Harry Thomson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Harry Thomson a.k.a “Clean Harry” is a Malawian business man, Minister and politician . He was born in Zomba, the capital of Nyasaland
(present day Malawi
)in 1934. He is a founding member of the UDF party and former Minister of Trade and Industry.
from primary school to secondary school in hopes that he would join the medical profession. As was a boy scout
in secondary school he gained interest and experience in working with the people of community.
He returned to Malawi in 1950 and began work as a motor mechanic and run his own business for a few years. He soon became interested in Management and studied management.
He is grandfather to Theo Thomson
.
that aimed at resisting the one-party rule of Kamuzu Banda. Muluzi was heading the Transport Association, and had become a chamber member after leaving Kamauz Bandas cabinet. The chamber became the foundation of the United Democratic Front
. They began to agitate the MCP government under growing protests nation-wide over Bandas reign and this resulted in associates being arrested or sent away. Protests After Banda agreed to a national referendum to see if the present government, a one-party state, should be continued or to go into multi-party.
He traveled the country telling people the advantages of multi-party as opposed to the disadvantages prior to the 1994 elections.
In May of 1994, elections were won by the United Democratic Front (UDF), with Bakili Muluzi as the first democratic president of Malawi.
North.
After unanimous verdict by the UDF party's National Executive Committee (NEC) that Thomson take over the chairmanship of the party, Muluzi decided to override the decision. Thomson resigned UDF in 2004 in protest over the nomination of President Bingu wa Mutharika
joining the NDA. By May 2009, he resigned from active politics in Malawi.
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
(present day Malawi
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...
)in 1934. He is a founding member of the UDF party and former Minister of Trade and Industry.
Personal Life
He was born to a family of 5 children. He had a Scottish grandfather and African, black grandmother, so the family referred to themselves as EuroAfrican which was the fashion of the time. His stern religious parents sent him to boarding school in RhodesiaRhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
from primary school to secondary school in hopes that he would join the medical profession. As was a boy scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
in secondary school he gained interest and experience in working with the people of community.
He returned to Malawi in 1950 and began work as a motor mechanic and run his own business for a few years. He soon became interested in Management and studied management.
He is grandfather to Theo Thomson
Theo Thomson
Theo Thomson is a Malawian born musician, song writer and record label owner. Thomson is owner of the Blantyre-based Matalala Recording Studio.He lived in the UK, where he began to gain an interest in music a performing and moved back to Malawi to expand his music career. His father is a former DJ...
.
Public Service & Foundation of the UDF
He was elected Chairman of the National Chamber of Commerce of Malawi for 10 years and was also Chairman of the Southern Regional Business Council for 6 years. As Chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce He traveled and was part of an underground movement that included Bakili MuluziBakili 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:...
that aimed at resisting the one-party rule of Kamuzu Banda. Muluzi was heading the Transport Association, and had become a chamber member after leaving Kamauz Bandas cabinet. The chamber became the foundation of the United Democratic Front
United Democratic Front
*United Democratic Front *United Democratic Front *United Democratic Front , a political party in Malawi, which won the 2005 general election.*United Democratic Front *United Democratic Front...
. They began to agitate the MCP government under growing protests nation-wide over Bandas reign and this resulted in associates being arrested or sent away. Protests After Banda agreed to a national referendum to see if the present government, a one-party state, should be continued or to go into multi-party.
He traveled the country telling people the advantages of multi-party as opposed to the disadvantages prior to the 1994 elections.
In May of 1994, elections were won by the United Democratic Front (UDF), with Bakili Muluzi as the first democratic president of Malawi.
Political Career
He was one of the founding members of the UDF. After The Muluzi government won the elections, Thomson served as the Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs. Thomson, who has served UDF for 17 years and stood for parliament in ChikwawaChikwawa
Chikwawa is a town located in the Southern Region of Malawi. It is the administrative capital of Chikwawa District....
North.
After unanimous verdict by the UDF party's National Executive Committee (NEC) that Thomson take over the chairmanship of the party, Muluzi decided to override the decision. Thomson resigned UDF in 2004 in protest over the nomination of 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...
joining the NDA. By May 2009, he resigned from active politics in Malawi.