Bingu Wa Mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika (born Brightson Webster Ryson Thom; 24 February 1934 – 5 April 2012) was a Malawian politician and economist who was President of Malawi from May 2004 until his death. He was also President of the Democratic Progressive Party, which he founded in February 2005; it obtained a majority in Malawi's parliament in the 2009 general election. During his two terms in office he was noted for presiding over the African Union in 2010–2011, as well as several domestic controversies. He died of a heart attack in Lilongwe on 5 April 2012.