Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira,

DCVO The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, o ...

(born 25 June 1938) was the official hostess of Malawi during the reign of

Hastings Banda Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1898 – 25 November 1997) was the prime minister and later president of Malawi from 1964 to 1994 (from 1964 to 1966, Malawi was an independent Dominion / Commonwealth realm). In 1966, the country became a republic and ...

. Whilst she and 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. Kadzamira, is referred to as "Mama", or "Mother of the Nation".

Early life

She was born near Nkhoma in

Nyasaland Nyasaland () was a British protectorate located in Africa that was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Between 1953 and 1963, Nyasaland was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasala ...

. In her early years, the family moved to

Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was a landlocked self-governing British Crown colony in southern Africa, established in 1923 and consisting of British South Africa Company (BSAC) territories lying south of the Zambezi River. The region was informally kno ...

and lived in Old Highfield, Salisbury (now

Harare Harare (; formerly Salisbury ) is the capital and most populous city of Zimbabwe. The city proper has an area of 940 km2 (371 mi2) and a population of 2.12 million in the 2012 census and an estimated 3.12 million in its metropolitan ...

) 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 returned also to take up a posting in

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeas ...

. Later, she met and agreed to join Dr. Hastings Banda at his Limbe medical practice as a staff nurse. She is the niece of

John Tembo John Zenus Ungapake Tembo (born September 14, 1932
, Xinhua, May 19, 2004.) is a

Limbe Surgery, Kadzamira moved to Zomba State House as 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). This was suggested by Ismael Surtee, Banda's utmost closest associate and head speaker of Zomba, making him one of the most important figures in the government beneath Banda at that time. With his influence, Banda accepted. There is speculation of her role in the Machiavellian public trial and hanging of Albert Muwalo, the last MCP

Secretary-General Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...

(thereafter the post was reduced to Administrative Secretary). After much resistance and ahead of the official visit by Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and the Kenyan first lady Mama Ngina, Banda finally 'succumbed'. 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, Banda announced 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 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 Banda's authority, Kadzamira pleaded with Banda and saved Tembo from express expulsion from the MCP. Instead, 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 became older and could no longer run the affairs of the country. When Banda turned senile, she unsuccessfully tried to influence him to sponsor John Tembo as his successor in the party. Though Tembo had been acting in Banda's place in his absence, Banda handed the MCP political baton to Gwanda Chakuamba.

Relationship with Banda

She was a confidante and friend of Hastings 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 "

Cecilia Cecilia is a personal name originating in the name of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. The name has been popularly used in Europe (particularly the United Kingdom and Italy, where in 2018 it was the 43rd most popular name for girls born ...

" by

Simon and Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s, and their biggest hits—including the electric remix of " ...

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..."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kadzamira, Cecilia First ladies and gentlemen of Malawi Malawian women in politics Living people Kadzamira, Cecilia Honorary Dames Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order