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Kamuzu Banda

Ngwazi
Hastings Kamuzu Banda
Dr HK Banda, first president of Malawi.jpg
President of Malawi
In office
6 July 1966 – 24 May 1994
Preceded by Elizabeth II
as Queen of Malawi
Succeeded by Bakili Muluzi
Prime Minister of Malawi
In office
6 July 1964 – 6 July 1966
Governor-General Sir Glyn Smallwood Jones
Preceded by Post created
Succeeded by Himself as President
Personal details
Born 14 May,1898
Kasungu, British Central Africa Protectorate
(modern-day Malawi)
Died 25 November 1997(1997-11-25) (aged 99)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Political party Malawi Congress Party
Alma mater University of Chicago
Central State University
Indiana University
Meharry Medical College
University of Edinburgh
Religion Presbyterian (Church of Scotland)

Hastings Kamuzu Banda (14 May 1898 – 25 November 1997) was the leader of Malawi from 1961 to 1994 (for the first three years of his rule, until it achieved independence in 1964, Malawi was the British protectorate of Nyasaland). After receiving much of his education overseas, Banda returned to his home country (then British Nyasaland) to speak against colonialism and advocate independence. In 1963 he was formally appointed prime minister of Nyasaland and, a year later, led the country to independence as Malawi. Two years later he proclaimed Malawi a republic with himself as president. He consolidated power and later declared Malawi a one-party state under the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). In 1970 the MCP made him the party's President for Life. In 1971 he became President for Life of Malawi itself.

As a leader of the pro-Western bloc in Africa he received support from the West during the Cold War. He generally supported women's rights, improved the country's infrastructure and maintained a good educational system relative to other African countries but also presided over one of the most repressive regimes in Africa. His government regularly tortured and murdered political opponents. Human rights groups estimate that at least 6,000 people were killed, tortured and jailed without trial. As many as 18,000 people were killed during his rule according to one estimate. He was scorned for maintaining full diplomatic relations with apartheid-era South Africa.

By 1993 he was facing international pressure and widespread protest. A referendum ended his one-party state and a special assembly ended his life-term presidency, stripping him of most of his powers. Banda ran for president in the democratic elections which followed and was defeated. He died in South Africa in 1997.

Kamuzu Banda was born near Kasungu in Malawi (then British Central Africa) to Mphonongo Banda and Akupingamnyama Phiri. His date of birth is unknown, as it took place when there was no birth registration. When presented with evidence of certain tribal customs by a friend, Dr. Donal Brody, Banda said that; "No one knows the hour, the date, the month or the year in which I was born, although I now accept the evidence that you give me - March or April 1898."


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