Hastings Kamuzu Banda
Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda (
1898?-
1997) was the founding
president and former
dictator of
Malawi. He became
prime minister on
February 1,
1963, president in
1966, and declared himself
President for Life in
1971. During his rule, Banda accumulated $320 million, creating massive inflation in Malawi. He was one of the few African rulers to establish diplomatic ties with
South Africa during
apartheid and was widely seen has having contempt for African people and culture. One unverified story even has it that the real Kamuzu Banda died during college and one of his fellow American medical students became the leader of
Malawi.
Banda finally allowed democratic elections in 1994, and he was defeated in a massive landslide by Bakili Muluzi. He died in 1997. However, his death certificate was never found, and nobody has inherited his massive fortune.
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