Cassim Chilumpha
Encyclopedia
Dr. Cassim Chilumpha is a Malawi
an politician who was Vice-President of Malawi from June 2004 to May 2009. He is currently a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly
.
Chilumpha is the holder of an LLB, Masters as well as a PHD, and is one of only five Senior Councels (S.C) in Malawi. A member of the United Democratic Front
(UDF), he served as a Minister in the administration of President
Bakili Muluzi
from March 1994 to 2000, then from 2003 to 2004, and again from 2004 to 2006 under President Bingu wa Mutharika
. He has served as Minister for the following (in this order): Defence, Education, Justice, Finance, Education, Statutory Corporations and Water. As part of the UDF ticket, he was Mutharika's running mate in the May 2004 presidential election and accordingly became Vice-President on 16 June 2004.
On 9 February 2006, President Mutharika sacked Chilumpha from his post as Vice-President, accusing him of attempting to run a parallel government and claiming that he had attacked the government and seriously undermined its integrity. On 10 February, however, a high court granted an injunction to prevent Chilumpha's dismissal until the Constitutional Court could decide on whether parliamentary approval was necessary for the vice-president to be dismissed.
Chilumpha was arrested at his home on 28 April 2006 for alleged treason and was transferred to custody in the capital, Lilongwe
. Chilumpha was accused of conspiring with Yusuf Matumula and Rashid Nembo to have Mutharika assassinated. Chilumpha's lawyer said that he was seeking bail for his client, and the UDF described the arrest as political persecution.
Chilumpha's trial began on 30 January 2007. He said that he was facing political persecution because of his refusal to join Mutharika's party, the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP), and in court he initially refused to enter a plea. Charges against Nembo were dropped. On 26 February, Chilumpha and Matumula pleaded not guilty.
Chilumpha sought the UDF's nomination as its presidential candidate for the 2009 election, but at the party's convention on 24 April 2008, he received only 38 votes against 1,950 votes for Bakili Muluzi. After winning the nomination, Muluzi thanked Chilumpha for presenting a challenge. Chilumpha, however, was critical of the process, and this marked the beginning of his movement away from the UDF.
After five years away from Parliament, Chilumpha ran in the May 2009 parliamentary election
as an independent candidate in Nkhotakota South Constituency, although he was still under house arrest. He defeated UDF candidate Fahad Assani in the election. When he was sworn in as an MP for the new parliamentary term, he chose to sit on the government benches. He then stated that he would be interested in joining Mutharika's DPP because the people had endorsed the DPP by giving it a parliamentary majority.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
an politician who was Vice-President of Malawi from June 2004 to May 2009. He is currently a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Malawi
The unicameral National Assembly of Malawi is the country's legislative body. It consists of Members of Parliament from each constituency. They are more commonly addressed as "Members of Parliament" or "MP's"....
.
Chilumpha is the holder of an LLB, Masters as well as a PHD, and is one of only five Senior Councels (S.C) in Malawi. A member of the United Democratic Front
United Democratic Front (Malawi)
The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994...
(UDF), he served as a Minister in the administration of President
Heads of state of Malawi
-Heads of State of Malawi :-Affiliations:*MCP - Malawi Congress Party*UDF - United Democratic Front*DPP - Democratic Progressive Party-See also:...
Bakili Muluzi
Bakili Muluzi
Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician. He was the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004 and was Chairman of the United Democratic Front until 2009.-Presidency:...
from March 1994 to 2000, then from 2003 to 2004, and again from 2004 to 2006 under President Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
. He has served as Minister for the following (in this order): Defence, Education, Justice, Finance, Education, Statutory Corporations and Water. As part of the UDF ticket, he was Mutharika's running mate in the May 2004 presidential election and accordingly became Vice-President on 16 June 2004.
On 9 February 2006, President Mutharika sacked Chilumpha from his post as Vice-President, accusing him of attempting to run a parallel government and claiming that he had attacked the government and seriously undermined its integrity. On 10 February, however, a high court granted an injunction to prevent Chilumpha's dismissal until the Constitutional Court could decide on whether parliamentary approval was necessary for the vice-president to be dismissed.
Chilumpha was arrested at his home on 28 April 2006 for alleged treason and was transferred to custody in the capital, Lilongwe
Lilongwe
Lilongwe, estimated population 902,388 as of 2009, is the capital and largest city of Malawi. It lies in the country's central region, on the Lilongwe River, near the border of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, and on the main north-south highway of Malawi, the M1.-History:The city started life as a...
. Chilumpha was accused of conspiring with Yusuf Matumula and Rashid Nembo to have Mutharika assassinated. Chilumpha's lawyer said that he was seeking bail for his client, and the UDF described the arrest as political persecution.
Chilumpha's trial began on 30 January 2007. He said that he was facing political persecution because of his refusal to join Mutharika's party, the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)
The Democratic Progressive Party is the ruling political party in Malawi. The party was formed in February 2005 by Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika after a dispute with the United Democratic Front....
(DPP), and in court he initially refused to enter a plea. Charges against Nembo were dropped. On 26 February, Chilumpha and Matumula pleaded not guilty.
Chilumpha sought the UDF's nomination as its presidential candidate for the 2009 election, but at the party's convention on 24 April 2008, he received only 38 votes against 1,950 votes for Bakili Muluzi. After winning the nomination, Muluzi thanked Chilumpha for presenting a challenge. Chilumpha, however, was critical of the process, and this marked the beginning of his movement away from the UDF.
After five years away from Parliament, Chilumpha ran in the May 2009 parliamentary election
Malawian general election, 2009
A general election was held in Malawi on 19 May 2009. President Bingu wa Mutharika ran for re-election; his main opponent was John Tembo, the President of the Malawi Congress Party . Five other candidates also ran. The election was won by Mutharika, who was re-elected to the Presidency with around...
as an independent candidate in Nkhotakota South Constituency, although he was still under house arrest. He defeated UDF candidate Fahad Assani in the election. When he was sworn in as an MP for the new parliamentary term, he chose to sit on the government benches. He then stated that he would be interested in joining Mutharika's DPP because the people had endorsed the DPP by giving it a parliamentary majority.