Atupele Muluzi
{{Short description|Malawian politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Honourable
| name = Atupele Austin Muluzi
| honorific-suffix = MP
| image = Atupele at US Embassy (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption = Muluzi in 2018
| order =
| office = Minister of Health
| term_start = 23 June 2016
| term_end =
| president = Peter Mutharika
| predecessor =
| successor = Lazarus Chakwera
| order2 =
| office2 = Member of Parliament
for Machinga North East
| term_start2 = 2004
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|8|06|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lilongwe, Malawi
| birthname =
| nationality =
| party = United Democratic Front
| spouse = {{marriage|Angela Zachepa|2013}}
| parents = Bakili Muluzi (father)
Annie Chidzira Muluzi (mother)
| children = 2
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of Leicester {{small|(BA)}}
University of Law
| occupation =
| profession = Politician
| cabinet =
| committees =
| portfolio =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website =
| footnotes =
| blank1 =
| data1 =
}}
Atupele Muluzi (born 6 August 1978) is a Malawian politician, businessman and was a Member of Parliament for Machinga North East constituency from 2004 until May 27, 2019. He is also the President of the United Democratic Front and was a presidential candidate during the 2019 election.{{cite news|date=2013-01-31 |title=PP's meeting discuss Atupele's age: Muluzi says baby born 78 |url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/2013/01/31/pps-meeting-discuss-atupeles-age-muluzi-says-baby-born-78/ |newspaper=Nyasa Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413185125/http://www.nyasatimes.com/2013/01/31/pps-meeting-discuss-atupeles-age-muluzi-says-baby-born-78/ |archive-date=13 April 2013 |df=dmy }} He was a running mate in the 2020 presidential elections, on a coalition ticket with incumbent President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party. Muluzi was Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining from 2014 to 2015 and the only opposition member to serve in the Mutharika administration.{{cite news|date=2014-06-22 |title=Atupele in Mutharika's 20 member cabinet |url=http://www.maravipost.com/national/society/6313-atupele-in-mutharika-s-20-member-cabinet.html |newspaper=The Maravi Post |access-date=2014-06-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626060148/http://www.maravipost.com/national/society/6313-atupele-in-mutharika-s-20-member-cabinet.html |archive-date=26 June 2014 |df=dmy }} Subsequently, he served as Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security in 2015, and then Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in 2015. He is the son of the former president Bakili Muluzi.
Early life
Muluzi was born in 1978 at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe to Bakili Muluzi and Annie Chidzira Muluzi. He attended Eastridge (in Harare, Zimbabwe), Saint Andrews International High School in Blantyre and Bentham Grammar School in Yorkshire, England, where he became its head boy. He studied Economics and Law at the University of Leicester, and at the University of Law in London, United Kingdom.
Political career
He was first elected to parliament in 2004 and continued to represent the Machinga North East constituency until May 27, 2019, when he lost elections as MP and presidential candidate. He campaigned on a new beginning.[http://vimeo.com/30129589 Atupele Muluzi Vision 2014 on Vimeo]. Vimeo.com (6 October 2011).
A fierce critic of President Bingu wa Mutharika, he was arrested on 20 February 2012 on his way to a political rally where he was expected to address supporters.[https://www.voanews.com/a/opposition-malawi-lawmaker-arrested-for-torching-police-station-143500506/180215.html Opposition Malawi Lawmaker Arrested for Torching Police Station]. Voice of America.com (19 March 2012). He was stopped by the police at a road block, where he was questioned and told that he did not have proper permits to hold a public meeting.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17438072 BBC News – Atupele Muluzi arrested after Malawi riots]. BBC. (20 March 2012). However permission had been granted prior to the meeting.[http://allafrica.com/stories/201203201033.html Malawi: Ex-President's Son Arrested After Unrest]. allAfrica.com (20 March 2012). Muluzi was later arrested for inciting violence and charged for disobeying notification of a district commissioner.[http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/03/20/atupele-appeals-for-calm-in-malawi/ Atupele appeals for calm in Malawi Malawi breaking news in Malawi] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322215912/http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/03/20/atupele-appeals-for-calm-in-malawi/ |date=22 March 2012 }}. Nyasa Times. The police attacked the crowds, throwing teargas at them to disperse the rally. This incited the crowd to protest against the police and burn down a police station and surrounding police cars. Less than two weeks after Muluzi's release, President Mutharika died.
President Joyce Banda took over the reins of power and appointed Muluzi as Minister of Economic Planning and Development in her administration. He resigned after some senior members of the ruling party verbally attacked him at a political rally due to his position as the leader of an opposition party. After resigning, he began to focus on his career as the leader of his party.[http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/11/10/malawi-ruling-pp-gurus-attack-muluzi-at-jbs-mangochi-rally/ Malawi ruling PP gurus attack Muluzi at JB’s Mangochi rally Malawi breaking news in Malawi] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115074701/http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/11/10/malawi-ruling-pp-gurus-attack-muluzi-at-jbs-mangochi-rally/ |date=15 November 2012 }}. Nyasa Times. (10 November 2012).[http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/11/12/atupele-muluzi-statement-on-his-resignation-from-malawi-cabinet/ Atupele Muluzi statement on his resignation from Malawi cabinet Malawi breaking news in Malawi] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125062210/http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/11/12/atupele-muluzi-statement-on-his-resignation-from-malawi-cabinet/ |date=25 November 2012 }}. Nyasa Times.
In June 2014, Muluzi was appointed by President Peter Mutharika as Minister of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mining.[http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Malawis-president-completes-cabinet-20140623-3 "Malawi's president completes cabinet"], AFP, 23 June 2014. He was moved to the post of Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security on 10 April 2015.Thom Chiumia, [http://www.nyasatimes.com/2015/04/10/malawi-pres-mutharika-reshuffles-cabinet-muluzi-msaka-chibingu-moved/ "Malawi Pres. Mutharika reshuffles cabinet: Muluzi, Msaka, Chibingu moved"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414062353/http://www.nyasatimes.com/2015/04/10/malawi-pres-mutharika-reshuffles-cabinet-muluzi-msaka-chibingu-moved/ |date=14 April 2015 }}, Nyasa Times, 10 April 2015. He was again moved, this time to the post of Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, in August 2015.Thom Chiumia, [http://www.nyasatimes.com/2015/08/19/nankhumwa-muluzi-demoted-in-malawi-cabinet-protocol-rank/ "Nankhumwa, Muluzi demoted in Malawi cabinet protocol rank"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823051738/http://www.nyasatimes.com/2015/08/19/nankhumwa-muluzi-demoted-in-malawi-cabinet-protocol-rank/ |date=23 August 2015 }}, Nyasa Times, 19 August 2015.
After a court decision overturned the 2019 presidential election in Malawi, Muluzi formed a coalition with President Mutharika to be his running mate in the 2020 presidential elections.{{Cite web|title=Malawi president files for election rerun with ex-leader's son|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/malawi-president-files-election-rerun-leader-son-200507170549462.html|access-date=2020-06-23|website=www.aljazeera.com}}
Personal life
He is the son of Bakili Muluzi, Malawi's second President, and Annie Chidzira Muluzi, Malawi's former first lady. In November 2013, he married Angela Zachepa and they have two children.{{cite news |date=2013-11-11 |title=Atupele weds Zachepa |url= http://www.faceofmalawi.com/2013/11/atupele-weds-zachepa |newspaper=faceofmalawi.com |access-date=2014-06-26 }}
References
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Category:Alumni of the University of Leicester
Category:Government ministers of Malawi
Category:Members of the National Assembly (Malawi)
Category:United Democratic Front (Malawi) politicians