The 1964 Malawi Cabinet Rebellion: Time Magazine

This is how Time magazine of the US reported the 1964 Malawi Cabinet Revolt on 2 October 1964. The article was entitled Malawi: Challenge for Father 

The small, gnomelike man danced on the floor of the Parliament chamber, fluttering his fly whisk and shouting, "Decision! Decision! Decision!" He was Prime Minister H. Kamuzu Banda, 58, and he was demanding a clear choice by Parliament between him and a band of five rebel Ministers led by the second most popular man in Malawi (formerly Nyasaland), Education Minister Masauko Chipembere, 34. Parliament's members gave Banda a vote of confidence by acclamation.

Hypnotic Image. Instead of curing the crisis, the overwhelming vote deepened it. Malawi's first major crisis, after only nine weeks of independence, has all the bitterness of a family quarrel. The young dissidents had revered Banda as a father and, until now, he had regarded them as dutiful sons. As Hastings Banda, he had spent 32 years in the U.S. and Britain, where he built up a large, and mostly white, medical practice and fought at long range for the freedom of his native land.

Kamuzu Banda and Kanyama Chiume

When he finally returned home in 1958, the dedicated young nationalists made him a gift of the leadership of the independence movement. They built him up as the Lion of Malawi, Ngwazi (Supreme Chief), and called him Messiah. For his part, Banda dropped the Hastings and became H. Kamuzu Banda, a name more appealing to Africans. But what stunned Banda's ministerial "sons" was the discovery, after independence, that Banda believed his press notices and was hypnotized by his own carefully fabricated image as savior of his people. He took complete charge of the fledgling Cabinet, reserving for himself most of the important portfolios. He called the Ministers "my boys," seldom let them speak up with ideas of their own, and once boasted on the floor of Parliament, "I tell them what to do. I make all the decisions!"

Kamuzu and some of his first cabinet members

The Malawi crisis dismayed Western observers for, as one diplomat put it, Banda's "are the most realistic, sensible and encouragingly pro-Western policies in Africa today." Banda stood firm against recognizing Red China, even though Peking is reported ready to extend credits of up to $50 million in return for recognition. Another trigger of the revolt was Banda's negotiation of a trade pact with Portugal, whose policies in Angola and Mozambique are anathema to African nationalists.

No Jellyfish. When Parliament adjourned, the rebel Ministers took their case to the people, defying Banda's ban on public meetings. Banda defended himself by charging that the rebels "tried to hire a witch doctor" to murder him. Snorted Banda: "I am a Prime Minister with a spine, not a jellyfish kind of Prime Minister who is afraid of his subordinates — so now they have to kill."

The rebels' revolt struck a sympathetic chord among many Malawans who revere the Lion but wish he would soften his autocratic ways. Nevertheless, bustling little Prime Minister Banda was still hale and hearty last week and so confident of winning that he refused to attend a peace conference with the rebels arranged by the British Governor General.

Gwanda Chakuamba Speech in Malawi Parliament during 1964 Rebellion

Speech to the National Assembly (in Zomba) Made by Member of Parliament (MP) for Port Herald (Nsanje) North, Hon. Gwanda Chakuamba on the 8th of September 1964.

It is indeed very shocking and very disappointing and undoubtedly very, very disgracing. Perhaps my honorable colleagues will express themselves without equivocation in this unfortunate time in the history of our new nation. But I should say this that if I fail to express myself in this House, I shall supplement or fulfill my objectives by deeds outside this house. (Applause).

Mr. Speaker may you excuse me if I fall victim today to verbosity. This may be so because of the tragic situation that now exists in our country. A situation that has been very deliberately formulated by power-hungry maniacs; a situation that has deliberately been formulated by idiots who don’t know what they are talking about. These hypocrites…These traitors Mr. Speaker, used to tell us that whenever they go abroad they are respected because of the Ngwazi, but the same traitors when they go abroad go and project themselves as Deputy Ministers, Deputy Presidents of the Malawi Congress Party, these traitors now have a mission outside this country to preach to the people outside the boarders of this country the gospel, have been engaged in suppressing activities. They have been collaborating with traitors of fellow African countries in order to achieve their personal ambition.

Mr. Speakers, Iam going to single out one person in this whole collection because if I do so I will simplify the whole problem to me, and I think to my very honorable colleagues. Just imagine, Mr. Speaker, this man, Kanyama Chiume, Publicity Secretary of Malawi Congress Party, and just a few hours ago Minister of External Affairs, told himself and projected himself out of this country as deputy Prime Minister of the state of Malawi (Interjection: shame!). Just imagine Mr. Speaker, this man, Kanyama Chiume in the Pan African circles and international campuses against the Prime Minister Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda. His policy on external affairs, his policy on foreign affairs-just imagine, a man who preaches a gospel of unity, loyalty to the Ngwazi, obedience to the Ngwazi and discipline. Just imagine, Mr. Speaker, that this man Kanyama Chiume, in this House led us singing “Zonse Zimene za Kamuzu Banda.” In this house and attending to our self government this man, Kanyama Chiume, in this house told us there would be biblical war in Heaven between Lucifer and God Almighty. He told us in this House. I think that is what he is planning. He even fought against Kamuzu. He meant it; he knew what he was talking about. Now we are not surprised; we are not at all surprised. But he must also know one thing, that when Lucifer did it he met his necessary end. He was thrown down on earth, and here he is with us, but this earth itself is not Heaven. I don’t know where he is going to be thrown out. (Applause).

…It is indeed very disgraceful. People imbued with selfish goals have forced him to escort this course of action. People inherent with selfish characteristics and personal aggrandizement of power have forced him to disgrace for a while from his nation building task. These people imbued with malice have forced us to open a new chapter in the history of our nation. The steady pace of progress in the economic and social spheres has been deliberately halted by these people. I must say, and I must repeat, that the Honorable member referred to has got an account to settle with the people I represent. If it was his intention to make our history, the history of this country black, I must say here and now, we are prepared to make the devil black so that his origin is not traced. They will leave to regret the consequences of their actions as Lucifer now regrets on his earth awaiting his doom.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to address these remarks to the Ngwazi. With your permission, I want to say to the Ngwazi we still love him. (Loud applause). How many times Ngwazi do you want us to assure you of our unquestionable loyalty to you? How many times Ngwazi do you want us to assure you of our unquestionable confidence in you? How many times I ask? This motion of no confidence in you, your Government, and your leadership of the Malawi Congress Party should be the last motion to be debated in this House. Let this House no more debate motions of this sort. It is a very disgracing motion. Very wide powers were given to you; Ngwazi, by the four million people at a conference in Nkata in 1958, and very unlimited power were also given to you by the four million people of this country at their conference in Nkhotakota in 1960. These people who have disgraced us in the eyes of the world are no more fit to be members of the mighty Malawi Congress Party. They forfeited that privilege to be members of that Central Executive. Their continued presence in that Central Executive will not be to the interest of the country. It will not be to the interest of people that love you with their entire mind and their hearts. It will be on top of that, a gross embarrassment to you and the party. Ngwazi we ask you, we ask you to expel them from the membership of the Central Executive and from the membership of the Malawi Congress Party. Let them go out and challenge you openly and instead of being inside and challenging you from within; let them go out and form their own party so that we can be able to meet them as opponents in the opposite camps. If we meet as opponents within, it will be more dangerous and more damaging to the cause that we have been fighting for a long time. They have grossly disappointed us; they have grossly disgraced us; they deserve any sort of punishment and you know best what sort of punishment it will be. We are not going to dictate to you what sort of punishment befits them but I still contend that the word conspirators, the word traitors, is the most appropriate word to use.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, iam compelled by circumstances every day to ask my fellow honorable members to have a look into our country’s constitution. It is quite clear that the provisions are inadequate to deal with critical situations like this. We must have a constitution which will abolish the title of Prime Minister, because the Prime Minister according to our understanding of the word means the first amongst equals and I think that is why there has been this trouble. He has been regarded by the cabinet ministers as the first amongst the equals. Kamuzu is not the first among the equals in this country. He is not and will never be, so that if a constitution is devised to give him unlimited powers, to make absolutely clear that he and he alone, is a supreme in this country, I don’t think there will be any more confusion.

… And lastly I would like to ask my friends to join me. It is a short chorus but I consider it very important. I would like my honorable colleagues to say with me “Down with the traitors, down with the conspirators, down with power hungry maniacs and long live Kamuzu, long live Ngwazi and long live Malawi Congress Party.” (Applause).

Masauko Chipembere Speech in Malawi Parliament during 1964 Rebellion

Except of a Speech to the National Assembly (in Zomba) Made by Minister of Education and Member of Parliament (MP) for Fort Johnston East (Mangochi), Hon. Henry Blasius MasaukoChipembere on the 9th of September 1964.

…I, wrongly or rightly, regard myself as a man of some principles, a man of some honesty, a man of some courage, a man of some respect-respect which I enjoy among the members of the public and I wouldn’t dare for a moment retreat from my principles. I wouldn’t dare for a moment abandon my friends and colleagues. It would have been an act of real betrayal for which I would be ashamed for the rest of my life, if I had decided to remain in the Government, while some of my friends have been dismissed.

These are my colleagues. I have worked with them for a long period of many, many years. They have been faithful to me; they have been helpful to me; their work has earned them great praises, both from the public and from the Prime Minister (Dr. H.K. Banda). Today, here, they are being described as traitors. History will pass its judgment.

…Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have resigned in sympathy with my friends. I myself had not been dismissed, but I believe that I have a duty to lodge a humble and loyal protest by resigning my portfolio to show the world that I humbly refuse to agree that dismissal was the solution to the problem he was facing in this situation. I believe that a man of great resources like the Ngwazi could have thought of a better solution, wiser solution, a solution that would have ensured continued stability and peace in the country. He should, for instance, have called his Members here. He could have called a conference of the Malawi Congress Party as he often does to discuss particular situations, or District Committees, including Women Leagues, and the Youth League. He could have informed them: “This is what my ministers are saying. This is what my ministers are doing.” And the country would have been very happy and proud to have been brought into the confidence in that manner. The people of this country are never happier than when the Ngwazi shows clearly that he is taking them into his confidence, and wants to consult them at every level and on every step. He could have done that, but he didn’t. So i felt that I must humbly show him that I do not consider it to have been a wise step. And this is normal procedure, its normal procedure…So today I hope nobody will call me a traitor by resigning.

…Mr. Speaker, Iam a student of history, and as I keep saying, that when I was sent to Gaol by Mr. Justice Cram, I did nothing but cram, I did a lot of reading and one thing which I leant there from my reading was that history takes long to declare its verdict; history takes long to declare its judgment. The scoundrels of today may be heroes tomorrow, the villains of today may be declared saints tomorrow, it may be after their death. So, although today I may be condemned, I may be declared a traitor, I know that ultimately, however long it may take, my stand will be justified, and I wish to declare to my fellow Honorable members that, whatever will be the position, I will not have grudges against them. They are my fellow members of the Malawi Congress Party.

…Whatever allegations may be made against me today by men, who have held me in great respects before, and I know that there are quite a number who have done so; I will not hold it against them. I will realize that it is the strain and stress of the time that has made them say these things.

…But let me not hide one thing, lest I should be alleged to have deceived. I have a duty to go and explain to my voters why I have resigned. They used to take great pride in the fact that their constituency was represented in the Cabinet of the country. They will be shocked and sad to see me returning as an ordinary back bencher, going to join them in fishing at Malindi. So it is my duty to explain to them, and I will do so in public; I will not hold secret meetings as has been feared in this House. I will organize public meetings, and I will invite my nearest colleague, Mr. George Cecil Ndomondo, member of Fort Johnston West. I will invite him, and any other Malawian, to come and attend this meeting, where I will explain myself along the same lines which I have explained this afternoon. I will add not a single word, nor will I retract a single word. That is what iam going to do, and let no man believe that anything has been organized. The crowd which is cheering outside, when did I organize it? I noticed when I came in. Am glad to hear that the Honorable member is in doubt because he says it is possible it was organized. It shows that he is not quite sure.

Henry Masauko Chipembere