Bingu wa Mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika
Mutharika in 2009
3rd President of Malawi
In office
24 May 2004 – 5 April 2012
Vice President
Preceded byBakili Muluzi
Succeeded byJoyce Banda
8th Chairperson of the African Union
In office
31 January 2010 – 31 January 2011
Preceded byMuammar Gaddafi
Succeeded byTeodoro Obiang Nguema
Personal details
Born
Brightson Webster Ryson Thom

(1934-02-24)24 February 1934
Thyolo, Nyasaland
Died5 April 2012(2012-04-05) (aged 78)
Lilongwe, Malawi
NationalityMalawian
Political partyDPP (2005–2012)
Other political
affiliations
UDF (1986–2005)
Spouses
(m. 1984; died 2007)
(m. 2010)
Children4
RelativesPeter Mutharika (brother)
Alma materUniversity of Delhi
California Miramar University
ProfessionEconomist

Bingu wa Mutharika (/muˈtærɪkə/; born Brightson Webster Ryson Thom; 24 February 1934 – 5 April 2012) was a Malawian politician and economist who was President of Malawi from May 2004 until his death in April 2012. He was also President of the Democratic Progressive Party, which he founded in February 2005; it obtained a majority in Malawi's parliament in the 2009 general election.

During his two terms in office, he was noted for being the Chairperson of the African Union in 2010–2011, as well as for several domestic controversies. In 2009, he purchased a private presidential jet for $13.26 million. 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 freezing of aid by the international community.[1] He died in office from a cardiac arrest on 5 April 2012, at age 78.

  1. ^ "Britain reduces aid to Malawi over presidential jet". Reuters. 10 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011.