Bingu wa Mutharika (born Brightson Webster Ryson Thom; 24 February 1934 – 5 April 2012) was a Malawian politician and economist. He was President of Malawi from May 2004 until his death in April 2012. He was also President of the Democratic Progressive Party. He was also Chairperson of the African Union in 2010–2011. He died of cardiac arrest in Lilongwe while in office on 5 April 2012, at age 78.