10 - Crisis and Kuthana Politics

Summary

The trouble with Malawi is that it is the whole nation, rather than the few in select urban or rural areas, that has lived under the culture of death, fear, lies and suspicion. Almost everyone, in villages as well as towns, has suffered at the hands of Banda. … If further proof is required, enter any village in Malawi and ask the question: “Who was forced to give up their property (eggs, goats, cows, money, businesses, etc); who was imprisoned, beaten up or beaten to death, thrown to crocodiles, exiled, accidentalised or other, in their extended family?” There will be many. Perhaps thousands. We all lived in fear of Banda and the various manifestations of his shadow, suspecting, imprisoning, killing one another on his behalf; often without the dictator's knowledge.

Jack Mapanje, “Bitter-sweet Tears”

At the end of 1962, Dr. Banda announced that secession was imminent, and on Saturday, December 29, a procession of LMY members carried a coffin labeled “Federation” around Blantyre to celebrate its demise. Chipembere was freed on the “spur of the moment” on January 15 after two years in Zomba Prison, in time for Banda to be sworn in as prime minister on Friday, February 1. Dr. Banda held a cocktail party for Chipembere the next evening. On this occasion, Chipembere, now minister of local government, spoke at length of how the press had tried to drive a wedge between him and Dr. Banda by hinting at Chipembere's ambitions.