Hastings Banda

Hastings Banda

Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1896? – 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.

Quotes

• 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 a firm date for Nyasaland's 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 as 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 everybody to be convinced that I mean just that?
  Brown: Dr Banda, if you break with the Central African Federation, how will you make out economically? After all, your country isn't really a rich country.
  Banda: Don't ask me 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 singularly fruitless interview?
  Banda: Well, it's up to you.
  Brown: Thank you very much.
  • BBC Training "Interviews from hell". BBC INFAX
  • BBC Interview, 21 June 1962

• 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.