Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1896? รข" 25 November 1997) was the President of Malawi from 1966 to 1994. His date of birth is uncertain but he trained as a doctor in the United States and in Scotland in the 1930s. After representing Nyasaland at the Pan-Africanist Congress he became known as a politician and returned to his homeland in 1958; he then led the Malawi Congress Party to victory in elections and became Prime Minister in 1963. When Malawi obtained independence, his rule became dictatorial, kleptocratic and corrupt; he was forced from office by foreign investors who demanded a referendum on democracy, which Banda lost.
Sourced
- Douglas Brown: Dr Banda, what is the purpose of your visit?
Hastings Banda: Well, I've been asked by the Secretary of State to come here.
Brown: Have you come here to ask the Secretary of State for a firm date for the act of independence?
Banda: I won't tell you that.
Brown: When do you hope to get independence?
Banda: I won't tell you that.
Brown: Dr Banda, when you get independence, are you determined as ever to break away from the Central African Federation?
Banda: Need you ask me that question at this stage?
Brown: Well, this stage is as good as any other stage.
Why do you ask me why I shouldn't ask you this question at this stage?
Banda: Haven't I said that enough for everyone to be convinced that I mean just that.
Brown: Then, if you break with the Central African federation, how will you make out economically? Your country isn't really a rich country.
Banda: I'm not asking that, leave that to me.
Brown: In which way is your mind working?
Banda: Which way? I won't tell you that.
Brown: Where do you hope to get economic aid from?
Banda: I won't tell you that.
Brown: Are you going to tell me anything?
Banda: Nothing.
Brown: Are you going to tell me why you've been to Portugal?
Banda: That's my business.
Brown: In fact you're going to tell me nothing at all.
Banda: Nothing at all.
Brown: So it's a seemingly fruitless interview?
Banda: Well, it's up to you.
Brown: Thank you very much.
- Our talks were very pleasant, as usual. Remember I used to vote Labour when I was here.
- "Dr. Banda Denies Civil War", The Times, 12 December 1964, p. 6.
- Remarks to the press after talks with Harold Wilson, 11 December 1964.
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Hastings Banda
