Cecilia Kadzamira
Encyclopedia
Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira was the official hostess of Malawi during the reign of Kamuzu Banda. Whilst she and Dr. Banda were not officially married, she served as the first lady or official hostess for several years. For several years, she was the most powerful woman in Malawi. Ms Kadzamira, is fondly referred to as "Mama", or "Mother of the Nation".
) where she attended school at Mbizi Primary. After her GCE she enrolled at Salisbury Central Hospital as a cadet nurse where she qualified and was briefly posted to Old Highfields Clinic. When her father, John Kadzamira, returned home with his family, including David Zimani Kadzamira
. She joined Dr. Banda at his Limbe medical practice as a staff nurse. She is niece to John Tembo
.
Surgery, Cecilia moved to Zomba State House as Dr. Banda's private secretary.
(thereafter the post was reduced to Administrative Secretary). After much resistance and ahead of the official visit by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta
of Kenya and the Kenyan first lady Mama Ngina, Dr. Banda finally 'succumbed'. Cecilia Kadzamira's name and title changed from OGH to Mama Tamanda C. Kadzamira, 'Mama' of the nation.
In quick succession and in line with her new first lady duties, Dr. Banda announced Mama Tamanda Kadzamira would run an organization called Chitukuko Cha Amayi muMalawi (CCAM); giving her more influence in Malawian politics and greater control over who had access to Dr. Banda. In 1974, when John Tembo, as Chairman of the National Celebrations Council, transferred the venue of the Youth Week Inauguration venue it to Lilongwe without Dr. Banda's authority, Cecilia Kadzamira pleaded with Dr. Banda and saved John Tembo from express expulsion from the MCP. Instead, John Tembo was relegated to the post of Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi; while Gwanda Chakuamba
, then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Young Pioneers
, rose.
She made many decisions as Banda become older and could no longer run the affairs of the country. When Dr Banda turned senile, she unsuccessfully tried to influence Dr Banda to sponsor John Tembo
as his successor in the party. Though Tembo had been acting in Bandas place in his absence Dr. Banda handed the MCP political baton to Gwanda Chakuamba
.
Her influence over his political and personal decisions played a significant role in the development of Banda and Malawi. The two friends were inseparable, and she influenced many aspects of his life such as who he had access to, reading materials, knowledge that was passed to him, and policies he signed.
When she and Banda were going through a difficult time, Banda banned the song "Cecelia" by Simon and Garfunkel because of its lyrics that hit too close to home, such as "Cecilia, I'm down on my knees, I'm beggin' you please to come home..."
Early life
She was born in Rhodesia and lived in Old Highfields, Salisbury (now HarareHarare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
) where she attended school at Mbizi Primary. After her GCE she enrolled at Salisbury Central Hospital as a cadet nurse where she qualified and was briefly posted to Old Highfields Clinic. When her father, John Kadzamira, returned home with his family, including David Zimani Kadzamira
Zimani Kadzamira
Zimani David Kadzamira is a Malawian academic, civil servant and diplomat. He was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malawi until 2009.-Early life and education:...
. She joined Dr. Banda at his Limbe medical practice as a staff nurse. She is niece to John Tembo
John Tembo
John Zenus Ungapake Tembo is a Malawian politician and the President of the Malawi Congress Party , the strongest opposition party in Malawi. Tembo comes from the Dedza District in central Malawi, and he is a teacher by profession...
.
Early career
After working for Dr. Banda as a nurse at the LimbeLimbe, Malawi
Limbe is a town in Malawi. It is located in Blantyre District. It is the operational headquarters and workshops for Malawi Railways.- Overview :Limbe is 7 miles east of Blantyre and was founded in 1909. Blantyre Briefly merged with Limbe in 1956....
Surgery, Cecilia moved to Zomba State House as Dr. Banda's private secretary.
Political Career and Influence
After the cabinet Crisis in 1964, where Banda consolidated his political power, she was appointed the Official Government Hostess (OGH). There is speculation of her role in the Machiavellian public trial and hanging of Albert Muwalo, the last MCP Secretary-GeneralSecretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
(thereafter the post was reduced to Administrative Secretary). After much resistance and ahead of the official visit by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
of Kenya and the Kenyan first lady Mama Ngina, Dr. Banda finally 'succumbed'. Cecilia Kadzamira's name and title changed from OGH to Mama Tamanda C. Kadzamira, 'Mama' of the nation.
In quick succession and in line with her new first lady duties, Dr. Banda announced Mama Tamanda Kadzamira would run an organization called Chitukuko Cha Amayi muMalawi (CCAM); giving her more influence in Malawian politics and greater control over who had access to Dr. Banda. In 1974, when John Tembo, as Chairman of the National Celebrations Council, transferred the venue of the Youth Week Inauguration venue it to Lilongwe without Dr. Banda's authority, Cecilia Kadzamira pleaded with Dr. Banda and saved John Tembo from express expulsion from the MCP. Instead, John Tembo was relegated to the post of Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi; while Gwanda Chakuamba
Gwanda Chakuamba
Gwandaguluwe "Gwanda" Chakuamba Phiri is a prominent Malawian politician who is currently the leader of the New Republican Party . He is from the lower Shire Valley area in southern Malawi....
, then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Young Pioneers
Malawi Young Pioneers
The Malawi Young Pioneers was the paramilitary wing of the Malawi Congress Party. Their Commander-in-Chief was President Hastings Kamuzu Banda. The Young Pioneers were a major instrument for the operationalisation of Dr Banda's one party state dictatorship and domestic terrorism...
, rose.
She made many decisions as Banda become older and could no longer run the affairs of the country. When Dr Banda turned senile, she unsuccessfully tried to influence Dr Banda to sponsor John Tembo
John Tembo
John Zenus Ungapake Tembo is a Malawian politician and the President of the Malawi Congress Party , the strongest opposition party in Malawi. Tembo comes from the Dedza District in central Malawi, and he is a teacher by profession...
as his successor in the party. Though Tembo had been acting in Bandas place in his absence Dr. Banda handed the MCP political baton to Gwanda Chakuamba
Gwanda Chakuamba
Gwandaguluwe "Gwanda" Chakuamba Phiri is a prominent Malawian politician who is currently the leader of the New Republican Party . He is from the lower Shire Valley area in southern Malawi....
.
Relationship with Banda
She was a confidante and friend of Kamuzu Banda.Her influence over his political and personal decisions played a significant role in the development of Banda and Malawi. The two friends were inseparable, and she influenced many aspects of his life such as who he had access to, reading materials, knowledge that was passed to him, and policies he signed.
When she and Banda were going through a difficult time, Banda banned the song "Cecelia" by Simon and Garfunkel because of its lyrics that hit too close to home, such as "Cecilia, I'm down on my knees, I'm beggin' you please to come home..."