Bakili Muluzi

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Elson Bakili Muluzi (born March 17, 1943) was the president of Malawi from 1994 until 2004.

Muluzi, the candidate of the United Democratic Front (UDF), became president in May 1994, after defeating Malawi's leader since independence, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, in the country's first multiparty election; Muluzi took 47% of the vote. He was reelected in June 1999, taking 52.4% and defeating challenger Gwanda Chakuamba.^[1] In 2002 he proposed an amendment to Malawi's constitution that would have allowed him to run for a third term, but this was abandoned due to demonstrations against him. He therefore stepped down after elections in May 2004, which were won by the candidate of the UDF, Bingu wa Mutharika.

Muluzi came to lead the UDF after leaving the Banda government, and he became an advocate for democracy. Muluzi's time as president was marred by controversy and scandal, particularly due to the sale of Malawi's reserves of maize to other countries shortly before the onset of a drought, which resulted in famine throughout the country. Despite international pressure, the millions of dollars realized from the sale of Malawi's food reserves have never been turned over, and it is widely suspected that it wound up in foreign accounts belonging to Muluzi and his supporters.

Even with the controversy and questionable dealings, Muluzi was a popular leader, particularly in southern part of the country. He remains the head of the UDF, and after a dispute with his successor as president, Mutharika, the latter left the UDF in February 2005 and formed his own party.

On July 27, 2006 he was arrested on fraud and corruption charges;^[2] he was released on bail later that day. Hours after his arrest, the chief investigator Gustav Kaliwo was suspended by President wa Mutharika^[3] and Director of Public Prosecutions Ishmael Wadi said he had no choice but to drop the charges.

[edit] Reference

1. ^ Elections in Malawi, African Elections Database.
2. ^ Raphael Tenthani, "Former president held for corruption charges", Associated Press, July 27, 2006.
3. ^ "Malawi anti-graft chief suspended", BBC.co.uk, July 28, 2006.

Preceded by: Hastings Kamuzu Banda

President of Malawi 1994–2004

Succeeded by: Bingu wa Mutharika

Presidents of Malawi
Hastings Banda • Bakili Muluzi • Bingu wa Mutharika