[Civsoc-mw] SEMINAR ON THE OCTOBER 1967 MWANZA ‘WAR’ AS THE AFTERMATH OF THE CABINET CRISIS OF 1964: What Important Lessons to Draw for Malawi Today?

[Paliani]

BackgroundThe Cabinet Crisis of 1964 occurred in September 1964 barely three monthsafter Malawi attained independence on 6 July 1964. It emanated from anirreconcilable rift between the Prime Minister, Dr. Hastings Banda (laterMalawi’s first President) and his cabinet ministers.
Subsequently, under the umbrella of Ufulu Umodzi Malawi Party (UUMA), anarmed group of 17 exiled Malawians led by Malawi’s former Minister of HomeAffairs, Yatuta Chisiza (who had resigned during the cabinet crisis of 1964)entered Malawi border through Mwanza on Saturday 30th September 1967 with amission to militarily topple the regime of Dr. Banda but did not succeed.
One major casualty of the 1964 cabinet crisis, was the free discussion ofthe political and economic history of the country and above all the production,documentation and dissemination of the history at large.
For almost 30 years since 1964, during national festivities when thepolitical history of the country was expressed and re-enacted on radio, innews- papers, at national and local party gatherings and in schools, a versionof history was presented that was specifically designed to personally please andglorify none other than Dr. Banda.
The version of history that was being inculcated in the minds of the newgeneration of Malawians was that which had to be approved by Dr Banda himself.
It is Dr. Banda’s own version which became the official history, and anybodydeparting from it was regarded as anti- government, a ‘rebel’, a‘confusionist’, an ‘ungrateful’ person and, therefore, someone deservingdetention without trial.The October 1967 Mwanza ‘war’, marked the end of military resistance to DrBanda’s dictatorship and almost smothered all anti-Banda political activityamongst the Malawians in exile.
RationaleThe October 1967 Mwanza ‘war’ is a critical episode in Malawian history. Itreveals the courageous determination to overthrow the oppressive and dictatorialregime of Dr Banda within the context of the cabinet crisis of 1964.It is a sadly overlooked episode in many narratives of the struggle fordemocracy and against the one party rule in Malawi.Throughout Dr. Banda regime and up to now, the accounts of the October 1967Mwanza ‘war’ and the cabinet crisis of 1964 have been discussed with a biastowards the official narrative given by the one party state of Dr. Banda.
The year 2018, marks exactly 54 and 51 years after the October 1967 ‘war’ inMwanza and the cabinet crisis of 1964 respectively.It is against this background that a Seminar on the October 1967 ‘War’as an aftermath of the cabinet crisis of 1964 is beingorganized as part of mending our Malawi history with an aim to draw importantlessons from these two important aspects for Malawi today as it forges ahead inthe future.
Venue: Zomba, (venue to beconfirmed later)Duration: One day (8:30-16:30hrs)Date: Saturday, 13 October 2018
Those interested to participate at this seminar should contact theorganizing committee for further details.
Appeal for financial supportAn appeal is being made to well-wishers for financial support to fund thisseminar. The cost items include transport, meals, refreshments, venue booking,and communication. Individuals can pick out any cost item and contribute findsto settle that particular budget item.For further details about the budget, please contact the organizing team.
Contacts for the organising teamFor any inquiries, contact the organizing team:E-mail: p.chinguwo at historyofmalawi.com;+267 745 26943 (whatsapp) or +265 888 388 044 (for calls)Twitter: History MwFacebook page: Malawi Lost HistoryWebsite: www.historyofmalawi.com 
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