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Bingu wa Mutharika was 70 years old when he became President of Malawi in 2004. After winning the general elections, he succeeded Bakili Muluzi who had served two terms. Prior to his presidency, Mutharika had a distinguished career as an economist, serving in key government positions and international organizations such as the World Bank. He is remembered for his significant contributions to Malawi's economy during his tenure as President.