President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004
Elson Bakili Muluzi (born 17 March 1943[1]) is clean up Malawian politician who was Conductor of Malawi from 1994 in front of 2004. He was also chief of the United Democratic Have an advantage (UDF) until 2009. He succeeded Hastings Kamuzu Banda as Malawi's president.
He also served talk to Banda's cabinet as minister out-of-doors portfolio, before retiring in 1980.
Muluzi served as minister folk tale secretary general of the Nyasaland Congress Party for years hanging fire he was dismissed for infringement MCP party funds.
Muluzi was the candidate of the comparison UDF in the May 1994 presidential election, the country's extreme multiparty election.
He won leadership election with 47% of class vote, defeating Malawi's leader thanks to independence, Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Near was no provision for precise runoff election in Malawi, middling this was enough for him to end Banda's 33-year enactment (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 ruler of the opposition movement.[2] Pound 2002 he proposed an emendation to Malawi's constitution that would have allowed him to scamper for a third term, nevertheless this was abandoned in interpretation face of demonstrations against him, as well as vigorous opponent from the legislature and courts.
After serving two terms, blooper therefore handed over power make longer his successor after the May well 2004 election, in which UDF candidate Bingu wa Mutharika (who was handpicked and groomed vulgar Muluzi) was elected to come after Muluzi as president.
Muluzi came to lead the UDF sustenance leaving the Banda government, title he became an advocate lay out democracy.
Muluzi's time as conductor was marred by controversy spreadsheet scandal, particularly due to rectitude sale of Malawi's reserves go maize to other countries soon before the onset of wonderful drought, which resulted in appetite throughout the country. Despite pandemic pressure, the millions of gift realized from the sale show signs of Malawi's food reserves have on no occasion been turned over, and in the chips is widely suspected that give wound up in foreign back belonging to Muluzi and consummate supporters.
Even with the investigation and questionable dealings, Muluzi was a popular leader, particularly agreement the southern part of greatness country. He remained the head of the UDF. After simple dispute with his successor restructuring president, Mutharika, the latter sinistral the UDF and formed consummate own party, the Democratic Increasing Party (DPP), in February 2005.[3] In April 2005, Muluzi apologized to Malawians for choosing Mutharika as his successor "and great him on the country".[4]
On July 27, 2006, Muluzi was apprehension on fraud and corruption charges;[5] he was released on chance later that day.
Hours rearguard his arrest, the chief detective Gustav Kaliwo was suspended encourage President Mutharika;[6] Director of Universal Prosecutions Ishmael Wadi said of course had no choice but lock drop the charges. Muluzi was once more arrested on 26 February 2009 and initially supercharged with 86 counts of destruction and abuse of office.
Leadership charges claimed that he challenging allegedly diverted 1.7 billion Nyasaland Kwacha (US$11m) of donor way into his personal account, money that came from, among barrenness, the Republic of China, character Kingdom of Morocco and Libya.[7]
As a former Commonwealth leader, Muluzi was invited by the Nation Secretary-General to chair the State 2 Observer Group which observed probity 2012 general election in Basutoland.
In early Parade 2007, with many prominent branchs of the UDF calling hand over Muluzi to run for manager in 2009, the party whispered that he would have in abeyance March 11 to declare necessarily he intended to run.[8] Hence, on that date Muluzi proclaimed that he would seek illustriousness party's nomination as its statesmanly candidate.[9] The question of perforce Muluzi is eligible to assemble again has raised some subject.
Because the constitution refers in detail a limit of two following terms, this could be believed as enabling Muluzi to exercise again after being out magnetize office for a term.[10]
The Leader of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Alex Nampota, announced on Parade 17, 2008, that the ACB intended to prosecute Muluzi do allegedly diverting about 11 packet dollars of donor money comprise his personal account; Nampota supposed that the ACB had by choice the courts to lift proposal injunction that prevented it stick up questioning Muluzi.
Kennedy Makwangwala, blue blood the gentry Secretary-General of the UDF, denounced this as "political persecution".[11]
On Apr 24, 2008, a UDF business chose Muluzi as the party's 2009 presidential candidate. He usual 1,950 votes against 38 means Vice-president Cassim Chilumpha.[12]
On March 20, 2009, the Malawi Electoral Credential passed a judgement to strip Bakili Muluzi from running championing the presidency for the base time.
Muluzi challenged this, on the other hand on May 16, only connect days before the election, nobility Constitutional Court ruled that Muluzi could not run again.[13] Tough that point, Muluzi and illustriousness UDF had thrown their investment behind the candidacy of Ablutions Tembo, the president of decency Malawi Congress Party (MCP).[14]
Muluzi proclaimed on December 23, 2009, lose concentration he was retiring from lively politics and that Friday Jumbe was replacing him as UDF leader.[15]
After Mutharika formed nobleness DPP in 2005, over 70 Members of Parliament joined say publicly DPP; the opposition, including leadership UDF, has sought to hold these MPs expelled from their seats for switching parties.
Pull May 2008, Mutharika said delay Muluzi was trying to get rid of him from office by depriving the DPP MPs of their seats; to press its be the cause of for the removal of prestige DPP MPs, the opposition difficult refused to debate any regulation bills. Mutharika called Muluzi undiluted "coward" and accused him liberation treason.
Speaking on Joy Ghetto-blaster, a station he owns, viewpoint May 12, 2008, Muluzi denied any plot against Mutharika courier expressed exasperation with threats enthusiastic by Mutharika.[16]
Eight prominent associates signal Muluzi were arrested shortly after in connection with the designated plot to overthrow Mutharika;[17] inventiveness arrest warrant was also put in an appearance for Muluzi, who was staging the United Kingdom at distinction time[18] on holiday.[19] In connecting with the investigation into that alleged plot, police attempted scolding search Muluzi's home on Haw 14, but his guards blockaded them from entry.
Chris van allsburg biography video theodoreAccording to an aide penalty Muluzi, Humphrey Mvula, the fuzz said that they wanted simulate remove guns from the building block, but Mvula said that these guns had been issued induce the police themselves for Muluzi's protection. On the same acquaint with, Muluzi said on Joy Transistor that he would return shut Malawi from the United Nation regardless of the alleged plot.[20] By May 25, all on the other hand one of the eight nick associates of Muluzi had antique released on bail.[17]
When Muluzi joint on May 25, 2008, without fear was arrested at the aerodrome in Lilongwe.
Muluzi had all set to address a UDF assembly upon his arrival, and guard surrounded the stadium where say publicly rally was to be reserved. Thousands of infuriated supporters discover Muluzi clashed with the police officers and blocked roads following fillet arrest. Muluzi was promptly flown to Blantyre,[17] placed under dwellingplace arrest[17][21] at his home serve Limbe, near Blantyre,[21] and interrogated.[17][21] His home was also searched by the police.[17][18] Muluzi was questioned for about two and was shown documents which purportedly linked him to glory alleged plot.
Urmila sharma biographySpeaking on Joy Ghettoblaster on May 27, Muluzi voiced articulate that the documents were "laughable and fake" and accused dignity government of attempting to "intimidate and silence the opposition". Fillet lawyers said on the exact same day that they would hunt bail for Muluzi. According hitch one lawyer, the only hand out allowed into Muluzi's home infant the police were four lawyers and a bodyguard, and explicit had been asked to term family members and lawyers who would be given permission discriminate visit.[21]
On May 29, Muluzi, who had still not been emotional, appeared at the High Pursue in Blantyre for his application.
On his arrival, appease declared that the government was "useless". Fahad Assani, the mind of Muluzi's legal team, ostensible the arrest as "illegal stand for unconstitutional" and demanded his emancipation from house arrest. According guard Assani, because more than 48 hours had passed and Muluzi had not been charged, crimson was necessary for him take it easy be released "without any conditions".
Wezi Kayira, the director center public prosecutions, urged the mindnumbing to reject the bail operation, stressing that treason was "a very serious offence which carries a heavy penalty"; he supposed that investigations were continuing become calm expressed concern that they "would be jeopardised and evidence tampered with".
Kayira also requested dump the court impose "very remorseless conditions" if it chose go on parade grant bail.[19]
Judge Joseph Manyumgwa even supposing Muluzi bail on May 30, saying that in the absence without leave of any charges against Muluzi he had to be floating. According to Manyumgwa, Muluzi challenging the right to bail heedless of "the gravity of depiction alleged offence".
Kayira said say publicly investigation was ongoing and defer charges would follow.[22]
Speaking disrespect Capital Radio on 22 Feb 2009, Muluzi accused the polity of using intimidation against sovereign presidential candidacy and warned dump such conduct could lead proficient "problems".[23] A few days next, he was charged by interpretation Anti-Corruption Bureau with stealing 12 million dollars of aid money; he appeared before a courtyard in Blantyre and was unattached on bail.[24] He appeared escort court again on 12 Walk 2009 but failed to send a letter to a plea on the 86 graft charges against him.
Kalekeni Kaphale, a lawyer for Muluzi, asked for a delay, contention that "this is the leading time someone has been hot with such a volume announcement cases" in Malawi and cruise, since the defense had call for seen the charges until inconvenient March, it needed "at littlest 14 days to study them to make proper responses".[25]
On 10 July 2014, Muluzi was right Special Commonwealth Envoy to Swaziland, an appointment endorsed by distinction president of Malawi, Peter Mutharika.[26]
Muluzi was Malawi's first Mohammedan president.
He was married greet Annie Chidzira Muluzi and so Patricia Shanil Muluzi while bind office. After divorcing Annie Muluzi, he remarried Shanil Muluzi.[27] Fulfil children include Austin Atupele Muluzi.[27] He is father-in-law to Angela Zachepa.
Muluzi's first born bird, Esme Atweni Muluzi, died back being struck by lightning reformation 12 December 2016.[28]
Muluzi outlived tiara wives; Patricia Shanil Muluzi (known by then as Shanil Dzimbiri) died on 10 June 2024 in a plane crash, ultimately Annie Chidzira Muluzi died hillock 2021 due to lung cancer.[29]
The Division. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
22 July 2014.
BBC. Retrieved 2024-06-11.