Chakufwa Chihana
Encyclopedia
Chakufwa Chihana was a Malawi
a human rights activist, pro-democracy
advocate, trade unionist and later, politician. He served as the Second Vice President in Malawi. He is credited as the 'father of Malawian democracy' in Malawi. He was the leader of Malawi's first underground political movement that pressed dictator and President Kamuzu Banda to call for a referendum on political pluralism.. He was the first person to also openly challenge Banda's rule. He was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
in 1992.
).
His father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother, an activist for local women. After secondary school
, he worked for the colonial government and became active in the 4000-strong Commercial General Union, a Trade Union
.
In 1958, he became the union's publicity secretary and magazine editor.
The following year, aged 21, he was made secretary-general of the Trade Union. He was active in campaigns involving Malawi Railways
and the Imperial Tobacco group.
He studied at Oslo and Dubrovnik universities and received a Masters in Politics at Bradford University.
He worked as a lecturer at the University of Botswana
. In 1985, he became a co-founder and secretary- general of the Southern Africa trade union coordinating council.
) anti-colonial British rule in Nyasaland
.
By the end of 1963 the federation had collapsed and Kamuzu Banda was prime minister of the newly independent Malawi
.
As Banda began to consolidate his power after his presidency, Chihana continued to be pro independent trade unions and pro-democray and as a result Chihana was dismissed from the MCP. He was ordered in to internal exile and assaulted.
He escaped secretly in to Kenya
, through help of a Roman Catholic Priest. He continued to criticize Kamuzu Banda in Kenya while working as an adviser to the Kenya Federation of Labour.
and consequently spent much of the 1970s and 1980s either in detention or in exile.As a trade union leader and pro-democracy activist, Chihana was detained upon his abduction and subsequent return from exile from Kenya in 1970.
During his seven year sentence he was tortured, including five years spent in solitary confinement, he was released in 1977 as an Amnesty International
prisoner but continued to protest against one party rule.
. He was released on June 13th, June 1993 on the day before of Malawi's referendum to decide on multi-party rule in part due to the US vice president, Al Gore
, who had summoned the Malawian ambassador to the White House to protest at his detention and call for the introduction of democracy.
In the referendum, Malawians overwhelmingly voted for a multi-party political system.
Through his efforts with the Allaince for Democracy, he was instrumental in Banda's agreement to a referendum
, held on 17 June 1993, in which one-party rule was decisively rejected..
He openly challenged Banda's dictatorship and Chihana was quoted to have said that, "democracy is irreversible now in Malawi. We are going to have a new Malawi, and no one can stop the change." in the follow up to the elections.
which became a political party once it became legal to establish political parties in Malawi.. Other parties formed then as well including Bakili Muluzi
's United Democratic Front
(UDF). In the ensuing general election
Banda's party, the Malawi Congress Party
(MCP), lost power to Bakili Muluzi
's United Democratic Front
(UDF), with Chihana's new political party, the Alliance for Democracy
(AFORD), placed third. Ironically, in spite of Chihana's prominence as the leader of democracy in Malawi, the leader lost elections to the charismatic Bakili Muluzi
who had been been living outside of the country. Muluzi became the first democratically elected president of Malawi but appointed Chihana as the Second Vice President under his administration.
from 1994 to 1996 and again from 2003 to 2004.
, South Africa
at the age of 67. He received a state funeral upon his death in 2006.. He is survived by his wife Christina Chihana, son Enoch Chihana
and two daughters.
He died in Johannesburg
, South Africa
on 12 June 2006.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
a human rights activist, pro-democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
advocate, trade unionist and later, politician. He served as the Second Vice President in Malawi. He is credited as the 'father of Malawian democracy' in Malawi. He was the leader of Malawi's first underground political movement that pressed dictator and President Kamuzu Banda to call for a referendum on political pluralism.. He was the first person to also openly challenge Banda's rule. He was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was created by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial in 1984 to honour individuals around the world who show courage and have made a significant contribution to human rights in their country....
in 1992.
Early Life & Career
Chihana was born in Mhuju Village, Kawiluwilu, in the Northern Region of Nyasaland,(Colonial MalawiMalawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
).
His father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother, an activist for local women. After secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, he worked for the colonial government and became active in the 4000-strong Commercial General Union, a Trade Union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
.
In 1958, he became the union's publicity secretary and magazine editor.
The following year, aged 21, he was made secretary-general of the Trade Union. He was active in campaigns involving Malawi Railways
Malawi Railways
Malawi Railways, the national rail network in the country of Malawi, was run by a government corporation of that name until privatisation in 1999. With effect from 1 December 1999 the Central East African Railways consortium led by Railroad Development Corporation won the right to operate the...
and the Imperial Tobacco group.
He studied at Oslo and Dubrovnik universities and received a Masters in Politics at Bradford University.
He worked as a lecturer at the University of Botswana
University of Botswana
The University of Botswana, or UB was established in 1982 as the first institution of higher education in Botswana. The university has four campuses: two in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Maun. The university is divided into six faculties: Business, Education,...
. In 1985, he became a co-founder and secretary- general of the Southern Africa trade union coordinating council.
Anti Colonial Struggle
Chihana joined the Malawi Congress party (MCP) that was spearheading the anti-federation(Federation of Rhodesia and NyasalandFederation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
) anti-colonial British rule in Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
.
By the end of 1963 the federation had collapsed and Kamuzu Banda was prime minister of the newly independent Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
.
As Banda began to consolidate his power after his presidency, Chihana continued to be pro independent trade unions and pro-democray and as a result Chihana was dismissed from the MCP. He was ordered in to internal exile and assaulted.
He escaped secretly in to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, through help of a Roman Catholic Priest. He continued to criticize Kamuzu Banda in Kenya while working as an adviser to the Kenya Federation of Labour.
Political Exile & Arrest
He was a dissident during the rule of President Hastings BandaHastings Banda
Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the leader of Malawi and its predecessor state, Nyasaland, from 1961 to 1994. After receiving much of his education overseas, Banda returned to his home country to speak against colonialism and advocate for independence...
and consequently spent much of the 1970s and 1980s either in detention or in exile.As a trade union leader and pro-democracy activist, Chihana was detained upon his abduction and subsequent return from exile from Kenya in 1970.
During his seven year sentence he was tortured, including five years spent in solitary confinement, he was released in 1977 as an Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
prisoner but continued to protest against one party rule.
Work with SATUCC
He continued to work with Trade Unions in Southern Africa and by 1985, he became the co-founder and secretary- general of the Southern Africa trade union coordinating council.Second Exile & Arrest
In 1992, he returned to Malawi after his exile and was arrested and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor for seditionSedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
. He was released on June 13th, June 1993 on the day before of Malawi's referendum to decide on multi-party rule in part due to the US vice president, Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, who had summoned the Malawian ambassador to the White House to protest at his detention and call for the introduction of democracy.
In the referendum, Malawians overwhelmingly voted for a multi-party political system.
Through his efforts with the Allaince for Democracy, he was instrumental in Banda's agreement to a referendum
Malawian democracy referendum, 1993
A referendum on reintroducing multi-party democracy was held in Malawi on 14 June 1993. The result was a victory for the "yes" vote, resulting in fresh elections the following year, and the end to the reign of President-for-life Hastings Banda. Voter turnout for the referendum was 67% of the 4.7...
, held on 17 June 1993, in which one-party rule was decisively rejected..
He openly challenged Banda's dictatorship and Chihana was quoted to have said that, "democracy is irreversible now in Malawi. We are going to have a new Malawi, and no one can stop the change." in the follow up to the elections.
Rise of Political Parties and Foundation of AFORD
He was the founder and leader of the political movement Alliance for DemocracyAlliance for Democracy (Malawi)
The Alliance for Democracy is a political party in Malawi, mainly strong in the northern region populated by ethnic Tumbuka.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, the party won 6 out of 194 seats.**...
which became a political party once it became legal to establish political parties in Malawi.. Other parties formed then as well including Bakili Muluzi
Bakili Muluzi
Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician. He was the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004 and was Chairman of the United Democratic Front until 2009.-Presidency:...
's United Democratic Front
United Democratic Front (Malawi)
The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994...
(UDF). In the ensuing general election
Malawian general election, 1994
General elections were held in Malawi on 17 May 1994. Following the democracy referendum the previous year, they were the first multi-party elections in the country since prior to independence in 1964...
Banda's party, the Malawi Congress Party
Malawi Congress Party
The Malawi Congress Party is a political party in Malawi.It was the successor to the Nyasaland African Congress , which was banned in 1959.The MCP was founded by Hastings Banda and other NAC leaders in 1960....
(MCP), lost power to Bakili Muluzi
Bakili Muluzi
Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician. He was the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004 and was Chairman of the United Democratic Front until 2009.-Presidency:...
's United Democratic Front
United Democratic Front (Malawi)
The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994...
(UDF), with Chihana's new political party, the Alliance for Democracy
Alliance for Democracy (Malawi)
The Alliance for Democracy is a political party in Malawi, mainly strong in the northern region populated by ethnic Tumbuka.At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, the party won 6 out of 194 seats.**...
(AFORD), placed third. Ironically, in spite of Chihana's prominence as the leader of democracy in Malawi, the leader lost elections to the charismatic Bakili Muluzi
Bakili Muluzi
Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician. He was the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004 and was Chairman of the United Democratic Front until 2009.-Presidency:...
who had been been living outside of the country. Muluzi became the first democratically elected president of Malawi but appointed Chihana as the Second Vice President under his administration.
Political Career
Chihana served as Vice-President under President Bakili MuluziBakili Muluzi
Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician. He was the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004 and was Chairman of the United Democratic Front until 2009.-Presidency:...
from 1994 to 1996 and again from 2003 to 2004.
Legacy and Death
He died after a brain tumor operation in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
at the age of 67. He received a state funeral upon his death in 2006.. He is survived by his wife Christina Chihana, son Enoch Chihana
Enoch Chihana
Enoch Chihana is a Malawian Member of Parliament for Rumphi Central. He is running under a Alliance for Democracy ticket in a highly contested by-elections held in the northern region district. The seat was fromally occupied by DPP's Moses Chirambo who died last year...
and two daughters.
He died in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
on 12 June 2006.