Bingu wa Mutharika

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 Gaddafi
Succeeded by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Personal details
Born 24 February 1934 (1934-02-24) (age 77)
Thyolo, Nyasaland
(now Malawi)
Political party Democratic Progressive Party (2005–present)
Other political
affiliations
United Democratic Front (Before 2005)
Spouse(s) Ethel Mutharika (Before 2007)
Callista Chimombo (2010–present)
Children 4
Alma mater University of Delhi
California Miramar University
Religion Roman Catholicism[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 his 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, while the DPP also obtained a parliamentary majority.

Contents

Personal life

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

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, Mutharika was actually a beneficiary of Banda's development programs. Shortly after the Cabinet Crisis in 1964, 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 India, Mutharika earned his Bachelor's degree in Economics. En route 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 group of 32 Malawians into his home, hosting them until the team boarded the ship to cross the Indian Ocean.

Family life

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 and Ethel had four children together. After a long battle with cancer that led her to France and South Africa seeking treatment, Mutharika's wife died on May 28, 2007. A day of mourning was declared for her [26] on January 22, 2010, and in December 2010 Mutharika unveiled a two-story, multi-million dollar mausoleum in her honor.

Callista Mutharika (Chapola-Chimombo)

Later in 2010, Mutharika announced he planned to marry Callista Chapola-Chimombo, a former Minister of Tourism who was 50.[27]. The two were married in 2010 in a K200 million wedding at the Civo Stadium in Lilongwe. The wedding was funded at public expense.

Peter Mutharika

Mutharika's brother, Peter Mutharika, was 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] He is the current Minister of education in Malawi. Mutharika is promoting his younger brother to take the reins of the presidency, and Peter Mutharika is widely expected to be the DPP candidate for President of Malawi in the 2014 elections.

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.A.(Economics)(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.

Career and politics

Early career

Mutharika served in the Malawi civil service and spent a period of time in the government of Zambia. In 1978, Mutharika joined the United Nations, 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.

Early political career

After Banda was forced to liberalise his regime, Mutharika claimed to be 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.

President and first term (2004-2009)

President Mutharika and the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, in a state visit of the Malawi leader to Brasília.

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]

Tensions with Muluzi and 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]

Legacy of Banda

Mutharika has upheld the memory of Hastings Banda as a national hero, saying that he would continue Banda's work.[12] 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.[13] Mutharika was present at the May 2006 unveiling of a mausoleum for Banda that cost US$620,000.[12]

Re-election and second term (2009-2014)

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.[14]

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.[15] Mutharika was inaugurated for a second term as President on 22 May 2009.[15]

Second term

The President's 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 budget support has been cut to the cost of the jet, over the next two years.[16][17] <[18] The overall cost to the economy (and healthcare system) is huge.[citation needed] Bingu has also come under pressure because of his persistent persecution of the church in the north of the country, last year throwing a highly regarded member of the clergy in gaol, a decision which he would later regret.[citation needed]

Reinstating Education Quota System

Bingu wa Mutharika is re-instituting a quota system for student selection into the University of Malawi.[19] 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.[20] 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.[20] The Malawian courts set out to block this move.[20] 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[21]

Flag Change

In 2010, the administration changed the national flag of Malawi without any national debate or input.[22] Civil societies in Malawi and the opposition were against this move, and called for a referendum on the issue.[23]

British envoy expulsion

In April 2011, the British Ambassador Fergus Cochrane-Dyet was given a formal letter of expulsion because the tone in a leaked cable was considered undiplomatic.[24][25] Cochrane-Dyet was told to leave the country for calling Mutharika intolerant. Cochrane-Dyet said Mutharika was "becoming ever more autocratic and intolerant of criticism." [24] In response, Britain ordered the acting High Commissioner of Malawi to leave the country, withdrew an invitation to Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding and threatened to suspend aid to Malawi.[24][25] This strained relations between Malawi and Britain.[24][25]

Elections 2014 & Retirement

Third Term

The president refused to seek a third term although some of his lieutenants asked him to extend his term of office. He later made a bid for third term- which was blocked by parliament and the opposition. The president has also supported a bid for his successor to be his brother, Peter Mutharika instead of the vice-president, Joyce Banda which resulted in factions within the DPP party.

Malawi Electoral Commission

In a controversial move,on December 10, 2010, the President suspended the MEC for not being able to account for money.[26] An audit report by private auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PwC) revealed millions meant for the forthcoming April 2011 Local Government Elections (LGEs) could not be accounted for.[27] A few days after this suspension, a High Court judge, Justice Anaclet Chipeta, granted an injunction stopping the president from firing the commissioners.[27]

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.[28] Mutharika is Malawis first head of state to assume the position of AU chair.[29] 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.

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.[30] On July 26, he attended the AU summit in Kampala, Uganda.[30] 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.[30] They adopted the African Food Basket Initiative here which was presented to the UN on September 29, 2010.[30] On September 6, 2010, he attended the inauguration of Rwandas Paul Kagame.[30] He attended the Iran-Africa Conference which aimed at strengthening ties between Iran and African countries.[30] 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.[30] Malawi hosted Africas first conference that brought together Ministers of Agriculture in Africa where they were urged to fight for subsidies in agriculture.[30] He did not attend the Africa-EU Trade summit in Libya but no official reason was provided for this move.[30] During his tenure, he joined international calls for Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast to accept defeat in 2010 elections in the Ivory Coast.[30]

2011 Malawian protests

During Mutharika's second term, Malawians became increasingly discontent with the economy and governance in the Mutharika administration. This discontent was compounded by a series of events in 2011: the diplomatic row with England that resulted in British cutting aid, the introduction of the Zero Deficit Budget, a fuel crisis and foreign exchange crisis, and suppression of academic freedom at the University of Malawi. After failed attempts to engage the government in dialogue, civil society groups, NGOs and 'concerned citizens' in Malawi decided to hold a mass peaceful protest against the Mutharika administration. The Mutharika administration attempted to block the protests through an injunction. After substantial planning, on 20 July 2011 Malawians all over the country held nation-wide demonstrations against the Mutharika government for its failure to fulfill its promises. Protesters were dressed in red T-shirts and were affectionately known as the 'Red Army'. Mutharika held a public lecture on the same day but was not attended by any media houses. The protests began as peaceful protests but later turned violent. Protesters began chanting "Bingu must go" after the clampdowns. There was looting aimed at Mutharika's business allies' properties and widespread violence all over the country where protesters clashed with the police. At least 18 people were killed.[31]

External links

Now after Cabinet reshuffle, Peter Mutharika holds Minister of Education, Science & Technology on August 11, 2010 as reported by http://www.nyasatimes.com.

References

  1. ^ Tenthani, Raphael (August 10, 2007). "Profile: Bingu wa Mutharika". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3740547.stm. Retrieved April 26, 2010. 
  2. ^ a b Elections in Malawi, African Elections Database.
  3. ^ "Malawian president reveals ambitions for re-election", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), October 9, 2006.
  4. ^ "Malawi's Mutharika nominated for re-election", AFP, October 22, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Political squabbles hamper governance, says conflict report", IRIN, May 26, 2006.
  6. ^ "Mutharika resigns from party, reshuffles cabinet", IRIN, February 7, 2005.
  7. ^ "Political infighting could destabilise govt", IRIN, January 31, 2005.
  8. ^ "Mutharika frees party leaders involved in "assassination" plot", IRIN, January 7, 2005.
  9. ^ "Malawi president 'a bad choice'", BBC News, April 5, 2005.
  10. ^ "Sacked Malawi minister detained", BBC News, September 14, 2005.
  11. ^ "Concern over threat of renewed political instability", IRIN, May 2, 2006.
  12. ^ a b "Mutharika pays Banda a US$620,000 tribute", IRIN, May 17, 2006.
  13. ^ "Malawian president orders three facilities named after founding father Banda.", BBC Monitoring International Reports (accessmylibrary.com), September 15, 2004.
  14. ^ http://www.afrobarometer.org/Summary%20of%20Results/Round%204/mlw_R4SOR_19mar09_final.pdf
  15. ^ a b "Malawi president wins re-election". BBC. 22 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8062740.stm. Retrieved 22 May 2009. 
  16. ^ "Britain reduces aid to Malawi over presidential jet". Reuters. 10 March 2010. http://af.reuters.com/article/malawiNews/idAFLDE62921I20100310?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0. 
  17. ^ "Malawi: Fuel shortage deepens". Africa News. 11 November 2009. http://www.africanews.com/site/Malawi_Fuel_shortage_deepens/list_messages/27986. 
  18. ^ "Forex shortage crimps Malawi ministers’ foreign trips". Nyasa Times. 19 November 2009. http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/forex-shortage-crimps-malawi-ministers-foreign-trips.html. 
  19. ^ Namangale, Frank (21 Oct 2009). "Munlo rebuffs Unima in quota system case". Nation Online: The Window on Malawi. http://www.nationmw.net/newsdetail.asp?article_id=3584. Retrieved 7 Nov 2009. [dead link]
  20. ^ a b c http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20081121091722854
  21. ^ http://www.nyasatimes.com/education/livingstonia-synod-criticises-malawi-university-%E2%80%98quota-system%E2%80%99.html
  22. ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iTvX1P7SS3SJzto4zrdkZU9hAe_A
  23. ^ http://www.africanews.com/site/Malawi_consecrate_new_flag/list_messages/33940
  24. ^ a b c d http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179180.html
  25. ^ a b c http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14154485
  26. ^ http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10530:bingu-suspends-mec&catid=62:national-news&Itemid=59
  27. ^ a b http://www.africanews.com/site/Malawi_Court_reverses_president_decision/list_messages/36545
  28. ^ http://www.maravipost.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2405:only-bingu-for-au-chair-banda&catid=54:politics&Itemid=124
  29. ^ http://www.maravipost.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2405:only-bingu-for-au-chair-banda&catid=54:politics&Itemid=1244
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11966:the-year-bingu-assumed-au-chairmanship&catid=288:2010-reviews
  31. ^ http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE76K08420110721?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true
Political offices
Preceded by
Bakili Muluzi
President of Malawi
2004–present
Incumbent
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Muammar Gaddafi
Chairperson of the African Union
2010–2011
Succeeded by
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

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