Cecilia Kadzamira
| Cecilia Kadzamira | |
|---|---|
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|
| Official Hostess of Malawi | |
|
In office July 6, 1964 – 1994 |
|
| President | Kamuzu Banda |
| Preceded by | Elizabeth Hester Douglas-Home |
| Succeeded by | Annie Chidzira Muluzi |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira 1938 (age 78–79) Zimbabwe |
| Nationality | Malawian |
| Political party | Malawi Congress Party |
| Spouse(s) | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Profession | Nurse |
| Nickname(s) | "Mama" |
Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira (born 1938) was the official hostess of Malawi during the reign of Kamuzu Banda. Whilst she and Dr. Banda were not officially married, she served as the first lady or official hostess for several years. For several years, she was the most powerful woman in Malawi. Ms Kadzamira, is fondly referred to as "Mama", or "Mother of the Nation".
She was born in Rhodesia and lived in Old Highfield, Salisbury (now Harare) where she attended school at Mbizi Primary. After her GCE she enrolled at Salisbury Central Hospital as a cadet nurse where she qualified and was briefly posted to Old Highfields Clinic. When her father, John Kadzamira, returned home with his family, including David Zimani Kadzamira. She joined Dr. Banda at his Limbe medical practice as a staff nurse. She is niece to John Tembo.
After working for Dr. Banda as a nurse at the Limbe Surgery, Cecilia moved to Zomba State House as Dr. Banda's private secretary.
After the cabinet crisis in 1964, where Banda consolidated his political power, she was appointed the Official Government Hostess (OGH). This was suggested by the Hon. Ismael Surtee, Banda's utmost closest associate and head speaker of Zomba, making him one of the most important figures in the government beneath Banda at that time. With his influence, Kamuzu accepted. There is speculation of her role in the Machiavellian public trial and hanging of Albert Muwalo, the last MCP Secretary-General (thereafter the post was reduced to Administrative Secretary). After much resistance and ahead of the official visit by Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and the Kenyan first lady Mama Ngina, Dr. Banda finally 'succumbed'. Cecilia Kadzamira's name and title changed from OGH to Mama Tamanda C. Kadzamira, 'Mama' of the nation.
In quick succession and in line with her new first lady duties, Dr. Banda announced Mama Tamanda Kadzamira would run an organization called Chitukuko Cha Amayi muMalawi (CCAM), giving her more influence in Malawian politics and greater control over who had access to Banda. In 1974, when John Tembo, as chairman of the National Celebrations Council, transferred the venue of the Youth Week Inauguration venue it to Lilongwe without Banda's authority, Kadzamira pleaded with Dr. Banda and saved Tembo from express expulsion from the MCP. Instead, Tembo was relegated to the post of governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, while Gwanda Chakuamba, then deputy commander-in-chief of the Malawi Young Pioneers, rose.
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