News / Africa
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika hospitalised
05 Apr 2012 at 12:23hrs | Views
LILONGWE - There are reports that the Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika today had a cardiac arrest.
The Malawian democrat (a news website) reported that the country's president had died after doctors at Kamuzu Central Hospital failed to resuscitate him when he suffered a cardiac arrest, Note this is not confirmed. http://www.malawidemocrat.com/politics/bingu-wa-mutharika-is-dead/
According to AP a Malawian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists, said 78-year-old President Bingu wa Mutharika was taken to a Lilongwe hospital Thursday morning.
Further details on his condition were not immediately available.
Mutharika is a former World Bank official once heralded for his stewardship of a southern African country that is among the world's poorest. In recent years, he has been accused of trampling on democratic rights.
Mutharika first came to power in a 2004 election, and was overwhelmingly re-elected five years later. Elections are not due again in Malawi until 2014.
During his first term, Mutharika persisted with a program to help farmers buy fertilizer even though Western donor nations and agencies said subsidies should be avoided in a free market. His subsidies were credited with boosting Malawi's economy.
In more recent years, the economy has stumbled, with shortages of fuel and foreign currency and high unemployment.
Anti-government demonstrations across Malawi last year were met with an unprecedented security crackdown that resulted in at least 19 deaths.
Malawi's relations with foreign donors have been strained by accusations Mutharika is authoritarian and responsible for human rights abuses. Last month, a U.S. aid agency that rewards good governance suspended $350 million worth of assistance to Malawi.
Mutharika also has clashed with politicians at home, including his own vice president, Joyce Banda. She was expelled from Mutharika's party and formed her own but remains vice president and under the constitution would become president if there was a sudden vacancy at the top.
More to Follow...
The Malawian democrat (a news website) reported that the country's president had died after doctors at Kamuzu Central Hospital failed to resuscitate him when he suffered a cardiac arrest, Note this is not confirmed. http://www.malawidemocrat.com/politics/bingu-wa-mutharika-is-dead/
According to AP a Malawian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists, said 78-year-old President Bingu wa Mutharika was taken to a Lilongwe hospital Thursday morning.
Further details on his condition were not immediately available.
Mutharika is a former World Bank official once heralded for his stewardship of a southern African country that is among the world's poorest. In recent years, he has been accused of trampling on democratic rights.
Mutharika first came to power in a 2004 election, and was overwhelmingly re-elected five years later. Elections are not due again in Malawi until 2014.
During his first term, Mutharika persisted with a program to help farmers buy fertilizer even though Western donor nations and agencies said subsidies should be avoided in a free market. His subsidies were credited with boosting Malawi's economy.
In more recent years, the economy has stumbled, with shortages of fuel and foreign currency and high unemployment.
Anti-government demonstrations across Malawi last year were met with an unprecedented security crackdown that resulted in at least 19 deaths.
Malawi's relations with foreign donors have been strained by accusations Mutharika is authoritarian and responsible for human rights abuses. Last month, a U.S. aid agency that rewards good governance suspended $350 million worth of assistance to Malawi.
Mutharika also has clashed with politicians at home, including his own vice president, Joyce Banda. She was expelled from Mutharika's party and formed her own but remains vice president and under the constitution would become president if there was a sudden vacancy at the top.
More to Follow...
Source - Byo24News
