Kamuzu Day: Remembering independence hero turned tyrant of Malawi

He looked like an eccentric version of the typical African dictator: he proclaimed himself president for life, locked up his opponents, lived royally in a poor country, carried a fly whisk and went to church. But Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who ruled Malawi for its first three decades, was no cardboard cut-out African ruler. He had another life, some would say another persona. The two strands, never reconciled, made him one of the most enigmatic characters of 20th-century Africa.

Kamuzu Banda
Kamuzu Banda

Dr Banda was officially 91 but his oldest friends believe he was at least ten years older. He said he was born in the tiny British protectorate of Nyasaland, now Malawi, in Central Africa, and had walked to South Africa as a young man. But when he returned, some half a century later, he knew no local language and, extraordinary for Africa, had no relations. Some doubted that he had come from there.

While working in the mines in South Africa he eagerly educated himself and, through church connections, obtained an education in America. He qualified with high grades as a doctor and won a place to study medicine at Glasgow University in Scotland. He arrived in 1937 and was to make Britain his home for the next 20 years, establishing his medical practice in poor areas of wartime and post-war Britain. Attracted by his ability as a doctor, his courtesy and his puritan simplicity, rich and poor flocked to his surgery—some achievement for a black man in Britain at that time. He was teetotal, celibate and dressed like an undertaker. To the elders of the Church of Scotland he was a living tribute to Christian missionary endeavour in Africa, and they made him an elder too.

A puritan no longer

In the post-war independence stirrings in Africa, Dr Banda played an ambivalent role. Originally a moderate, he kept his distance from firebrand leaders such as the Ghanaian Kwame Nkrumah, whom he patronisingly referred to as “my boy”. But when the British tried to forge a union out of the two Rhodesias, now Zambia and Zimbabwe, and Nyasaland, he turned radical.

His personal life changed. In 1953 the puritanical doctor had a child with his married English secretary, was cited in her divorce, and fled to Ghana, then the Gold Coast. Four years later his practice there was closed because, it was said, he was conducting illegal abortions. By now the movement for independence in Africa was in full swing and he moved to what he claimed was his birthplace. Other independence fighters in Nyasaland bowed to his age and superior education and made him their leader.

From there his route to power was typical of the times: freedom rallies, imprisonment by the British authorities, release, tea with the governor, a constitutional conference and a flattering independence ceremony conducted by a British royal. He then set about getting rid of his most loyal followers, employing the same security laws he had campaigned against so vigorously. He once said they should be “food for crocodiles”. When old friends and supporters from Britain and America visited him, he could still be the quiet, courteous doctor they had loved so much, but if they mentioned politics he would become enraged, even hysterical. Once, stamping his feet, he screamed at his visitor that his opponents should “Rot! Rot! Rot!” in jail.

Was the culture gap between the Victorian-like persona he had created in America and Britain and the spirit of African freedom too great to be encompassed in one personality? Whatever, Malawi became a bizarre place under his rule. Mini skirts, long hair and other manifestations of western sexual liberalism were outlawed. He surrounded himself with hundreds of women dressed in clothes bearing his image who danced and chanted poems of praise. In their presence he became visibly excited. A former nurse, Cecilia Kadzimira, became his “official hostess”. They never married, though her power over him grew as he aged.

Turning his back on former allies in the struggle for independence, Dr Banda gave diplomatic support to South Africa’s white rulers, who built him a palace and a new capital in return. In Malawi his attitude to Africans was colonial. He saw them as poor benighted people who needed his guidance and a British education. The Kamuzu Academy was founded, a college based on Eton, at which British teachers inculcated Latin and Greek into favoured African children.

He avoided grand socialist plans which lured other African countries to destruction; instead, he gathered the most valuable parts of the economy into a company which he headed. Malawians were told to prosper by tilling the land. They stayed poor and Dr Banda spent at least a month a year at a top London hotel. His end was nearly ignominious. He was bundled from power in an election in 1994 after his old ally Britain abandoned him. He gave up gracefully but was put on trial accused of killing four politicians in 1983. He was acquitted. Prison would not have been a fitting end for such an intriguing, if flawed, character.–Source: Economist

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obanda
obanda
9 years ago

ONE OF FOOLISH STORIES I HAVE SPENT TIME ON

nm
nm
9 years ago

Kamuzu was from Kasungu that is a fact. His late sister Jenala were like twins. His good side was that he was preserving our culture and Moral values. On the economy it was better. There was discipline in the civil service because of the fear prevailing at that time otherwise Kamuzu was a ruthless dictator. So many people disappeared during his rule, many died in prisons others in exile. He could even send his people outside to deal with his enemies there or send letter bombs. Atari Mpakati lost some fingers to one such letter. The university of Malawi lost… Read more »

CHEWA FEDERAL FRONT
CHEWA FEDERAL FRONT
9 years ago

“… was one of the most enigmatic characters…”
“… was celibate and dressed like an undertaker.”
Cecilia Kadzamira… “they never married…”
Looks like someone seated in some glass tower in London knows more about HKB than we do.
That’s why our elders should get into writing memoirs to tell their stories.
You mean HKB “fled” England because he had a child with someone’s wife, but then remained single throughout his life? Wouldn’t common sense suggest that he would then have gone on to marry?

nm
nm
9 years ago

Ndende zinali cida ca a Ngwazi. Many people were imprisoned for no reason at all or for speaking against the ills of the regime. The Malawi Young Pioneers and the Youth League were a terror
Malawi was a Police state under Kamuzu. It was only the economy that was strong because of the cold war the west wanted some countries on its side. Otherwise under Kamuzu it was a dark era.

fleshly
fleshly
9 years ago

Today’s young people, well i don’t think you know everything, some facts remain untold. I have been reading every article about Ngwazi with interest but i have observed that most of you just want to paint or tell the bad side of the man. if you wanna be great in story writing put all the sides of the coin and let people judge, but what you are doing is bringing your judgement to the readers, unfortunately some readers who have no time to search all truth they fall trap and believe every no sense put. I am a bit older… Read more »

Mnjonja
Mnjonja
9 years ago

Malawian or not , the man had powerful and effective economic policies. He had the nation at heart and had it working. His passion for his people was wow. He spent most of his time interacting with his people. All he talked among others was about economic growth and economic development – good standard of living. He repeatedly talked about food, shelter and clothing. The basis of human needs. He put much emphasis on farming – the backbone of Malawian economy. Malawi is at the primary level of the economy and was used to it’s strength. The Health, Education, Agriculture,… Read more »

Zidura Ntengo Undigwere
Zidura Ntengo Undigwere
9 years ago

This article actually contains nothing but the truth (check the literature, those of you who disagree). Just crying “lies” does not prove you right. So, present counter arguments that are based on fact, not just sentiment. A possible non-fact maybe the aspect of Kamuzu not being a Nyasa(lander). The speculation on this is based on many aspects of the Ngwazi’s life. But, why do his “relatives” not submitting to DNA tests, in this age? Even mitochondria from the female side would prove who is right, once and for all! Otherwise, some will still believe that he was NOT a Nyasa.… Read more »

Lloyd Mpofu
9 years ago

A Chakwera mwazitengera pa mgong’o. Munaonapo Tembo akukumbukira zimene zimenezo

GONANI
GONANI
9 years ago

I am not surprised that the author is hiding behind SOURCE – ECONOMIST. Why don’t you reveal your name, idiot, eh? Your article stinks! I am disgusted by your miserable attempt
to diminish the most decorated president Malawi has ever have.

In fact your luck of appreciation would mean only two things: Either you are too corrupted by your tribal insinuations to acknowledge what Malawi achieved under Ngwazi or you are too stupid to reason factually. Look, 95% of your article’s contents are lies. Face the truth!

xenophobia
9 years ago

he is dead and so why are you still troubled in your minds with a dead man. the truth of the matter is that kamuzu will never match any man of your choice and just be told point blank that you will just miss heaven for useless arguments like these instead of focusing to what Jesus want you to be. Remember Jesus once said let the dead bury the dead no wonder you are wasting time with the dead. sorry man.

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