Malawi celebrates 53 years of independence

The Chilembwe uprising occurred in the southern region of Nyasaland, as Malawi was known at the time, in the Chiladzulu district. It was led by Reverend John Chilembwe, who opposed the Thangata system and the segregation of native Africans. The Thangata system was the practice of forced labour, which allowed white people to grab the land of the native people and then make them work on these farms without payment. The Chilembwe Uprising happened after Chilembwe had returned home from receiving a Western education in the USA. The uprising led to the death of Chilembwe, a number of members of his church and Livingstone Bruce, an abusive white farmer, who was decapitated. Today, Chilembwe is honoured with a public holiday on 15 January each year and his face graces Malawi’s K20, K500 and K2000 bank notes.

Years later, in the 1940s, James Sangala developed an ideology and formed the first political party in Nyasaland/Malawi. Sangala was a clerk in the colonial service. The British deliberately transferred him from one district to another to prevent the caucus that he was organising against the British regime. Levi Ziliro Mumba helped in the formation of Nyasaland African Congress (NAC) in 1944, together with Rev. Charles Chinula, Charles Matinga, Issa MacDonald Lawrence, James Sangala and Charles Mlanga. The first party in Nyasaland was formed to represent the native Malawians. Mumba became the first president of the NAC, while the vice president was James Sangala, the secretary general was Charles Mlanga and Treasurer General Issa MacDonald Lawrence.

The NAC coordinated on a non-ethnic basis: All indigenous associations, churches and many educated Africans from Nyasaland/Malawi were part and parcel of the NAC. The party tried to protect native Africans in the Legislative Assembly. It opposed certain proposals, for instance the creation of the Central Africa Federation of the two Rhodesias (now Zambia and Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland.

Read: Malawi: A future betrayed

The NAC experienced several challenges during its operation; a major one was the death of the party’s president, Levi Ziliro Mumba, in 1944. Another problem was the embezzlement of funds by some leaders in the party through party activities. The NAC also faced the challenge of tribalism and regionalism. In addition, the party had uneducated members who fell silent when it came to criticising the British government.

Henry Chipembere, one of the prominent members of the NAC, decided to write a letter to Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, requesting him to return to the country and help fight for independence.

Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda accepted the request to come back to Nyasaland/Malawi to lead the people on the road to independence from the British colonial regime. His arrival was scheduled for 28 June 1958 but was delayed for a week. He eventually arrived on 6 July 1958. Upon arrival he delivered a strong message: that he came to break the ridiculous federation and help native Africans to form their own government. Kamuzu strengthened the party in many places in the country and was later elected as president of the NAC in the Nkhatabay district, in the northern region of Malawi.

Dr HK Banda, first president of Malawi. National Archives of Malawi/Wiki commons

At the time of Kamuzu’s arrival, the two Rhodesias, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and Nyasaland (Malawi) were one country, called the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The federation was active from 23 October 1953 until 31 December 1963. The headquarters, or the seat of central government, was at Salisbury in Zimbabwe.

In 1959, pressure on the British government in Nyasaland was building. The British prime minister to Nyasaland, Sir Roy Werensky, faced greater opposition. There was a revolt and Kamuzu and other native Malawians were arrested. A state of emergency was declared in 1959, Kamuzu Banda was imprisoned on 3 March 1959 and the NAC and all its activities were banned. While Kamuzu Banda was in prison, a new party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), was formed by Orton Chirwa in September 1959.

Read: Malawian chief annuls 300 child marriages, sends kids to school

On 1 April 1960, Kamuzu Banda was released from Gweru prison. After his release, Orton Chirwa handed over the presidency of the MCP to Banda. In April 1964, general elections were held and Kamuzu emerged victorious. On 6 July, Nyasaland attained her independence as Malawi, with Kamuzu Banda as prime minister. Two years later, Malawi became a republic.

Kamuzu ruled for 30 years as dictator and life president, before a referendum on democratic government was held in 1993. In 1994, the first multiparty elections were held. Dr Bakili Muluzi of the United Democratic Front was the winner and became the second president of the Republic of Malawi. Currently, Malawi has been ruled by five presidents, the third president was Prof Bingu wa Mutharika, who died while serving in 2012. His vice president, Joyce Banda, finished the term and later Prof Peter Mutharika, the brother of the late president, emerged victorious on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ticket in the 2014 general elections.

Malawi President Peter Mutharika waves at supporters after he was sworn in as President in Blantyre on Saturday May 31 2014. Photo: Thoko Chikondi.

The 6 July 2017 celebrations schedule

On Thursday, 6 July, from 10am, prayers will be conducted at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi. The theme is “Thanking God for a season of plenty”. The prayers will be attended by His Excellency Prof Peter Mutharika, the president of the Republic of Malawi. The theme draws on the fact that Malawians have experienced a good harvest because the country had been blessed with good rains in the previous farming season.

Malawi has made great strides in combating the HIV/AIDS virus.

Celebrations will take place in town councils in the four regions of Malawi: North, Central, Eastern and South. The celebrations started on 5 July with a military parade in the cities of Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Zomba and Blantyre. The celebrations also include a football match between two of the great clubs in Malawi, the Nyasa Big Bullets and the Silver Strikers, at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

What has Malawi achieved or failed at in 53 years of independence?   

Malawi’s infrastructure has developed. The country has a modern parliament building, a modern international conference centre and a magnificent national stadium, which opened this year. Malawi has improved its railway services and more railway lines will be rehabilitated soon. Malawi has made great strides in combating the HIV/AIDS virus. The government has also been operating for a while without depending on donour aid. There is also an improvement in the construction of roads.

Unemployment is high and there is far too much nepotism and corruption when it comes to employment.

However, the country has failed to provide job opportunities for the youth. In general, unemployment is high and there is far too much nepotism and corruption when it comes to employment. The result is that most young people are left in a disadvantaged position, which can result in an increase in crime.

Malawi has improved its railway services and more railway lines will be rehabilitated soon. 

The country has also failed to improve its health services, due to a lack of resources. Conditions in private hospitals are very different from those in public hospitals. The increase in the population also worsens certain situations, for instance power generation. Malawi has electricity supply problems because the improvement of power generation input has been neglected by previous governments. Malawi should have national development policies that remain intact despite any change in government. This would allow the country to develop.