NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Hastings Banda

Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1896? – 25 November 1997) was the President of Malawi, from 1966 to 1994. Year 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar). ... November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... List of Heads of State of Malawi Affiliations:- MCP = Malawi Congress Party - nationalist, authoritarian, sole legal party 1966-1993 UDF = United Democratic Front - liberal For colonial heads prior to independence see: Colonial Heads of Malawi (Nyasaland) See also- Heads of Government of Malawi lists of incumbents Categories: Lists of office...

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2816 Ã— 2112 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2816 Ã— 2112 pixel, file size: 2. ... Lilongwe, estimated population 395,500 (1994), is the capital of Malawi. ...

Early life

Kamuzu Banda was born near Kasungu in Malawi (then British Central Africa) to Mphonongo Banda and his wife Akupingamnyama Phiri. His date of birth is unknown, and as it took place at a time when there was no birth registration, it is impossible to state a precise year. (His biographer, Philip Short, gives February 1898 as the most likely date). His official birthday is stated as May 14, 1906 and this date is contained in some biographical guides. However, his death certificate states him to have been 99 years old and it was rumoured that he was actually 101. There is no proof the report of his age was accurate. He took the Christian name of Hastings after being baptised into the Church of Scotland in around 1905. Around 1915-16, he left home and went with Hanock Msokera Phiri, an "uncle" who had been a teacher at the nearby Livingstonia mission school, on foot to Hartley in Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia) and then, in 1917 and again on foot, to Johannesburg in South Africa. He worked in various jobs at the Witwatersrand Deep Mine on the Transvaal Reef for several years. In 1925, he went to New York, sponsored by Bishop W.T. Vernon of the African Methodist Church. Kasungu, population 27,754 (1998), is a city in the Central Region of Malawi. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (135th in leap years). ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Life abroad (1925 - 58)

Banda studied in the high school section of Wilberforce Institute (now Central State University) in Wilberforce, Ohio and graduated in 1928. He enrolled as a premedical student at Indiana University and after four semesters transferred to the University of Chicago, where he majored in history, graduating with a B Phil in 1931. He studied medicine at Meharry Medical College in Tennessee, from which he graduated in 1937, but in order to practice medicine in territories of the British Empire he was required to get a second medical degree; he attended and graduated from the School of Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the University of Edinburgh in 1941. Between 1942 and 1945 he worked as a doctor in North Shields. He was raised as a Presbyterian, and spent many years as a general practitioner in Scotland and England. Central State University is a historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. ... Wilberforce is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located in Greene County, Ohio. ... The University of Chicago is a private university located principally in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. ... Meharry Medical College was founded in 1876 in Nashville, Tennessee to provide health sciences education. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area Ranked 36th - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 kmÂ²) - Width 120 miles (195 km) - Length 440 miles (710 km) - % water 2. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1582,[4] is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... North Shields (or locally just Shields) is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In 1946, at the behest of Chief Mwase of Kasungu, whom he had met in England in 1939, and other politically active Malawians, he represented the Nyasaland African Congress at the fifth Pan African Congress in Manchester. From this time he took an increasingly active interest in his native land, advising the Congress and providing it some financial support. With help from sympathetic British, he also lobbied in London on their behalf. He was actively opposed to the efforts of Sir Roy Welensky, premier of Southern Rhodesia, to form a federation between Southern and Northern Rhodesia with Nyasaland, a move which he feared would result in further deprivation of rights for the Nyasaland blacks. The (as he famously called it) "stupid" Federation was formed in 1953. It was rumored with some excitement that he would return to Nyasaland in 1951, but in the event he moved instead to the Gold Coast in West Africa. Several influential Congress leaders, including Henry Chipembere, Kanyama Chiume, Dunduzu Chisiza and T.D.T. Banda (no relation) pleaded with him to return to Nyasaland to take up leadership of their cause, and on 6 July 1958 he did eventually return home after an absence of about 42 years. In August, at Nkata Bay, he was acclaimed as the leader of the Congress. Sir Roy Welensky (January 20, 1907 - December 5, 1991) was a white African politician and the second and final prime minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. ... Kanyama Chiume (born 1929). ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

Return to his homeland

He soon began touring the country, speaking against the Central African Federation (also known as the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and urging its citizens to become members of the party. (Allegedly, he was so out of practise in his native Chichewa that he needed an interpreter, a role which was apparently performed by John Tembo, who remained close to him for most of his career). He was received enthusiastically wherever he spoke, and belligerence among the Malawians became increasingly common. By February 1959, the situation had become serious enough that Rhodesian troops were flown in to help keep order and a state of emergency was declared. On March 3rd, Banda, along with hundreds of other Africans, was arrested in the course of "Operation Sunrise". He was imprisoned in Gwelo (now Gweru) in Southern Rhodesia, and leadership of the Malawi Congress Party (the Nyasaland African Congress under a new name) was temporarily assumed by Orton Chirwa, who was released from prison in August 1959. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was a short-lived, semi-independent state in southern Africa which existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprised of the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia and the Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland protectorates. ... Official language English Federal Capital Salisbury (Harare) Form of Government Federal Dominion Head of State Queen Elizabeth II Governor-General Sir Humphrey Gibbs Prime Minister Roy Welensky Establishment August 10, 1953 Dissolution December 31, 1963 Currency Rhodesia and Nyasaland pound 1 Time zone - in summer EET (UTC+2) EEST (UTC... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

The mood in Britain, meanwhile, had long been moving toward relinquishing the colonies. Banda was released from prison in April 1960 and was almost immediately invited to London for talks aimed at bringing about independence. Elections were held in August 1961. While Banda was technically nominated as Minister of Land, Natural Resources and Local Government, he became de facto Prime Minister of Nyasaland--a title granted to him formally on February 1, 1963. He and his fellow MCP ministers quickly expanded secondary education, reformed the so-called Native Courts, ended certain colonial agricultural tariffs and made other reforms. In December 1962, R. A. Butler, British Secretary of State for African Affairs, essentially agreed to end the Federation. On July 6, 1964 -- exactly six years after his return to the country -- Nyasaland became the independent Commonwealth of Malawi. February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, familiarly known as Rab, (1902-1982) was a British politician, one of the few to have served in all three posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary. ... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ...

It was Banda himself who chose the name "Malawi" for the former Nyasaland; he had seen it on an old French map as the name of a "Lake Maravi" in the land of the Bororos, and liked the sound and appearance of the word as "Malawi". The Wodaabe (or Bororo) are a subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group. ...

Dictator of Malawi

Barely a month after independence, Malawi suffered a cabinet crisis. Several of Banda's ministers presented him with proposals designed to limit his powers. He'd already been accused of autocratic tendencies. Banda responded by dismissing four of the ministers, and two others resigned in sympathy. The dissidents fled the country. Banda became the first President of Malawi on July 6, 1966. At the same time, the MCP was declared to be the only legal party; the country had been a de facto one-party state since independence. In 1970, a congress of the MCP declared Banda its president for life. In 1971, the legislature declared Banda President for Life of Malawi as well. His official title was His Excellency the Life President of the Republic of Malaŵi, Ngwazi Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda. The title Ngwazi means "great lion" (or, some would say, "conqueror") in Chicheŵa. List of Heads of State of Malawi Affiliations:- MCP = Malawi Congress Party - nationalist, authoritarian, sole legal party 1966-1993 UDF = United Democratic Front - liberal For colonial heads prior to independence see: Colonial Heads of Malawi (Nyasaland) See also- Heads of Government of Malawi lists of incumbents Categories: Lists of office... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... His / Her Excellency is an honorific title given to certain high-ranking political officials. ...

Banda was mostly viewed externally as being a benign, albeit eccentric, leader, an image fostered by his English-style three-piece suits, matching handkerchiefs and fly-whisk. Within Malawi, views on him ranged from a cult-like devotion to fear. Banda (and his acolytes in later years as he became senile) was known to have run a repressive police state where no dissent was tolerated. Opponents were either exiled (like Kanyama Chiume) or killed (like Dick Matenje or Dr Attati Mpakati). An African fly-whisk from CÃ´te dIvoire, made of horsehair with a decorated wooden handle. ...

Banda's government was rigidly authoritarian, even by African standards of the time. He was the subject of a very pervasive cult of personality. Every business building was required to have an official picture of Banda hanging on the wall, and no poster, clock or picture could be higher than his picture. Before every movie, a video of Banda waving to the people was shown while the anthem played. When Banda visited a city, a contingent of women were expected to greet him at the airport and dance for him. A special cloth, bearing the president’s picture, was the required attire for these performances. Churches had to be government sanctioned. All movies shown in theaters were first viewed by the Malawi Censorship Board and edited for content. Videotapes had to be sent to the Censorship Board to be viewed by censors. Once edited, the movie was given a sticker stating that it was now suitable for viewing, and sent back to the owner. Items to be sold in bookstores were also edited. Pages, or parts of pages, were cut out of magazines like Newsweek and Time. The press and radio were tightly controlled, and mainly served as outlets for government propaganda. Television was banned. The term authoritarian is used to describe an organization or a state which enforces strong and sometimes oppressive measures against the population, generally without attempts at gaining the consent of the population. ... Billboard of Joseph Stalin. ... The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ... Time (whose trademark is capitalized TIME) is a weekly American newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. ...

His government supervised the people's lives very closely. Early in his rule, Banda instituted a dress code which was rooted in his socially conservative predilections. For example, women were not allowed to bare their thighs or to wear trousers. Banda argued that the dress code was not instilled to oppress women but to encourage honour and respect for them. For men, long hair and beards were a sign of dissent and thus also outlawed. Men could be seized and forced to have a haircut on the discretion of border officials or police. Kissing in public was not allowed, nor were movies which contained depictions of kissing. Pre-Banda history was discouraged, and many books on these subjects were burned. Banda also allegedly persecuted some of the northern tribes (particularly the Tumbuka), banning their language and books as well as teachers from certain tribes. Europeans who broke any of these rules were often "PI'ed" (declared Prohibited Immigrants and deported). Mail was opened and often edited. Telephones were tapped, and conversations were cut off if anyone said a critical word about the government. Needless to say, speaking out against Banda was prohibited, and could be punished by arrest, deportation or even death.

All adult citizens were required to be members of the MCP. Party cards had to be carried at all times, and had to be presented in random police inspections. The cards were sold, often by Banda's Malawi Youth Pioneers. In some cases, these youths even sold cards to unborn children.

Even foreigners were subjected to Banda's dress code. In the 1980s, prospective visitors to the country were met with the following requirement for obtaining visas: Image of an entry visa valid in Schengen treaty countries. ...

Nonetheless, Banda was very supportive of women's rights compared to other African rulers during his reign. He founded Chitukuko Cha Amai m'Malawi (CCAM) to address the concerns, needs, rights and opportunities for women in Malawi. This institution also motivated women to excel both in education and government and encouraged them to play more active roles in their community, church and family. The foundation's National Advisor was Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira, the official hostess for the former president. The term womenâ€™s rights typically refers to freedoms inherently possessed by women and girls of all ages, which may be institutionalized or ignored and/or illegitimately suppressed by law or custom in a particular society. ...

Banda did much for the country's infrastructure. This included the establishment of major roads, airports, hospitals and schools in Malawi. He founded a school modelling Eton, called Kamuzu Academy, in which Malawian children were taught Latin and Ancient Greek by expatriate Classics teachers, and disciplined if they were caught speaking Chichewa. The Kings College of Our Lady of Eton beside Windsor, commonly known as Eton College or just Eton, is a public school (privately funded and independent) for male students, founded in 1440 by Henry VI. It is located in Eton, Berkshire, near Windsor in England, situated north of Windsor... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Note: This article contains special characters. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Classics, particularly within the Western University tradition, when used as a singular noun, means the study of the language, literature, history, art, and other aspects of Greek and Roman culture during the time frame known as classical antiquity. ... Chichewa is the official national language of the Republic of Malawi. ...

During Banda's rule, it is believed that he accumulated at least US$320 million in personal assets. He was also the only African ruler to establish diplomatic ties with South Africa during apartheid and only became partially rehabilitated in the eyes of other African leaders after the demise of the apartheid regime in South Africa (many southern African nations traded with South Africa, on which they were economically dependent, but Malawi was the only African nation that recognized South Africa and exchanged embassies with it). A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ...

Defeated by Democracy, 1994

Banda's one-party state was dismantled by a 1993 referendum. Soon afterward, a special assembly stripped him of his title of President for Life, along with most of his powers. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

After some questions about his health, Banda ran in Malawi's first truly democratic election in 1994. He was roundly defeated by Bakili Muluzi, a Yao from the Southern Region of the country whose two terms in office were not without serious controversy. Banda died in a hospital in South Africa in November1997, reportedly aged 101. The party he led since taking over from Orton Chirwa in 1960, the Malawi Congress Party, continued after his death and remains a major force in Malawi politics. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Elson Bakili Muluzi (born March 17, 1943) was the president of Malawi from 1994 until 2004. ... 9 to 10 year old boys of the Yao tribe participating in circumcision and initiation rites (March 2005). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Malawi Congress Party is a political party in Malawi, mainly strong in the central region populated by ethnic Chewa and Nyanja. ...

References

External links

Categories: Presidents of Malawi | Malawian anti-communists | Year of birth unknown | 1997 deaths | Malawian centenarians | Central State University | Presbyterians List of Heads of State of Malawi Affiliations:- MCP = Malawi Congress Party - nationalist, authoritarian, sole legal party 1966-1993 UDF = United Democratic Front - liberal For colonial heads prior to independence see: Colonial Heads of Malawi (Nyasaland) See also- Heads of Government of Malawi lists of incumbents Categories: Lists of office... Elson Bakili Muluzi (born March 17, 1943) was the president of Malawi from 1994 until 2004. ... List of Heads of State of Malawi Affiliations:- MCP = Malawi Congress Party - nationalist, authoritarian, sole legal party 1966-1993 UDF = United Democratic Front - liberal For colonial heads prior to independence see: Colonial Heads of Malawi (Nyasaland) See also- Heads of Government of Malawi lists of incumbents Categories: Lists of office... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malawi. ... Elson Bakili Muluzi (born March 17, 1943) was the president of Malawi from 1994 until 2004. ... President Bingu wa Mutharika addressing the United Nations General Assembly. ...

Contents

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