Bakili Muluzi

Elson Bakili Muluzi (born March 17, 1943) was the president of Malawi from 1994 until 2004. He became president in 1994, elected to replace former strongman, Hastings Kamuzu Banda. In 2002 he proposed an amendment to the Malawi constitution that would have allowed him to run for a third term, but this was abandoned due to demonstrations. He therefore stepped down following elections in May 2004, which were won by the candidate of his party, the United Democratic Front.

Muluzi's reign as President has been marred by controversy and scandal, particularly the sale of Malawi's maize reserves to other countries shortly before the onset of a drought with resultant famine throughout the country. Despite international pressure, the millions of dollars realized from the sale of Malawi's food reserves have never been found, and it is widely suspected that it wound up in foreign accounts belonging either to Muluzi alone or to Muluzi and key supporters.