Atupele Muluzi

Honourable
Atupele Muluzi
MP
Minister of Natural Resources,
Energy and Mining
In office
23 June 2014 – 10 April 2015
President Peter Mutharika
Succeeded by Bright Msaka
Member of Parliament
for Machinga North East
Assumed office
2004
Personal details
Born (1978-08-06) 6 August 1978
Lilongwe, Malawi
Political party United Democratic Front
Spouse(s) Angela Zachepa (m. 2013)
Relations Bakili Muluzi (father)
Children 2
Alma mater University of Leicester (BA)
University of Law
Religion Islam

Austin Atupele Muluzi (born 6 August 1978) is a Malawian politician and Member of Parliament for Machinga North East constituency since 2004. He is also the President of the United Democratic Front and was its presidential candidate during the 2014 election.[1] He was Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining from 2014 to 2015 and the only opposition member to serve in the Mutharika administration.[2] Subsequently he served as Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security in 2015, and he has been Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development since 2015.

Early life

Muluzi was born in 1978 at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.[1] He attended Saint Andrews International High School in Blantyre and Bentham Grammar School in Yorkshire, England (since absorbed by Sedbergh School) where he became its head boy. He is a graduate of the University of Leicester, United Kingdom in Economics and Law, and the College of Law in London. He is a lawyer by training.[3]

Political career

He was first elected to parliament in 2004 and continues to represent the Machinga North East constituency. He campaigned on an agenda for change.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] However permission had been granted prior to the meeting.[7] Muluzi was later arrested for inciting violence and charged for disobeying notification of a district commissioner.[8] 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.[9][10]

In June 2014, Muluzi was appointed by President Peter Mutharika as Minister of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mining.[11] He was moved to the post of Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security on 10 April 2015.[12] He was again moved, this time to the post of Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, in August 2015.[13]

Personal life

He is the son of Bakili Muluzi, Malawi's second President. The name Atupele was given to him by Malawi's first President Hastings Banda.[1] In November 2013, he married Angela Zachepa and they have two children.[14]

References

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