Chilima under fire for describing Malawi dictator Kamuzu as ‘champion of democracy’
State vice-president Saulos Chilima has come under intense fire for describing founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda – an autocrat with a streak of brutality who ruled Malawi for 31 years of one-party dictatorship – as champion of democracy.
Chilima, whose party, UTM is in political alliance with Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and seven other tiny parties, described Kamuzu Banda as a “champion of democracy” for accepting to hold a referendum on June 14, 1993 on whether the country should adopt multiparty democracy or not.
He said this during the commemoration of Kamuzu Day events on Thursday at the former head of state’s mausoleum in Lilongwe.
However, the 1994 elections were held only after anti-government riots and an aid freeze by Western donors, who pressured Kamuzu to abandon repressive policies as post-Cold War reforms swept across Africa. Chilima, as a suniversity student activist, was among frontline troops who campaigned against Kamuzu and trumpeted democracy.
As a prelude to the elections, Kamuzu was forced to hold a nonbinding referendum in which Malawians voted overwhelmingly to end the country’s one-party system.
Some Malawians, taking up on various social media platforms, said Chilima said this just to please his alliance partners, the MCP which has many members of Kamuzu family in its executive committee.
Writing on his Facebook wall, Chancy Mlogeni said: “The democracy did not come on a silver platter. Kamuzu resisted change in all fronts. He killed or jailed or those who advocated for multiparty democracy. Chakufwa Chihana and Bakili Muluzi were unfortunate that they were jailed, others were killed just for advocating for multiparty democracy.”
Ngeyi Kanyongolo, a lecturer at Chancellor College also wrote that what she remembers about Kamuzu Banda are stories of a young student (now husband) who spent months in prison together with his friends for unspecified “revolutionary rebel” activities.
“Running all the way from Blantyre CBD to Chinyonga as people rioted in Blantyre over multiparty,” she says.
Adack Pafupi also posts that Kamuzu was a “champion of atrocities” and not champion of democracy.
But commentator and newspaper columnist Emily Mkamanga argues that Kamuzu left an “indelible mark” on infrastructure development and service delivery.
Using Kamuzu’s name for selfish political agenda will remain a political game in Malawi for generations to come.
Kamuzu led Malawi to independence in 1964 and went on to head one of Africa’s most brutal and isolated dictatorships for three decades. He was ousted in 1994 by Bakili Muluzi in the country’s first democratic elections.
During Banda’s rule, thousands of political opponents were killed, tortured, jailed without trial or hounded into exile. He was known for peculiar dictates that banned long hair on men, short skirts on women and even the Simon and Garfunkel song “Cecilia″ in deference to Kadzamira, who held the title of “official hostess.″
Mama Cecilia Kadzamaira met Kamuzu while working as a young nurse at a clinic Kamuzu owned before independence. Though constant companions, they never married and Kamuzu never admitted to having children though one Jumani Kamuzu Banda appeared some years ago to claim he was son to Kamuzu. Jumani mysteriously died recently.
Kamuzu, known as the Ngwazi, chief of chiefs or conqueror in the local Chewa language, was always seen in public in an austere dark suit, black Homburg hat and waving a lion’s tail fly whisk.
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Kamuzu was never a champion of democracy as baby chilima is putting it. Kamuzu did not initiate multiparty democracy, that’s why there was a referendum to force democracy into practice. And MCP (37% that time) resisted democracy together with their Kamuzu. Ndiye iwe kachilima ukuti chani? Usatitukwanitse wamva!!!!
Please do not confuse development with democracy. Just because China is developed we can’t conclude that it is a democracy. Anthu ankaphedwa ngati mbewa in this country and is that what you call democracy? Shupiti chilima.
Kamuzu the Democrat kkkk kkkk yah, politicians will say anything to get elected indeed. Timva zambili chaka chiko hahahah
The article authors should take these opinions too, he quickly wrote, Chilima under Fire.. Hahaha!!! one can laugh at the heading, Kamuzu accepted change indeed and he left the office after the majority ruled.
Kamuzu was a great man. Look at hospitals in Malawi Kamuzu Central Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital was built during Kamuzu Banda. The so called Presidents what have they achieved nothing only corruption. Learn to appreciate good things .
Thanks Chilima. Keep Resting in peace Angwazi.
Do not rewrite History because you hate the man. Learn to appreciate what the man did.
If you talk about killings, which president of the multi party era has not killed? May be only Joyce. But Bingu killed hundreds. Muluzi butchered people and Peter is still slaughtering the likes of Njaunju and albinos. With this chisankho coming, warn the albinos to go into hiding because Peter will be at it again to win using his Satanism.
Kamuzu New when the winds of change had come, he left with cllass and dignity osati Mr Maliseche kukakakmila
Zoona zake, kukakamira ngati udindo anachita kuchoka nawo kwawo but time here now for him to leave the office.
It took more than 30 years for Kamuzu Banda to fall and accept democracy and the main reason was because he was VERY old. After killing thousands, imprisoning thousands and exiling thousands – he was TOO old in his 90s and he could no longer fight. People who talk about Kamuzu accepting democracy always forget this fact.
Right Honourable Chilima was very right. Dr Kamuzu Banda did not cling to power when he knew that people wanted change. He had all powers to say no to the idea of Referendum. But he allowed the referendum to be freely conducted and he graciously accepted the will of the people unlike the leader that we have today who is clinging to power though he knows very well that people out there are geared for a change. Those who are trying to twist what Dr Chilima have a problem and they must be ashamed of themselves.
MBC RADIO WAS MUCH BETTER AFTER 1993 THAN TODAY OPPOSITION WERE GIVEN AIRTIME.
TRUE OR FALSE?? ONLY THOSE WHO WERE THERE SHOULD ANSWER
True mboni ndi Bakiliyo. Amayakhula pafupi pafupi ndi anchor Benson Tembo
Wait a minute.
Was it not Kamuzu who agreed to a REFERENDUM and graciously accepted defeat at the hands of Muluzi? Kamuzu would have rigged the election had he wanted to. He didn’t because to him the will of the people was paramount.
A d please don’t dwell too much on murderous behaviour because, as I write, the line between Kamuzu regime and the current one is getting thiner by the day.
Need I remind you about Chasowa, Njauju, Lule, albinos (here I am reminded of the former cruel MCP member Ntaba) and Area 22 victims recently brutally murdered?
People killed by Kamuzu and MCP: Aaron Gadama, David Chiwanga, Yatuta Chisiza, Dunduzu Chisiza, Dick Matenje, Twaibu Sangala, Muwalo Nqumayo, …….they are in thousands.
People killed by dpp. Countless albinos, chasowa, njaunju, dzana dzanali Mai tambala, ndi mwana dzuloli amunao, 27 people in North eish. Udf nde eeeeeh mabere ndi ma shaft alomwe a mu chiradzulumu alibiletu
There is ignorance there. Kamuzu was chosen democratically in 1964.. He competed Chester Kasonga of CDP. Being chosen democratically does not automatically lead to good governance
.eg. Adolf Hitler.
People should’nt be this ignorant. Chilima qualified his comment by giving Kamuzu kudos for playing ball then the winds of change arrived on our shores, he didnt get in the way when the writing was on the wall. Stop the barking!
By the way people are being burn alive in their homes, women and little girls are being gangraped by the police, suspects are being bludgeoned to death in cells under the current regime. Is APM a democrat?
When Kamuzu realized that Malawians wanted change he gracefully stepped aside, that is what Chilima is referring to. Kamuzu offered an apology for all the atrocities committed under his leadership, he was wise enough to know that when people want change nobody, nothing can stop it. That is what SKC is referring to
He realised after more than 30 years and because he was too old to kill people who were opposing him
Ngwazi is chewa language? why did it come from the north if it was Chewa language, very misleading text. If we do not know the history of Malawi, is better to keep quiet than continuing to mislead generations that came after 1992 revolution.
Kamazu Banda was a great states man
Peaple who fail to recognise this are just self centred.
Recognizing Kamuzu as statesman merely on a handful of development projects is like recognizing Hitler for the autobahns. No one would find that sensible.
By embracing Kamuzu the dictator, current MCP leadership still subscribe to Kamuzu style of leadership that was dictatorial.
Does Chilima know the difference between dictatorship and democracy? Please try to teach him the difference between the two guys. For it is an insult to the many who lost their lives at the hands of Hastings Banda and his cronies some of whom are still alive today, shame on them. Chilima must belt up and stop preaching absolute rubbish, for he and his so called comrades in alliance are are nothing more than individuals who will stop at nothing in order to fulfil their hunger on power grabbing. Malawi citizens should not be duped by these actors. Do you remember. Gadama, Sangara, Mwalo, the Chisiza brothers, Orton Chirwa, and many other people who were forced to free the Country otherwise they would have been murdered.
Wrong very wrong indeed. People who lost their lives during Banda era were players in the game of politics. They created that demagogue themselves in trying to win favours from the old man. You see this happening in DPP now. Power struggle is what killed or jailed people that time. Falsely accusing friends. The loser in the struggle was either jailed or killed. But today it is innocent children and poor people who are dying because Peter and lomwes have stolen money for medicine in hospitals. Innocent people are dying on our roads because Mulizi and monthalika families have stolen money for road maintenance.
WHAT DR S.K. CHILIMA ACTUALLY MEANT
In order for you to understand what Chilima meant you must know what it means to read between the lines. Since the dawn of multiparty “democracy”, we have not seen a true Democrat in Malawi. Those that demand recognition as champions of democracy ended up doing the very things they said they had fought against. Were the Young Democrats democratic? Are the Cadets democratic? Was/Is a Tcheya democratic? Now you understand why Chilima said Kamuzu was the most democratic!
Was a leader with vision, we used to have food in the food storage admarc, we used to walk a far distance with no doubts that someone is going to amputate us out of our body parts for rituals. We used to have medicine in the hospital, go to mzimba Mzuzu chikangawa forest was so beautiful and admirable in the days of kamuzu he used to like vegetation, Loads. We didn’t hear of Za nkhani zakuba ndalama Za boma mu ulamulilo wa kamuzu. People anali amakhalidwe omwetsetsana kukula ndiwambo. Kumali misika ya alimi .kubwela awa adyera awa mmmmm gulise gulise ma company aboma
kwa akumtundu wakwao zimenee anaika anzao.
Chilima is an idiot. He has lost all the marbles now. Kamuzu Banda killed, imprisoned and exiled thousands of people: Aaron Gadama, Yatutua Chisiza, David Chiwanga, Dick Matenje, Twaibu Sangala, Orton Chirwa (imprisoned and killed), Vera Chirwa (Imprisoned), Atati Mpakati (killed), Sam Mpasu (imprisoned), Aleke Banda (imprisoned), Gwanda Chakuamba (imprisoned), JAck Mapanje (imprisoned) Henry Masauko Chipembere (exiled)………the list goes on into thousands.
SAME TODAY, TALK OF MA ALBINO BEING KILLED,MJAUNJU, CHASOWA. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ? HOUSES BEING TORCHED, VEHICLES?????
Achitsilu inu kuona ngati mwatchulao ndiye anali anthu koma Tambala mwapha uja Miami wake ana osalakwa sianthu. Ana ndi osauka akufa chifukwa chooses makhwala sianthu.
This demonstrates how uninformed Chilma is! Kamuzu was a great achiever, very good influence for many things in Malawi but bambo Chilima Democracy was not one of them. I am sure if you were to talk to Kamuzu today he can explain why he decided to rule with a strong unwavering leadership! you may agree or may not agree. He achieved a lot of good things for Malawians but one outstanding character of the Doctor was he very much adopted a very autocratic approach to politics. Notice please, one is not discussing whether this was right or wrong that is a different debate but He certainly was not a champion of Democratic politics! NO! Definitely not! He was firmly persuaded to adopt Democracy. I in fact I recall when once he said “Malawians are not ready for democracy yet!!!” That sir is a quotation. Please don’t underestimate Malawians! There might not be mass education in Malawi but they are intelligent enough to see what is going on.
I actually liked Kamuzu as a leader. I got to understand some of his approaches, even agreed with some of them! However I did not agree with them all.His autocratic approach in my humble opinion was the very essence of his down fall. He did a lot for Malawi in fact very selfless at the beginning, but what he failed to see was that his own humongous political effort and success had started to breed a thinking citizen in Malawi and they would start questioning some of the policies. He was too set in his ways despite his wide ranging education and experience and failed to see the extent to which of his own success was changing the Malawian citizen while the country could easily see what was needed because of the social economic he was so desperately trying to give the Malawian.
He was an interesting man, he lives ahead of his times at the beginning and then change surprised hie attitudes in a big way and he got bogged down.
This uninformed man who does not even know the history of his own country is aspiring to lead us!!! Please Mr. Chiiima we Malawians are not that stupid and we certainly do not forget that easily.
Democracy sire includes being honest with your fellow Malawians and genuinely caring about bettering their lives not just looking at how yuo can snatch the highest job in the country. Think about that very carefully.
Yes indeed Kamuzu may have acted civilised in his last two years but was never a Democrat. The best we have had so far. Focused stables and well informed. He had no time for failures. Only the best managers were good enough for him. We hear most people who ran away because they stole government money these days they lie by claiming that they were political refugees.
But is Jane Ansah real Malawian? What is the record of her rulings made at the courts.
The champions name is coming because he accepted defeat when he lost,he accepted defeat that’s makes him a champion not Munthalika who uses government money to bribe every one who has power just to make sure he gets what he wants.He even use Thom Mpinganjira to try to bribe judges. Ngati nthawi ya Kamuzu Banda anthu ananaphedwa,nanga omwe adaphedwa nthawi yamuluzi achina Matafale.Nanga omwe adaphedwa nthawi ya Bingu Ku Mzuzu ,nanga ma alubino athu,bulero nanga omwe adaphedwa ndi mapetrol bombs Ku Lilongwe wa. If you can calculate rightly you will find out Kut during each president of Malawi anthu ananaphedwa.Koma akupha amalawi this time of democracy is this Most tyrant leader.Peter Munthalika he doesn’t want to accept defeat that is one characteristics of dictators.Those people were killed during Kamuzu Banda,it might be those surrounded the president, protecting their interests.Njaunje adaphedwanso nthawi ya Kamuzu?Chilima is a great leader.We should appreciate what Kamuzu did to Malawi.During kamuzu education was great.Mufufuze kut university yamalawi yinali paposition yanji mu Africa,compare with the position ya university yamalawi today , you will be shocked.Kamuzu amamanga ma infrastructure wolimba, osati zomwe mukumanga panozi zosalimba,zoti Mvula yikamagwa kumada nkhawa Kut
zigwa or zikokoloka,kenako kumaba ndalama. During Kamuzu,Malawi was coming from colonial era, there was no democracy and multiparty in those days.If people are still dying during democracy and multiparty time, then there is a great problem.We real have a dictator in Malawi, who does not want defeat at 80 yrs.If Munthalika accepted defeat there would have no second vote.Tippex samayenera kupezeka kuma Poling stations, fake tally sheets and dublicates tally sheets.Ndipo kupha anthu chifukwa cha ndale during democracy time is bad. You can see that there is one dictator remaining in our country.MALAWIANS REMEMBER TO WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND SAVE LIVES.
People are deliberately twisting Chilima’s words. Sad
He is a political prostitute, to think I once highly regarded him in him esteem, delude is the best word to describe him, very opportunistic. Its beyond belief that he has stooped so low in this regard
I completely agree with Chilima. Kamuza was the 1st to tolerate the referendum vote. If kamuza wanted he would snubbed it all. He had the army, MYPs, Police they would have been instructed to act on muluzi chihana & the rest. But he saw it necessary to embrace democracy to end his impersonated autocratic rule. Most dictators would allow to go like that. He avoided bloodshed in Malawi in embracing democracy. Take him as 1st democrat.
Very true 💯💯👍👍
The man was too frail to fight , about 100 years old
He only gave in because he knew that his time to depart this earth was nearing. Just like Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Otherwise, these guys would have preferred dying on the seat of Presidency.
He had the army and MYP on his side but chose the democratic path: what the majority wanted. The title of the article is a clickbait, very dishonest reporting
Stupid are those in support of Dpp then because Dpp killed chasowa and acb guy. Not to mention corruption and the useless mec who is under dpp evil plans. Wait and see for yourself when time is up you’ll be brought to book.
chasowa was killed by the thug Masangwi who is in the mcp, utm tonse alliance. Mzimu wa Jumani Kamuzu Banda uwuse mu mtendere.
Lyolyolyo walila zazikulu mubale baba eish ma private parts wa abale ndi alongo wathu akufupidwa ndi maufumu awa awiri ku chipani chimodzi kunalibeko mayooooooh Ife tilowela Kuti apolisi yankho amangoti tikufufuzabe akakhala pa mkhale sapheka khoswe Billy kaunda’s song
Sorry point of correction 😬 I didn’t mean to comment on Baba’s.
Chilima qualified his statement. He said when time came for change, Dr Banda did not stop in the way of change. He allowed smooth transition from one party state to multiparty and congratulated the winner something we have never witnessed in multiparty era. He apologised to the nation for some of the things he said were done I his name. Towards the end he embraced democracy. Some of us love Kamuzu much better than some of the leaders who have come after him.
A dictator is a dictator
Foseki
So a thief is a thief because Bakili in 1967 was arrested for stealing and when he came out of prison he Joined Malawi young pioneer
no the call for change had been such that he had no way of declining it. If you say he was gentleman enough to know when he had lost !I will agree with you.He did not change because he was champion of Democracy but because in his country, at that point change had been requested and requested clearly. Yes he did not go killing people! he did not ransack the country! he protected what he had achieved, clearly said he disagreed, because he did not feel Malawians were ready for Democracy! but as the majority seemed to believe in Democracy at that point in his country he was prepared to move aside. Decency yes! Intelligent yes! Loved Malawi Yes! too much perhaps! gave his lifetime to Malawi!!! But champion of Democracy NO! not champion for democracy in Malawi. But nobody knows everything! He failed to see that he needed to move with the times! Development which he had brought about himself is what finished him! I have to say something though! The rubbish that is going today under the cover of protecting citizens would have not got past this very strong leader who did not suffer foolish behaviour! APM is a much gentler democratic Leader!
Who are these thousands that were killed during the MCP era? What are their names and where were they buried? We got to be objective before writing or saying things. Do you know that Bingu directly arrested more people than Kamuzu. Bingu arrested Sam Mpasu, Bakili Muluzi (of he is a thief), Ayironi, Atupele Muluzi, Yusufu Mwawa, etc. Just last week a car belonging to UTM was burnt, a family was killed in Area 24 last week etc. We have seen worse things under both Muluzi and Muthalika. Albinos being killed. As for Edge Kanyongolo he knows what offense he committed under the influence of chamba together with Tubby Chibwana and McWillie Chiwusiwa. They were bad boys at Chancellor College in the early 80s but were allowed to finish. As for Ngey Jumbe are you talking about Felix Juma your chamba boyfriend who assaulted a policewoman at Sikinala? We know who did wrong against the laws of Malawi. We have a bigger problem now who happen to be dpp under APM and Jane Ansah. Please tell Malawians the truth. People like Muluzi were born thieves naturally. What would Malawi be like if Muthalika was a leader under one party? Muthalika has denied other tribes jobs. Muthalika is behaving like Hitler by denying northerners education. He is a very big monster. Did Malawians wish Kamuzu were dead? Malawians wish Muthalika died now and now.
Dude, you are are in denial. Atrocious crimes committed under Kamuzu were well kept under wraps. I remember we once housed 3 Tumbuka Teachers ( yes at our backyard ) in Blantyre for 2 weeks ,when Kamuzu went mental with forceful evictions of Tumbukas from the South in the 80’s. There were almost known 73 corpses found in Shire River around Nkula power Station and a decree ordered for non disclosure. Every Southerner knows this unless you are from Nsundwe
Remember the evil things were done by the Malawi young pioneer and Dausi and Gwanda Chakwaumbs were involved not forgetting Bakili as he was a Minister during that time
Bakili Muluzi in 1967 was arrested and when he came out of prison he Joined Malawi young pioneer don’t claim that Bakili is a Saint
Take it or leave it. Kamuzu is the champion of democracy because he heard people’s voice and called for a referendum. In addition he accepted defeat unlike Pumbwa Peter Mutharika. Many African Presidents including Pitala have rigged to stay in power. Kamuzu was a class act and a statesman. Muluzi is a savage and Pitala is clueless of what’s happening in this country.
The man was too frail to fight (100 yrs old)
@Kubaya. So you want to tell this forum that your 80 year old grandpa is fit to be president that’s why he’s clinging to power? There’s a reason why 65 is the retirement age. There’s a lot associated with old age. Your old man can’t even go out to campaign for himself because he is too frail and maybe he has Alzheimer’s which is mostly associated with old age. He’s gone in the history books as the old man who stole an election. What a shame! This might never happen again in 100 years. An embarrassment to his kids and family.
I think you don’t know anything about Kamuzu ufutse abwiyako akuuze momwe anavutikila ine ndiye bamboo anga anaphedwa chifukwa chokaniza akazi ao kukavinila Kamuzu usandikumbutse mxi stupid.
I agree with Chilima if Kamuzu wanted to clin to power he could have done it. The country would have been in a civ
civil war
He was old and finished and sinile. Good riddance to Lucifer himself
kkkkkk the man was 100 yrs old and these fools still hold him in high esteem for granting Malawi Democracy, forgetting that Malawi was already burning even his kinsmen had turn their backs against him
@ Top
Mutharika is clinging to power. My question to you is is he any younger for him to cling to power? It’s not necessarily age at play here it’s about reading signs of time and being wise and smart. Mutharika appears to be wanting in those areas.
Foseki
What about Peter Muthalika he is also very old and Mbuyanu alibe Manu
yes . He was an educated gentleman who accepted difference of opinion intellectually and loved Malawi enough to hand over power. If he was a champion he would have started the process already and the uprising would have not risen! If he believed in Democracy for Malawi in his lifetime he would have declined to be made life president!
@ Wachisoni very true with every word
Dr. Banda was never a democrat. Just like Rev. Laz. He is democratic because he is under democracy but given a choice he would prefer dictatorship. Dictatorial tendencies run through his blood. So there is a difference between a democrat and a dictator. Kamuzu never wanted anyone to rule this country as long as he was alive. In addition, he failed to put a proper succession plan. Not even a Vice President. Kuwopa kulandidwa mpando. Kkkkk!!!!!!! Be careful with some of these people they come in the name of democracy but just like Hitler deep down there are dictators they are just playing along to get the presidency. Mzake ndi John Tembo. Obaba Tembo ungamanene kuti he was a democrat. Kkkk!!!! Sometimes people just use what they have to get what they want. So be very careful. Some of you just follow behind everything like wind blowing in whatever direction.
On most occasions Kamuzu was
Mislead bu Bakili who was close to him at one time. But you may recall that all of us at one time we were Mcp members under one party system
I concur with chilima but on the other hand i disagree, why? Kamuzu upon getting news that Muluzi was leading in elections he congratulated him and accepted the results; he never challenged in courts of law unlike these days when parties do not accept the results. So if genuinely u say he was a true democrat why mcp busy fighting in courts every election year? Shame on Lazarus and urself. On the other hand he was not a democrat thats why his rule was challenged in 1993 so I would have given you credit if you could make such analysis. Even Chakwera anavomera kuti mcp inali yankhanza and asked ppo to trust the new mcp which means mcp was autocratic and has never changed thats why a president anapita kwa msundwe kayamikira anthu akumeneko kamba kopha wa polisi chifukwa izi ndi ntchito za mcp basi akawona mwazi iwo amakondwa
Yes he understood democracy very well. However there was an ambivalence in him about whether he felt that Malawi had reached a stage where it could become democratic successfully. However although he believed that Malawi was not ready for Democracy he appreciated that the majority of Malawians by voting for Muluzi felt strongly that they were ready to handle it. Because he was genuine, and despite being Life President he accepted the country’s decision and wished them luck.
So he I agree with you, he understood it, but what was at play here was that he was a true Leader who understood that when time has come to leave you leave!.I agree with you he did not destroy the country ! He did not get anybody to court! He love Malawi too much to instigate such dirty tactics to get rid of an opponent! Politicians today could learn from that! Let’s not destroy the little we have because we disagree! We are just making work! expensive work for ourselves! our future citizens! we are killing people unnecessarily! This is unforgivable! Personal ambition should not surpass the safety and progress of the country!
Do you know what happened in the 1964 cabinet crisis? That showed the true colors of Dr. Banda. He clearly said, it’s either you go or I go. The reason because of differences in opinion. You know what happened afterwards. So a true democrat would never have done that. I can draw a similar parallel to John Tembo and to Dr. Laz. They all chased anyone who deferred with them in terms of opinion. So if you say they are democratic then you do not know who a democratic leader is. Whether dictatorship or democracy, they all have their pros and cons. The most important is that if you chose a system of governance that suits your inherent culture as a society it becomes easier to govern.
He already killed thousands. At what point would you call it murder.
Iwe chataika mu democracy mumafunikanso transparency and accountability if you go to court Kuti upeze choonadi cha palibe tchimo. Kuzilekelela Zama tippex izi ndizimene zikupnonga dziko ukatangale sukutha ku Malawi chifukwa zikuyambila kumutu president tippex nduna and rest zikhala chani. In the past they used to rig elections I remember those days when MBC used to announce through the radio frequency from tally centres eish talk about Eunice chipangula ndi anzake Aku MBC Mene amaonjezera ma figure Kuti bakili muluzi apambane pa hundreds amaika thousands. So Jane Ansah.
Today we see you in Dpp Udf when utm-mcp wins, we will see you joining. Musaume ntima ngati Ansah. Muzifusa dausi let lazachili win it.
You’re right 444444no
Kamuzu never killed people his men killed people because of their greedy. Ask Dausi will tell you more a political prostitute Nico. That’s how we have seen the death of chasowa & matafale what do you want to say. What cadets are doing now? Have we not just barried Innocent people in Lilongwe because of Dpp Udf? Ndi ndale izi. Don’t talk for yourself to be the best. Nooooo
Kamuzu Banda may have never personally killed, tortured or jailed anyone, however, all these happened under his watch and probably with his direct or indirect approval. So he must be held accountable for everything that happened under his watch.
Dausi and Bakili were involved in the killing of of people during their time with Kamuzu
Chilima he said what he saw in Kamuzu let us not always politizing everything what wrong in Chilimas speech Kamuzu yes after riots he called for referendum and when he lost he accepted defeated Koma nanga bwanji enawa akukanika kuvomereza Zofuna a Malawi momwe anthu anayambira kupanga ma demo sitikukufunanani Koma ayi ndithu Kaka . Kamuzu he accepted l agree with Chilima
After he was done butchering Malawians. Take time to ask people who lived or worked around Nkula power station if you want to know more about that regime.
It’s right to honor Kamuzu as the destroyer of chitaganya, but wrong to describe him as champion of democracy as he never was. He did give in to holding the referendum due to intense pressure from within and abroad. I wish Chilima didn’t go as far as describing him that way.
Behind you chilima because if kamuzu had a mind of what we see today in these two families there could be no democracy. From muluzi to mutharika & this is to muluzi again if election will be before July 2. You spoke the point of fact! Awe chilima
Sand what democracy are you talking about mentioning of two families of muluzi’s and Mutharika’s awake from your sleep and please don’t lying to Young children that whether democracy or multiparty was brought by them muluzi’s and Mutharika’s, the person brought multiparty was Thom chakufwa chihana bakili muluzi just joined in the middle of Battles .Bakili muluzi is lying to people saying him brought multiparty he is just a first president in multiparty system.dont lie this again.
champion of democracy indeed, his party agents sold membership cards by force. the sale proceeds were used to expand times group and also financed the establishment of press holdings (now corporation). the shares of press holdings were 500,000 of which Kamuzu personally owned 499,999 and someone (aleke banda?) owned the remaining 1 share. this press holdings controlled 50% of Malawi economy and basically Kamuzu being majority shareholder controlled it, enabling kamuzu to enrich himself to unbelievable levels. he was indeed the champion of democracy to mcp supporters.
Yes and he was an informer,a sell out against the then ANC freedom fighters and sponsoring wars across the southern region e.g Angola and Mozambique ( hence the fallout with Samora and Julius Nyerere just to mention a few) as well.
The headline is misleading, reading the story I do not see anything that sounds like the headline suggests rather than people having mixed feelings. Personally, I find Chilima’s argument more academic than anything else. By all means Kamuzu was a man of high standards. Muluzi blamed him for spending so much money building the Reserve Bank branch in Blantyre and State House in Lilongwe. If you compare these building and those that were build during Muluzi’s administration, would they match? That tells us that Kamuzu was not cheap, he was forward looking.
I concur with Dr. Chilima.
The founder of our nation, whose name Ngwazi (iNgwazi, a Nguni or Zulu word for hero) is beffiting, and is undoubtedly the true champion of our democracy in Malawi. This isn’t inane narrative, but true expressions with every candour and appreciative heart.
Let us all remind ourselves, before we narrate the insolence towards the late Dr. Kamuzu Banda, or even doubt his courageous endeavours he undertook for our so called freedom of existence we are indulging in today, that during Dr. Kamuzu Banda’ s reign, we were all members of MCP.
Some of the atrocities most of the people talk or write about Dr. Banda were actually executed by some, if not many people who are lurking in DPP today, and are still causing havoc as we speak.
I am also sure that those who are still alive and pottering around, or in other political parties, are the ones who makes most of the derogatory remarks about Dr. Kamuzu Banda, while aware that they might have taken a part in one way or another, in the ills that they accuse the Ngwazi of.
Dr. Kamuzu Banda ( may his soul rest in everlasting peace ), is and will ever be the founding figure, and Tate wa Mtundu wathu wa Malawi, (whether one concurs, wants or whimpers), and in addition to that known fact, he is one of the eminent personalities and political figures of our beloved country Malawi.
Dr. Chilima was right in every facet of his speech about Dr. Kamuzu Banda that he was a pioneer and champion of the democracy we are gulping today. Otherwise, without Dr. Kamuzu Banda’s endurance and efforts, we would have been like the black people of South Africa (native people without ancestoral land ).
Dr. Kamuzu Banda tore the federation of Nyasaland, which would have dispersed us from our home lands, and or even lead us all into extinction.
We, as a nation today, ought to learn to embrace what’s ours, appreciate Dr. Banda, and start to acknowledge the people who went through thin and thick, during the times when every problem seemed insuperable.
It is ironic that Malawian people call Dr. Kamuzu Banda all sorts of profane names, just like what the wazungus say about him, while they are today using the airports, roads, institutions, and even State houses that the same Dr. Banda constructed to his best standards and quality.
As our forebears (Akulu akale) once narrated ” Kamba anyerera yemwe wamtola “.
It is high time all of us Malawians start to think outside the box, and see the bigger picture, while being humbly appreciative of the good things that Dr. Kamuzu Banda did for us.
Lala ngoxolo Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, iNgwazi ye sizwe sethu sa se Malawi.
Siyabonga Baba nga lokho konke wasiyenzela khona, futhi na yonke imisebenzi emihle wasiyenzela yona.
Usebenzile kakhulu Banda.
Phumula !
Great explanation l fully agree with you
What foolish narrative. Kamuzu was called when the war on the ground was done. Aleke Banda and some foot soldiers did a lot, that is why Kamuzu never wanted them around. That is why he arrested and exiled that lot.
Chilima nthawi imeneyo anali ali ku Primary, sakudzi kuti sakudziwa .If you don’t know you don’t know
Chilima was already at chanco during democracy not primary school. If HKB was against democracy UDF would not have participated in elections. HKB responded to the winds of change at that time
Then you are very stupid just like him. What ever way you want to look at it, Kamuzu was never a champion of Democracy. Try telling that standing on the graveyards of those freedom fighters he killed or all those families that lost their lived ones and every thing. osamapusa poyelayela just because you want to see someone in power! let us not erase our History!1
Chitsilu chamunthu uyu!!! Don’t insult Malawians just because you want to be in power!? Tonse we know what Kamuzu was! he refused Democracy tooth and nail. hammered people for years refusing democracy. kupupuluma mwanayu even Lazaro is ashamed.
Nonse ndi pumbwawanuyo Cilima mwagwa bayo. Mpaka Cilima anali against mcp ku chancelor college. What good can come out of this thug. Kutha kwa munthu. Baasi game yatha Cilima ndi crook ndithu. No wonder akuoneka kukamwa ngati wapana mbewa yovunda
Cadet mkuzalemba upusiupusi pamane paja. Chilima was right.
Kamuzu was a champion of democracy he accepted referendum
Why is dpp failing to accept it and Jane
We better have kamuzu day than chilembwe day
Kamuzu din’t give in without a fight. If Jane Answer resigns today as chairman of MEC, are we going to honor her as the sober democrat who resigned when people asked her to do so?
IT NEEDS SOMEONE WHO HAS BIG BRIAN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MALAWI VICE PRESIDENT WAS SAYING THAT DAY… NOT THIS LOWLY THINKING CAPACITY.
What do u mean? Do u really need to analyse what the VP said, noooo, its strt forward and utterly trash i must say. He is appeasing the MCP and the family of late Kamuzu but he knows the truth. During campaign in the unulled elections, he said that MCP will never rule this country, its a fact and he knows it. He is on the wrong side and he knows that they are sinking and DPP and UDF will sink them.
That’s we call politics 😂😂 ask bakili muluzi
The problem with alliances is that you always practice stupid politics of appeasement inorder to still be in terms with your alliance partners. Stupidity will never end as long as alliances are there
All the bad things which were happening those days, were happening because it was a one party system, which including those who are still alive today, I don’t think there is any wrong doing by what Dr Chilima has said, by the way it is his own opinion,it does not reflect as of the view of the Government, so as your opinion when you were posting these. All what was happening in this Country was happening in many Countries, especially in Africa, if indeed we can stand here and point out finger on Kamuzu, the question could come as why was he doing that? We should not forget that he(Kamuzu) was arrested and sent to Gweru Prison in Zimbabwe, that was when he was fighting with stupid federation, this! Malawians deliberately has decided to forget. Politicians has turned a blind eye on this. The Transition of Power from One Party system to Multiparty system was not justified as the will of Malawians, but it was the force of the Continent. As I’m writing this, in other Countries, they still have challenges. Tell me if Kamuzu was bad as you always say, try to make a different with what we have today! Try to put in and take it back to what was happening! Try to tell Malawians that Peter Muntharika has killed Albinos! Try to tell Malawians that Muntharika has killed Issah Njauju,try to tell Malawians that Muntharika has killed Buleya! Try to tell Malawians that Muntharika Bingu killed 11 people in the North, try to tell Malawians that Bakili Muluzi killed Matafale! Try to tell Malawians that Bikili Muluzi, killed Kalonga Stambuli try to tell Malawians all these things, at the end you will find out that it is just the name of person but there’s a certain group of people who were doing those bad things,
I tell you, why Muluzi was not killed, why Dausi was not killed, why Mtaba, was not killed, why Tembo, Gwanda, Chihana, and others? In my view these are the people who killed many people,that is why they are still alive!!!!!!!!! Peterr can not leave the Office and kill any person! It’s just a spirit that has hovered Malawians! Leaders have a lot to do than waking up and demand to kill people! This is just conspiracy! One Party system was evil! We can not put it on one shoulder! Hungry of power leads to dictatorship!
Our Past is over! New Malawi is possible!
Perfectly put mr Dangerous Protocol , let those who choose to lie to themselves do so but what’s bad is bad and what’s good is good no matter who did it or doing it now. Kamuzu did both but the bigger side he did very well than these MADEYAS of today then why only (always)mention his bad side?
many of us do not remember Kamuzu championing democracy may be only chilima does. infact the whole mcp did not want democracy in Malawi because they were benefiting a lot under Kamuzu dictatorship. it is fair to say democracy came to Malawi as by-product of the fall of soviet union in 1989-1991. it was the fall of the soviet union which made western nations stop financing African dictators. even apartheid fell partly due to the same reason.
Dr H Kamuzu Banda was a ruthless dictator. My UTM President, please don’t remind us about all the atrocities he committed. There was too pressure for him to accept referendum
Kamuzu showed statesmanship in accepting the results and did not influence the electoral commission to manipulate the first elections and the referundum. If it were the DPP and Peter Munhalika Malawi would have inflamed in civil strife.
Kamuzu sanaimbe nawo chimbale cha ‘atibera’
He was a champion – a statesman!!!
His murderous ways started in the UK performing abortions
Every human has a good and bad side. By accepting referendum HKB showed a listening heart unlike what we see now. By accepting to have lost the elections HKB showed patriotism. When it comes to development then no one comes close. Quality development not what we see. His bad side was brutal dealing with those that were against his political policies. All leaders kill. July 20 mzuzu massacre. Albinos. Recent fire in lilongwe. Njaunju chasowa buleya and many more.
I personally think what Chilima said is being taken out of context. There is a difference between saying “Kamuzu was a champion of democracy” and saying “Kamuzu was a champion of democracy for accepting that there be a referendum on multiparty democracy”. I was in London at BBC when I got the news from Robbin White that Dr Banda had accepted that there be a referendum on democracy in Malawi. I was actually afraid to comment because I thought Robbin was going to put me in trouble. Kamuzu was feared that much. But when I got home and found that the news was true, I gave Dr Banda credit in spite of his previous glaring atrocities. Had he chosen not to accept the referendum, there could have been a blood bath in this country.
He did not have a choice same as Chilima being MCP’s Vice President
He had and 100 plus! This is what your President is failing to do, he is trying to make choices, in a Democratic Country. Shame!
Chilima did not start the praise of Kamuzu it has been previous Governments including Bikili Muluzi that have named numerous buildings after the first President.
With the new Government wish they would re-name Kamuzu Day to President’s Day to honour all our President’s living and Dead.
Democracy comes and goes with each new President, today we trust in the courts to protect us from those President’s who wish to be Dictators such as Bikili Muluzi who wished to remain President after serving two terms. Yes Muluzi fought to remain in power.
I say no to UDF as Vice President.
Your suggestions is very right and this is what other Countries does! They don’t mention the name of the President as such, the just President’s day!
Ma journalists awiri mwalembanu panopa ndi nthawi ya Kamuzu zikusiyana chani?
Kamuzu analoleza mbc kumaulutsa misonkhano ya zipani ngati UDF,AFORD,MDP mpaka ma recorded messages a misonkhano yawo kumaulutsa,ataluza sanadikirenso mec kuti iwulutse zotsatira anamupanga congratulate bakili and accepted the defeat with DIGNITY,lero mbc chasanduka chida chotukwanira opposition parties,ndiliti lomwe mbc inaulutsa za opposition?ngakhale za milandu olo ndi tsiku limodzi lomwe kuulutsapo,nde izi zikuchitika kuli zipani zambiri nde Kamuzu anapanga kuli one party,nde champion ndi ndani?osamangolemba musanapange research, lero wina wafaso wa banja lija linaotchedwera mu nyumba lija,bambo Tambala amwalira,
Mawa tiona headline kuti Kamuzu wadzuka wayambanso kupha anthu,get a life a start writing what’s on the ground not in your imagination
Big up SKC even Cadet no. 1 Bingu recognised Kamuza as a true lengend, hero,,,, ndiye makape nu mukuti chani?