Kamuzu Banda

Hastings Kamuzu Banda was a Malawian leader who served as the country’s first President from 1964 to 1994. He played a key role in Malawi’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Banda established a one-party state, emphasizing development and modernization but also maintaining a strict, often authoritarian, rule. Under his leadership, Malawi experienced economic growth but faced criticism for human rights abuses and political repression. He remained a dominant figure in Malawi’s politics for three decades before eventually allowing multi-party elections, which led to his retirement. Banda is remembered as a complex figure, credited with nation-building but also linked to political suppression.