Death and state funeral of Hastings Banda
Hastings Banda, the first President of Malawi, died on 25 November 1997 in Johannesburg in the Republic of South Africa. Thousands of Malawians gathered in Lilongwe to bury the president.[1] The funeral took over four hours at the State House followed by a speech of the acting president, Bakili Muluzi. Muluzi's speech was accompanied by religious ceremonies attended by African heads of states, notably President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, with his vice-president, Joshua Nkomo, and Botswanan President Ketumile Masire. In his eulogy, Muluzi said that sorrows had surrounded the country as it had lost one of the most powerful leaders in its history. Tananga Cecilia Kadzamira, Banda's long-time companion including other relatives were the first to lay their wreaths on the president's grave.[1] Banda was given different heroic names such as the Conqueror, and the Messiah.[2][3]
| Date | 25 November 1997 |
|---|---|
| Location | Lilongwe, Malawi |
Background edit
Three months earlier before Hastings Banda's demise, he was accused of killing four opposition parliamentarians. Since he was a dictator leader, he did not feel guilty. Banda suffered from heart failure for several years. He was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre before being transferred to South Africa. It was on 25 November 1997 when Banda died in South Africa.[3]
He was laid to rest on 3 December 1997. African heads of states attended the funeral. Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid, did not attend the funeral despite Banda sent him a financial contribution to the African National Congress after he was released out of prison in 1990. Other African leaders attended the funeral upon the news and these were Robert Mugabe, Kenneth Kaunda, and Joaquim Chissano.[3]
Funeral and burial service edit
Banda's funeral took place in Lilongwe after his body had embarked from South Africa. Thousands of Malawian Malawian citizens came out to show their last respects. Banda was raid to rest on 3 December 1997. It was claimed by MCP's treasurer general, Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba that the casket in which Banda was buried would take over a century before it would start rusting. The casket was said to had been purchased from the USA and had been selectively chosen to meet embalming done by special undertakers in the Republic of South Africa where the president died. Ntaba insisted that the bronze casket was purchased for K717,000 (SAR 196,000) could stay up to a century without showing signs of rust.[4]
The first steel casket going at about K184,000 (SAR 54,000) was discarded due to durability issues. The body was embalmed before being buried in a concrete grave to avoid any damages to the president's body as well as the casket for historical purposes just like the former Kenyan president Jomo Kenyata was buried.[4] In 2006, the Kamuzu Mausoleum was established.
Attendees edit
| Country | Title | Dignitary | ref |
|---|---|---|---|
 Malawi
|
President | Lazarus Chakwera | [3] |
 Botswana
|
President | Ketumile Masire | |
 Mozambique
|
President | Joaquim Chissano | |
 Zambia
|
President | Kenneth Kaunda | |
 Zimbabwe
|
Prime Minister | Robert Mugabe | |
| Mozambique
|
Vice President | Joshua Nkomo | |
 Angola
|
Vice-president | Bornito de Sousa |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Malawians bury Banda". 3 December 1997.
- ^ "Malawi News Online - 12/01/97".
- ^ a b c d Sevenzo, Farai (2000). "Bedtime for Banda". Transition (85): 4–29. JSTOR 3137481.
- ^ a b Sevenzo, Farai (2000). "Bedtime for Banda". Transition. 10 (1): 4–29.