Yes! Whether one likes it or not Malawi’s Independence story shall never be full if late Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s name is detached from it.

From a son of a single mother following his father's death in 1913, to a migrant worker in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to a scholar in America, to a doctor in Scotland, to a nationalist leader in Nyasaland (now Malawi), to Malawi’s first and longest-ruling president is all a tale of extraordinary perseverance and personal courage.

Kamuzu was not a democrat but an autocratic ruler with a heavy hand on his critics to the extent that some international reports on human rights violations under Banda reveal that over 10,000 people were victimized including being tortured and even killed during his over 30 year old rule.

However, the late Ngwazi still had a large following in Malawi though others might have been following him out of fear.

No wonder many Malawians even endowed him in their imaginations with mystical, heroic and magical powers.

Others even regarded the first Ngwazi not just as their liberator but also god! This was proved by the many godly like titles that were given to him.

And Kamuzu’s secrecy in enduring power was among other things encouraging his own heroism by his eccentric dress: tailcoats, pin-stripe trousers, west coats, flywhisks, cravats, bowlers and silk top hats.

Banda was Malawi’s special man because from the word go after independence until his death, provided citizens with a sense that he was going to rule the country for ever with economic security.

He even patronized his people and ruled them as he wished like what George Orwell said in his classic booklet ‘Animal Farm’.

Kamuzu was able to rule Malawi and control majority citizens in his country using Plato’s philosophy of ruling people by making sure that on average citizens got basic needs they wanted namely food, put on decent clothes and lived in a house that did not leak when it rained.

To show his care for his people, Kamuzu even called women his ‘Mbumba’ boys and girls ‘Born Frees’ while ladies and gentlemen ‘Bwanas and Donas’.

Soon after Malawi attained independence from Britain on Monday July 6, 1964 followed by declaration of Republic status in 1966, the first Ngwazi led the nation to tremendous social economic development with his popular four cornerstones-Unity, Loyalty, Obedience and Discipline.

Some of outstanding developments under Banda include moving Malawi’s capital from Zomba [where the colonial government operated from] to Lilongwe where modern infrastructures such as Capital Hill (Government Headquarters), the New State House, Kamuzu International Airport, Kamuzu Barracks, Police Headquarters, Youth House (Malawi Young Pioneers) Headquarters, Kamuzu Central Hospital were built.

To open gateways for intelligent young men and women to the road of education and career success Banda also built the Kamuzu Academy in Kasungu, 120 Km away from Lilongwe, a magnificent Malawi’s First Grammar School also nick named as ’Eton of Africa’ where students even learn languages such as Greek and Latin.

The Ngwazi even opened MYP training bases across the country where the youth learnt a lot of skills including modern farming.

For the sake of seeking development Banda built Lilongwe City through politically sacrificing his administration alignment to the then Apartheid South Africa at a time, the rest of the world sanctioned Pretoria due to its racial discriminatory policies.

Lilongwe City was built with assistance from South Africa through a company called Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC).

The Ngwazi also took Blantyre and Lilongwe cities to the road of urbanization and in his quest to spray urbanization to all corners of Malawi, Zomba [where the University of Malawi was built in 1965] and Mzuzu were then promoted from mere towns to municipalities.

The late father and founder of Malawi also set up rural growth centres such as Lobi in Dedza, Mkhota in his home district of Kasungu, Neno in Mwanza, Mwansambo in Nkhotakota, Bolero in Rumphi, Mbalachanda in Mzimba and Chikwina in Nkhata Bay.

The visionary leader further connected Malawi using road networks through construction of roads such as the Kacheche-Chiweta, Nkhata Bay-Mzuzu, Blantyre-Chikhwawa, Lilongwe-Salima, Salima-Nkhotakota-Nkhata Bay-Lakeshore and Lilongwe-Kasungu M1 Road.

Kamuzu also built bridges such as Chiromo in Nsanje, Kamuzu bridges in Salima and Mangochi and railway line linking Lilongwe and Salima, Salima and Balaka and Lilongwe and Mchinji.

Under Banda’s rule passenger and goods vessels such as Nkhwazi, Ilala, Mtendere, Mpasa, including Ufulu were also introduced on Lake Malawi.

He also boosted food security through demonstrating good modern farming methods to the masses in his own farms and estates as well as establishing agricultural schemes, Malawi Young Pioneers training bases, agricultural research stations including conducting crop inspection tours himself to teach people best farming practices.

Even education under Kamuzu was valuable because among other things, standards 5, 8 and forms two and four pupils would sit for government examinations and cheating during examinations were uncommon because students worked extra harder in class.

School leavers could also easily apply for jobs and be called for interviews and get employed on merit unlike in recent years whereby employers are on the alert over rampant fake certificates.

Under the late Ngwazi acquiring fake certificates was rare unlike in recent years whereby even some so called ‘Honourable Members of Parliament (MPs)’ have been forging and possessing fake Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) certificates!

Kamuzu’s road to lead Malawi to development started with his arrival at Chileka International Airport on Sunday July 6, 1958 and open, fearless declaration against the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Zambia and Zimbabwe and Malawi) respectively.

He was a year later on Tuesday March 3, 1959 alongside other MCP officials including Gwanda Chakuamba, late Aleke Kadonaphani Banda arrested by the colonial government.

The Ngwazi was sent to jail at Gwero Prison in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

He was later released on Friday April 1, 1960 also known as ‘Fools Day’. A year later the country had its first General Elections which MCP scooped many seats enabling Kamuzu forming a government and crowned Malawi’s prime minister.

“It’s believed that it was while at Gwero Prison that Kamuzu had some visions for Malawi that were later turned into reality. Talk of social security, health delivery services, education standards they were all outstanding during the late Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s rule,” says 65-year-old Orton Kamkuzi, a retired teacher turned businessman from Dedza, about 90 Km from Lilongwe.

Not surprising concerned by some social-economic pains just some years after Malawi switched from one party to multiparty under Bakili Muluzi's rule, a group of some barefooted MCP supporters dressed dirty torn clothes went to weep at Kamuzu’s grave (before his mausoleum was built) to seek the late president’s spirit’s intervention in their hardships.

“Kamuzu was a dictator but he had an average poor citizen’s interests at heart,” chips in Ethel Chiwayula, 58-year-old mother of nine who has danced for MCP, UDF and patronised Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) political rallies before president Bingu wa Mutharika died on April 5 this year.

It was therefore, not surprising that when Kamuzu died it was an unexpected thing to happen and the whole nation came to a standstill with great shock!

Yes! Banda’s death was unexpected because during his over 30 year old rule, at every gathering (public or private), through their prayers at such functions citizens strongly believed they were making life contributions for him to live forever!

Tuesday November 25 about 15 years ago the country’s first president Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda died at the age of slightly over 100 years at Garden City Clinic in Johannesburg in South Africa from pneumonia related complications.

Kamuzu died the same day that former UN Secretary General U-Thant from Burma also breathed his last in 1974.

The Ngwazi was later buried at City Centre on Wednesday December 3, 1997 where he eternally sleeps in a magnificent mausoleum.

Banda’s death united the country’s prominent local politicians from then ruling United Democratic Front led by former president Bakili Muluzi, opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) by Gwanda Chakuamba and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) by late Chakufwa Chihana, including the clergy, foreign dignitaries and Malawians from all walks of life from all corners of the country.

In honour of the late Kamuzu late Mutharika and his government few years ago constructed an imposing $600,000 (then about K90 million) worth mausoleum at City Center and further erected the late first president’s statue at Area 18 in Lilongwe.

Even while attending the commemoration of Kamuzu Academy ‘Founders Day’ in Kasungu former first lady Callista Mutharika pleaded with students to emulate the late Banda’s example of aiming high and working hard for the sake of the benefit of his country.

“His road to success and excellence started while he was young,” said Callista Mutharika.

She therefore, urged the students to strive to do the best and be the best in their career just as the founder of their institution did in order to contribute to Malawi’s social-economic development at all levels.

“The late Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda led this country to social-economic development because he was not just a leader but a visionary leader,” added Callista.

On her part the late Ngwazi’s former personal hostess Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira appealed to all Malawians to learn from whatever happened in the past including under Banda to avoid repeating mistakes that could hinder their country's social-economic development at all levels if they are to successfully move forward as a nation.

“You can’t know where you are going unless you first know where you are coming from,” she said during the unveiling of the imposing Kamuzu’s mausoleum which was erected near Malawi Government offices Headquarters (Capital Hill) in City Centre in the capital Lilongwe by the late president Mutharika and his government.