Bakili Muluzi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Elson Bakili Muluzi
Muluzi in 2019
2nd President of Malawi
In office 24 May 1994 – 24 May 2004
Vice President	Justin Malewezi and Chakufwa Chihana
Preceded by	Hastings Banda
Succeeded by	Bingu wa Mutharika
Personal details
Born	(1943-03-17) 17 March 1943 (age 82) Machinga, Nyasaland
Political party	Malawi Congress Party (before 1992) UDF (1992–present)
Spouses	Annie Chidzira Muluzi (divorced) Patricia Fukulani ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 2011)​
Children	7, including Atupele

Elson Bakili Muluzi was born on March 17, 1943. He is a politician from Malawi. He served as the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004. He was also the leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF) political party until 2009. Muluzi became president after Hastings Banda, who had led Malawi since it became independent. Before becoming president, Muluzi worked in Banda's government as a minister. He also served as a minister and secretary general for the Malawi Congress Party for many years.

Becoming President of Malawi

In May 1994, Bakili Muluzi ran for president as the candidate for the opposition UDF party. This was Malawi's first election where more than one political party could run. Muluzi won the election with 47% of the votes. He defeated Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who had been Malawi's leader for 33 years. This victory ended Banda's long rule.

Muluzi was re-elected in June 1999. He won with 52.4% of the votes, defeating his opponent Gwanda Chakuamba. In 2002, Muluzi suggested changing Malawi's constitution. This change would have allowed him to run for president a third time. However, many people protested against this idea. The country's lawmakers and courts also strongly opposed it. Because of this, the plan was stopped.

After serving two terms, Muluzi handed over power to his chosen successor. This happened after the May 2004 election. In that election, Bingu wa Mutharika, a candidate from Muluzi's UDF party, was elected president.

Challenges During Presidency

Bakili Muluzi became a strong supporter of democracy after leaving the previous government. However, his time as president faced some challenges. One difficult period was when Malawi experienced a food shortage. This happened after some of the country's maize reserves were sold to other countries, just before a drought. This led to a famine across Malawi.

After Being President

Even with the challenges, Muluzi was a well-liked leader, especially in the southern part of Malawi. He continued to be the chairman of the UDF party. Later, he had a disagreement with President Mutharika, who had been his successor. Because of this, Mutharika left the UDF in February 2005 and started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In April 2005, Muluzi apologized to the people of Malawi for choosing Mutharika as his successor.

On July 27, 2006, Muluzi was arrested. He faced questions about how some money meant for the country was used. He was released on bail later that day. The person leading the investigation was suspended by President Mutharika shortly after Muluzi's arrest. This meant the charges had to be dropped.

Muluzi was arrested again on February 26, 2009. He faced many charges related to money and his time in office. The charges claimed he had used about 11 million US dollars of money given by other countries for his own personal use. This money came from countries like Taiwan, Morocco, and Libya.

As a former leader of a Commonwealth country, Muluzi was asked to lead a group that observed the 2012 general election in Lesotho.

Running for President Again in 2009

In early 2007, many important members of the UDF party wanted Muluzi to run for president again in 2009. On March 11, Muluzi announced that he would seek his party's nomination to be their presidential candidate. There was some debate about whether he was allowed to run again. The constitution mentioned a limit of two consecutive terms. This made some people think he could run again after being out of office for one term.

On March 17, 2008, the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) announced that they planned to investigate Muluzi. This was about the alleged 11 million dollars of donor money. The UDF party's Secretary-General said this was "political persecution."

On April 24, 2008, a UDF meeting chose Muluzi as the party's presidential candidate for 2009. He received many more votes than the other candidate.

However, on March 20, 2009, the Malawi Electoral Commission decided that Bakili Muluzi could not run for president for a third time. Muluzi challenged this decision. But on May 16, just three days before the election, the Constitutional Court ruled that Muluzi could not run again. By then, Muluzi and the UDF had decided to support John Tembo, the leader of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

On December 23, 2009, Muluzi announced that he was stepping away from active politics. He said that Friday Jumbe would replace him as the UDF leader.

2008 Arrest and Legal Questions

After President Mutharika formed his new party, the DPP, in 2005, many lawmakers joined it. The opposition parties, including the UDF, tried to have these lawmakers removed from their seats for changing parties. In May 2008, Mutharika said that Muluzi was trying to remove him from office. Mutharika called Muluzi a "coward" and accused him of plotting against the government. Muluzi denied any such plot.

Soon after, eight people connected to Muluzi were arrested in connection with the alleged plot. An arrest warrant was also issued for Muluzi, who was in the United Kingdom at the time. When police tried to search Muluzi's home, his guards did not let them in. Muluzi said he would return to Malawi despite the accusations.

When Muluzi returned on May 25, 2008, he was arrested at the airport. He had planned to speak at a UDF rally, but police surrounded the stadium. Thousands of Muluzi's supporters clashed with police after his arrest. Muluzi was taken to his home in Limbe, near Blantyre, and questioned. His home was also searched. Muluzi said the documents shown to him were "laughable and fake." He accused the government of trying to "intimidate and silence the opposition."

On May 29, Muluzi appeared in court for his bail application. He had not yet been charged. His lawyers said the arrest was "illegal" and demanded his release. The director of public prosecutions asked the court to deny bail. He said the investigation was ongoing and that releasing Muluzi could affect it.

Judge Joseph Manyumgwa granted Muluzi bail on May 30. He said that since Muluzi had not been charged, he had to be released. The judge stated that Muluzi had the right to bail, no matter how serious the alleged offense was.

In February 2009, Muluzi accused the government of trying to intimidate him. A few days later, he was charged by the Anti-Corruption Bureau with misusing aid money. He appeared in court and was released on bail. He appeared in court again on March 12, 2009, but did not enter a plea on the many charges against him. His lawyer asked for more time to study the charges.

On July 10, 2014, Muluzi was appointed as a special envoy for the Commonwealth to Swaziland. This appointment was supported by the president of Malawi, Peter Mutharika.

Personal Life

Bakili Muluzi was Malawi's first Muslim president. He was married to Annie Chidzira Muluzi and later to Patricia Shanil Muluzi while he was in office. His children include Austin Atupele Muluzi. He is also the father-in-law of Angela Zachepa.

Muluzi's first daughter, Esme Atweni Muluzi, passed away on December 12, 2016. His wife Patricia Shanil Muluzi (also known as Shanil Dzimbiri) passed away on June 10, 2024, in a plane crash. Annie Chidzira Muluzi passed away in 2021.

See also

In Spanish: Bakili Muluzi para niños