Mahopela mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika has nursed ambitions of ruling Malawi since the Hastings Kamuzu Banda dictatorship began to unravel in

Mr Mutharika (back) has fallen out with his predecessor Bakili Muluzi (front)

But having achieved his goal last year, he could now become the first African president to be impeached.

His career began when Mr Banda, Malawi's founding father, became president in

Mr Mutharika became the first Malawian administrator in the civil service, which was then still dominated by the British.

But during the so-called "cabinet crisis" in the same year, he fled Malawi for fear that Mr Banda would associate him with the rebelling ministers.

Peter mutharika

Mr Mutharika's studies took him to Zambia, India and the United States, where he eventually obtained a doctorate in economics.

He then began a long career as an international civil servant, working for many international bodies, including the World Bank.

Chan