On 4 October 1967, as Parliament was in session in the then Malawi’s capital city of Zomba, President Dr Kamuzu Banda announced that an armed group of Malawians had invaded the country through Mwanza.
In his address, he informed the Members of Parliament that the armed invaders were disguised in Police Mobile Force uniforms, heavily armed with machine guns, automatic pistols, and possibly bazookas. He then went on to say:
> “I have given orders that the relatives of all these people (who have invaded our country) be arrested now and their houses burned… Everyone, all the families and relatives of those people now in Zambia and Tanganyika must be detained.”
1. Why did Dr Kamuzu Banda respond this way?
2. Were these orders implemented?
3. What happened to the families of those who invaded Malawi with arms to overthrow Dr Kamuzu Banda?
These are among the many questions explored in ‘The Mwanza War of October 1967: Cold War Shadows in Malawi’ by Paliani Chinguwo, published by the Lost History Foundation in collaboration with Wissen Books.
Drawing on archival records, eyewitness accounts, and other historical sources, the book uncovers the political decisions, human experiences, and lasting consequences of one of the most significant yet overlooked episodes in Malawi’s post-independence history.
Order your copy now as Malawi commemorates 62 years of Independence and 60 years as a Republic—a timely opportunity to reflect on the nation’s political history through The Mwanza War of October 1967: Cold War Shadows in Malawi.
The book is available on Amazon. Hard copies are also available in Malawi through pre-order only.
WhatsApp: +266 5964 2284
Direct calls: +265 888 619 629
Email: admin@historyofmalawi.com
Cc: paliani@zongeconsulting.co.za
# Lost History Foundation