Historical Dictionary of Malawi Part 1

Historical dictionary of Malawi.

Owen J. M. Kalinga.

To the people of Malawi in their pursuit of chitukuko, ufulu, and umodzi.

Editor's Foreword.

Malawi is one of Africa's less-known countries, and maybe that is for the best. It is not particularly large or populous and it does not have much in the way of natural resources. During the Cold War, while others were experimenting with socialism, and sometimes even communism, Malawi remained staunchly conservative, and capitalist, which benefited it in gaining support from the West without serious enmity from the East. Since then, following policies that are not particularly different from other African countries, it has been doing the best it can, never particularly well, but also not hitting the headlines due to some nasty occurrence. It has seen ups and downs. Under the leaders.h.i.+p of Hastings Banda, it was strongly paternalistic although not dictatorial, but its economy prospered. Since then, it has joined the new wave of democracy, with political parties and elections, which brought in two democratically elected presidents, Bakili Muluzi and then Bingu wa m.u.t.h.arika. This was certainly to Malawi's benefit, or so it seems, but the economy has not done as well, which is discouraging. Worse, under the new regimes, corruption has flourished as never before, meaning that in real terms the economic, social, and even political situation of the ordinary people is not much better than at independence a half century ago.

This is, indeed, a mixed picture. The situation is certainly better than in other African states, but not as good as hoped for or indeed as it might have been. To see the significant details and form one's own overall view, a much sharper focus is needed. This is provided by what is now the fourth edition of the Historical Dictionary of Malawi. Time has pa.s.sed and the chronology had to be updated once again, so readers can follow the twists and turns of history, reaching back to precolonial days and working its way to the present. The broad and comprehensive introduction again gives an overview of this long period, indicating major trends and issues. The countless details, again augmented, can be found in the Dictionary section, with over a thousand entries on significant persons, places, and events; features of the economy, society, and culture; as well as religion, major political parties, and other organizations. For anyone seeking further information, the expanded bibliography will point in the right direction.

A volume of this depth and breadth could only have been achieved over time and through the contribution of two exceptional scholars. The first and second editions were written by Cynthia Crosby, whose main interests were the colonial period and the status of women. The third and now the fourth editions result from the research and writing of Owen J. Kalinga, who was born in Malawi and educated there and in Great Britain. For well over a decade he taught in the University of Malawi's Department of History, of which he became a.s.sociate professor and head. Dr. Kalinga's teaching career also took him to Canada, Nigeria, Lesotho, South Africa, and finally to his present position as professor of history at North Carolina State University. Along with numerous articles on the Lake Malawi region, he has written a book on the Ngonde Kingdom and another on rural society and migration in southern Africa, with a third under way about Flax Katoba Musopole, a leading nationalist of late colonial Malawi and political figure of the new state. These authors have thus helped fill the information gap on Malawi, a country that has done as well as most and better than some, and deserves to be better known.

Jon Woronoff.

Series Editor.

Acknowledgments.

This edition has greatly benefited from the help of many people and inst.i.tutions. Thanks go to the always friendly and ever efficient staff of the Inter-Library Loan Department at North Carolina State University for never failing to secure doc.u.ments required in preparing this Dictionary. Contacts at the National Archives of Malawi, Zomba, also rendered useful a.s.sistance. Special grat.i.tude is due to Margaret Kalinga for commenting on the work as it progressed. Four other Kalingas, Chawupi, G.o.dfrey, Nganiwe, and Agnes, helped at various stages. As usual, G.o.dfrey was always willing to explain to me the complicated issues relating to the economy of Malawi and the southern African region. I also wish to express grat.i.tude to Dr. Thomas G. Drake, formerly of the Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences at North Carolina State University, for modifying one of the maps to include all ethnic groups in Malawi. I am also very grateful to the series editor, Jon Woronoff, for his patience and for his invaluable editorial work. Last, though not least, thanks to the staff in the History Office at North Carolina State University for solving numerous administrative problems a.s.sociated with work on the Dictionary.

Acronyms and Abbreviations.

ABC.

American Baptist Church ACB.

Anti-Corruption Bureau ACS.

African Cooperative Society ADF.

African Development Fund ADMARC.

Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation AFORD.

Alliance for Democracy AIDS.

acquired immune deficiency syndrome ALC.

African Lakes Corporation AME.

African Methodist Episcopal Church AU.

African Union BCAC.

British Central Africa Company BCGA.

British Cotton Growers a.s.sociation BEA.

British and East Africa Company BIM.

Baptist Industrial Mission of Scotland BSAC.

British South Africa Company CAA.

Central African Airways CABS.

Central African Broadcasting Services CAP.

Central African Planter CAR.

Central African Railway Company CAT.

Central African Times CBM.

Commercial Bank of Malawi CCAM.

Chitukuko Cha Amai Mu Malawi CCAP.

Church of Central Africa Presbyterian CDP.

Christian Democratic Party CHAM.

Christian Health a.s.sociation of Malawi CHRR.

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation CIDA.

Canadian International Development Agency CLC.

Civil Liberties Commission CLP.

Congress Liberation Party CNU.

Congress for National Unity CO.

Colonial Office COMESA.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa CONGOMA.

Council for Nongovernmental Organizations in Malawi CSC.

Christian Service Committee CSR.

Congress for the Second Republic DC.

district commissioner DPP.

Democratic Progressive Party DRC.

Dutch Reformed Church ECM.

Episcopal Conference of Malawi EEC.

European Economic Community EU.

European Union ESCOM.

Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi EXCO.

Executive Council FAO.

Food and Agriculture Organization FO.

Foreign Office HAM.

Herbalist a.s.sociation of Malawi IBRD.

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) IDA.

International Development a.s.sociation (World Bank) IFC.

International Finance Corporation (World Bank) IMF.

International Monetary Fund INDEBANK.

Investment and Development Bank IPI.

Inst.i.tute for Policy Interaction IRDP.

Integrated Rural Development Project ITC.

Imperial Tobacco Company ITG.

Imperial Tobacco Group JAH.

Journal of African History K.

kwacha KAR.

King's African Rifles KKRGCU.

Kota Kota Rice Growers Co-operative Union LBSC.

London & Blantyre Supply Company LEGCO.

Legislative Council LEPRA.

Leprosy Relief a.s.sociation LESOMA.

Socialist League of Malawi LMS.

London Missionary Society LRC.

Legal Resources Centre MA.

Malawi Army MACOHA.

Malawi Council for the Handicapped MACRA.

Malawi Communications Regulatory Agency MAFREMO.

Malawi Freedom Movement MANEB.

Malawi National Examinations Board MASAF.

Malawi Social Action Fund MBC.

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation MCC.

Malawi Correspondence College MCCCI.

Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry MCP.

Malawi Congress Party MCTU.

Malawi Congress of Trade Unions MDC.

Malawi Development Corporation MDF.

Malawi Defense Forces MDP.

Malawi Democratic Party MDU.

Malawi Democratic Union MGDS.

Malawi Growth and Development Strategy MHEN.

Malawi Health Equity Network MIM.