Malawi - Head of Government

HE Dr Bingu wa Mutharika won a second term in office as President of Malawi following a decisive victory of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in the general election on 18 May 2009. He first took office in May 2004.

Dr Mutharika was Senior Minister of Economic Planning and Development from 2003 to 2004. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi from 2001 to 2003. He also served as Secretary-General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa from 1991 to 1997.

Dr Mutharika was formerly Director of the Trade and Finance Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. He also worked at the World Bank.

Dr Mutharika spearheaded the establishment of several regional economic organisations such as the Association of African Central Banks, Conference of African Ministers of Finance, African Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Eastern and Southern Africa Business Organisation.

He has authored several books including One Africa, One Destiny: Africa’s Response to Globalisation (2007); Mabizinesi Aphindu: Mayendetsedwe Abwino Amakono (Modern Methods of Running Profitable Businesses) (2004); One Africa, One Destiny: Towards Democracy, Good Governance and Development (1995); and Towards Multinational Economic Co-operation in Africa (1972).

Dr Mutharika holds a PhD in Development Economics from the Pacific Western University, Los Angeles, USA, as well as a Master’s degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Delhi, India.

He was born on 24 February 1934 in Kamoto Village, Thyolo, Malawi.