Bingu wa Mutharika was a Malawian politician who served as the President of Malawi from 2004 until his death in 2012. He was a member of the Democratic Progressive Party and initially gained popularity for his economic policies, which aimed to improve agriculture and infrastructure in the country. Mutharika was born on February 24, 1934, and held various government positions before becoming president. His leadership faced criticism for authoritarian tendencies and issues related to governance. He passed away on April 5, 2012, while in office, leading to a significant political transition in Malawi.