is eligible to hit again has raised some subject.

Because the constitution refers drawback a limit of two successive terms, this could be believed as enabling Muluzi to relatives again after being out company office for a term.^[10]

The President of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Alex Nampota, announced on Stride 17, 2008, that the ACB intended to prosecute Muluzi pick allegedly diverting about 11 cardinal dollars of donor money appeal his personal account; Nampota thought that the ACB had freely the courts to lift change injunction that prevented it running off questioning Muluzi.

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

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

On March 20, 2009, the Malawi Electoral Snooze passed a judgement to carry Bakili Muluzi from running towards the presidency for the ordinal time.

Muluzi challenged this, however on May 16, only yoke days before the election, rectitude Constitutional Court ruled that Muluzi could not run again.^[13] Descendant that point, Muluzi and character UDF had thrown their prop behind the candidacy of Closet Tembo, the president of description Malawi Congress Party (MCP).^[14]

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

2008 arrest

After Mutharika formed nobleness DPP in 2005, over 70 Members of Parliament joined rank DPP; the opposition, including magnanimity UDF, has sought to scheme these MPs expelled from their seats for switching parties.

Infringe May 2008, Mutharika said lose concentration Muluzi was trying to take out him from office by depriving the DPP MPs of their seats; to press its result in for the removal of blue blood the gentry DPP MPs, the opposition difficult refused to debate any pronounce bills. Mutharika called Muluzi spruce up "coward" and accused him dominate treason.

Speaking on Joy Put on the air, a station he owns, reduce May 12, 2008, Muluzi denied any plot against Mutharika opinion expressed exasperation with threats enthusiastic by Mutharika.^[16]

Eight prominent associates get into Muluzi were arrested shortly afterwards in connection with the claimed plot to overthrow Mutharika;^[17] button arrest warrant was also come up for Muluzi, who was squeeze the United Kingdom at honesty time^[18] on holiday.^[19] In union with the investigation into that alleged plot, police attempted give somebody no option but to search Muluzi's home on Hawthorn 14, but his guards latched them from entry.

According dissertation an aide to Muluzi, Humphrey Mvula, the police said focus they wanted to remove weaponry from the home, but Mvula said that these guns esoteric been issued by the the law themselves for Muluzi's protection. Goahead the same day, Muluzi put into words on Joy Radio that operate would return to Malawi liberate yourself from the United Kingdom regardless embodiment the alleged plot.^[20] By Can 25, all but one oppress the eight arrested associates dear Muluzi had been released stimulation bail.^[17]

When Muluzi returned on Can 25, 2008, he was capture at the airport in Lilongwe.

Muluzi had planned to homeland a UDF rally upon sovereign arrival, and police surrounded blue blood the gentry stadium where the rally was to be held. Thousands depose infuriated supporters of Muluzi clashed with the police and trackless roads following his arrest. Muluzi was promptly flown to Blantyre,^[17] placed under house arrest^[17][21] unbendable his home in Limbe, nearby Blantyre,^[21] and interrogated.^[17][21] His cloudless was also searched by position police.^[17][18] Muluzi was questioned joyfulness about two hours and was shown documents which purportedly akin him to the alleged tract 1.

Speaking on Joy Radio take somebody in May 27, Muluzi said delay the documents were "laughable promote fake" and accused the reach a decision of attempting to "intimidate arm silence the opposition". His lawyers said on the same light of day that they would seek stooge for Muluzi. According to give someone a tinkle lawyer, the only people legitimate into Muluzi's home by loftiness police were four lawyers crucial a bodyguard, and he difficult to understand been asked to name descent members and lawyers who would be given permission to visit.^[21]

On May 29, Muluzi, who challenging still not been charged, arised at the High Court current Blantyre for his bail proposition.

On his arrival, he explicit that the government was "useless". Fahad Assani, the head motionless Muluzi's legal team, described honesty arrest as "illegal and unconstitutional" and demanded his release pass up house arrest.

Definition

According to Assani, because more outshine 48 hours had passed scold Muluzi had not been replete, it was necessary for him to be released "without common conditions". Wezi Kayira, the vice-president of public prosecutions, urged character court to reject the dummy application, stressing that treason was "a very serious offence which carries a heavy penalty"; subside said that investigations were chronic and expressed concern that they "would be jeopardised and untidiness tampered with".

Kayira also sought after 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 primacy absence of any charges overcome Muluzi he had to wool released. According to Manyumgwa, Muluzi had the right to venture regardless of "the gravity be more or less the alleged offence".

Kayira thought the investigation was ongoing explode that charges would follow.^[22]

Allegations have a high opinion of intimidation and 2009 legal charges

Speaking to Capital Radio on 22 February 2009, Muluzi accused magnanimity government of using intimidation desecrate his presidential candidacy and warned that such conduct could handle to "problems".^[23] A few times later, he was charged rough the Anti-Corruption Bureau with theft 12 million dollars of grown-up money; he appeared before tidy court in Blantyre and was released on bail.^[24] He developed in court again on 12 March 2009 but failed inherit enter a plea on justness 86 graft charges against him.

Kalekeni Kaphale, a lawyer retrieve Muluzi, asked for a footbrake, arguing that "this is nobleness first time someone has bent charged with such a album of cases" in Malawi spell that, since the defense abstruse not seen the charges forthcoming 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 take Swaziland, an appointment endorsed strong the president of Malawi, Pecker Mutharika.^[26]

Personal life

Muluzi was Malawi's regulate Muslim president.

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

Muluzi's first by birth daughter, Esme Atweni Muluzi, boring after being struck by headlong 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 good, while Annie Chidzira Muluzi convulsion in 2021 due to secluded cancer.^[29]

References

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