Reflection by Paliani Chinguwo.
Part 1
Introduction
This article explores the origins of an organization known as the Lost History Foundation (LHF) — examining who initiated its formation, what inspired its establishment, and how it evolved into a think tank dedicated to the excavation and preservation of Malawi’s rich and complex historical narratives.
This article argues that the spirit of Yatuta Chisiza and his lieutenants who fought during the Mwanza “War” of October 1967, is deeply intertwined with the intellectual energies and efforts that ultimately gave birth to the Lost History Foundation (LHF). Their legacy of resistance and sacrifice provided not only historical inspiration but also a moral compass for LHF’s creation.
There exists a profound and meaningful connection between the 50th anniversary of the Mwanza “War” of October 1967 and the emergence of LHF — a connection that underscores the enduring relevance of historical memory in shaping contemporary efforts for knowledge, justice, and national self-understanding
Background
In 2016, an award-winning journalist in Malawi, Thomas Kachere — then working with a radio station called MIJ FM — and Paliani Chinguwo, a labour and history researcher then based in Gaborone, Botswana, were both active members of a WhatsApp group known as MAENGA. The MAENGA platform, moderated by the late Dr. Haswell Bandawe and Saunders Juma, served as a vibrant forum for discussing Malawi’s historical and contemporary issues.
Within MAENGA, Paliani Chinguwo initiated a series of discussions focusing on Yatuta Chisiza and his 16 lieutenants during the Mwanza “War” of October 1967. These discussions were timely, coinciding with the approaching 50th anniversary of the Mwanza “War” of October 1967. The historical accounts shared by Paliani Chinguwo were largely informed by the testimony of Frank Jiya, a surviving member of the Yatuta Chisiza-led group that had attempted an armed overthrow of Dr. Kamuzu Banda’s government in 1967.
For Thomas Kachere, this interaction marked his first introduction to both Frank Jiya and the events of the Mwanza “War.” Deeply intrigued, Thomas Kachere privately approached Paliani Chinguwo, expressing a strong interest in featuring Frank Jiya in his historical radio documentary series Zilipati, which aired every Sunday at 6 PM on MIJ FM. Paliani Chinguwo volunteered to provide research support for the Zilipati episodes covering the Mwanza “War.”
With Paliani Chinguwo’s assistance, Thomas Kachere was introduced to Frank Jiya, and conducted an exclusive interview, and subsequently produced compelling Zilipati episodes that shed light on the largely forgotten history of the Mwanza “War.”
Recognizing the importance of sharing these historical narratives more widely, in March 2017, Paliani Chinguwo established a new WhatsApp group called Malawi Past Testimonies. This group initially served as a platform to disseminate audio clips from the Zilipati series on the Mwanza “War.”
As the Zilipati episodes circulated within Malawi Past Testimonies, they sparked deeper discussions, initially centered on the Mwanza “War,” but soon expanding into broader debates about Malawi’s general historical landscape. However, over time, discussions increasingly shifted toward contemporary political and social issues. This evolution created tension among members, as some had joined the group specifically for its historical focus and were uncomfortable with the encroachment of present-day political debates.
To accommodate the broader interests of the membership, the group was subsequently renamed Malawi Past–Present Testimonies. Nonetheless, as contemporary discussions began to dominate, it became clear that a dedicated platform for purely historical discourse was necessary.
In September 2017, a consensus was reached: a new WhatsApp group would be created, devoted exclusively to the history of Malawi (Nyasaland), with a strict prohibition on the discussion of current affairs. Peter Nyangu volunteered to establish this new platform, inviting interested members from Malawi Past–Present Testimonies to join the new WhatsApp platform. Some transitioned to the new group, while others remained within Malawi Past–Present Testimonies.
The new group was named Malawi Lost History, and it was from this platform that the Lost History Foundation (LHF) would later emerge. Paliani Chinguwo and Mzee Cuthbert Kachale continued to play leading roles as principal contributors within Malawi Lost History as they did in the Malawi Past-Present Testimonies. Around the same time, Kamunkhwala Selenje—a passionate and active participant in the MAENGA WhatsApp platform—reached out to Paliani Chinguwo and started to engage and share ideas on how to collaborate on joint historical inquiries.
Together, Mzee Cuthbert Kachale, Kamunkhwala Selenje and Paliani Chinguwo formed a partnership focused on both uncovering and disseminating Malawi’s ‘lost’ history through Malawi Lost History and other WhatsApp platforms as well as providing research support to Thomas Kachere’s Zilipati programmes that touched on history of Malawi.
Prelude to Creation of LHF
Following the establishment of the Malawi Lost History WhatsApp platform, Thomas Kachere and Paliani Chinguwo embarked on revising the episodes of Zilipati that had aired on MIJ FM in March-April 2017, focusing on the Mwanza “War” of October 1967. This effort was aligned with the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Mwanza “War,” and the revised episodes aimed to incorporate additional information and perspectives, enhancing the original broadcasts.
In collaboration with Mzee Cuthbert Kachale and Kamunkhwala Selenje, Paliani Chinguwo continued to support Thomas Kachere in the production of these revised episodes. The three recommended to Thomas Kachere that he should conduct face-to-face interviews with key individuals who had direct knowledge of the Mwanza “War,” including:
– *Al Osman* – A journalist who covered the event for Times newspaper
– *Mary Mwahimba* – Widow of one of Yatuta Chisiza’s lieutenants
– *Major General Buxton Namwali* – A top army official involved in the battlefields
– *Stain Singo* – The son of the first state security officer who encountered the 17 armed men
These interviews required travel costs, with Thomas Kachere based in Blantyre. Some individuals were located outside Blantyre such as Major General Buxton Namwali in Thyolo and Mary Mwahimba in Mzuzu. However, due to MIJ FM’s budget constraints, there was no funding available to cover the logistical costs of the interviews.
In response to this challenge, Paliani Chinguwo developed a budget for the undertaking and circulated it within the Malawi Lost History group, appealing for contributions. Remarkably, within a week, enough funds were raised to enable Thomas Kachere to travel and conduct the interviews over a two-week period in early October 2017.
The aim was to produce the revised episodes in time for the 50th anniversary of the Mwanza “War” later that month. Among the generous contributors was *Dan Msiska*, a scholar at Mzuzu University, who supported the accommodation and local transport costs for Thomas Kachere in Mzuzu to interview Mary Mwahimba. Other contributions came from both domestic and international members, though some preferred to remain anonymous.
Following the successful funding effort, the Malawi Lost History also began supporting further historical projects for Zilipati, such as investigating the hijacking of a South African Airways plane that landed at Chileka Airport in May 1972 and the assassination of Dr Attati Mpakati in March 1983. As Thomas Kachere continued to monitor discussions within Malawi Lost History, he would select topics of historical interest for his Zilipati program. In each instance, Paliani Chinguwo played a pivotal role in coordinating the research and fundraising for these projects.
As the group grew, the task of managing fundraising efforts through a WhatsApp platform became increasingly challenging. Recognizing the need for a more structured approach, Malawi Lost History introduced a monthly contribution of MK1000 from each member to support continued historical research. This decision underscored the growing need for an organized entity that could effectively facilitate and coordinate the efforts to dig into and share Malawi’s history.
Thus, the foundations were laid for what would eventually become the *Lost History Foundation (LHF)*, an organization dedicated to preserving and disseminating the nation’s rich historical narratives.
Creation of LHF at Chilomoni (Fargo)
On 13 March 2018, a pivotal meeting took place at the office of Counsel Dengu Matumbi in Mandala House, Blantyre. In attendance were Counsel Matumbi and Paliani Chinguwo who were close friends since their days as students at the University of Malawi and were both part of Malawi Lost History WhatsApp platform. Over lunch, their shared passion for unearthing untold stories of Malawi’s past led to a significant conversation. This conversation focused particularly on the Mwanza “War” of October 1967, which had been explored in Thomas Kachere’s Zilipati program.
The meeting sparked an idea to dig deeper into the historical significance of the Mwanza “War” and bring its stories to a wider audience. Recognizing the potential of video documentaries as a medium for preserving these narratives, Counsel Matumbi and Paliani Chinguwo made the decision to embark on a documentary project focused on the Mwanza “War.”
During this meeting, the two agreed to contact Frank Jiya, a key figure in the Mwanza “War,” to ask him to join them on a trip to visit the battlefields where the events unfolded. On Saturday 17 March 2018, the four of them, including Thomas Kachere, traveled to the Mwanza “War” battlegrounds to begin shooting the documentary. The project was set to continue the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Mwanza “War” and offer a deeper insight into the history of the event.
In addition to the filming for the documentary, Paliani Chinguwo and Dengu Matumbi organized a meeting with former *LESOMA* (Socialist League of Malawi) cadres in Lilongwe on Friday 23 March 2018. This meeting was held to commemorate the assassination of *Dr. Attati Mpakati* on 23 March 1983 in Harare. Though Kamunkhwala Selenje could not attend, Paliani Chinguwo and Dengu Matumbi facilitated the discussions.
On Sunday 25 March 2018, a significant decision was made. While filming at Dengu Matumbi’s residence in *Chilomoni (Fargo)*, the trio—Dengu Matumbi, Kamunkhwala Selenje, and Paliani Chinguwo—came to a consensus that a formalized organization was necessary to continue and expand their work of preserving Malawi’s history. It was here that they agreed to establish a non-profit organization that would focus on uncovering and preserving the nation’s hidden narratives.
The organization was named *Lost History Foundation (LHF)*. The following positions for the management of LHF were designated for the founding members:
– *Executive Director*: Kamunkhwala Selenje
– *Technical Director*: Dengu Matumbi
– *Research Director*: Paliani Chinguwo
With this decision, LHF was officially born as an organisation, and its mission was clear: to collect, preserve, and share the forgotten stories of Malawi’s past, ensuring that future generations would have access to a fuller and more accurate account of their history. In due course, Frank Jiya was invited to join as one of the five Trustees of LHF, an offer he accepted.
LHF’s first major public event occurred on 13 October 2018, during the 51st anniversary of the Mwanza “War.” In collaboration with the Chanco Association of Young Patriots (CAYP), a student organization at the University of Malawi, LHF organized a seminar on the Mwanza “War.” The seminar, held at the Gymkhana Club in Zomba, was a major milestone for LHF.
Notable participants included Frank Jiya, Mary Mwahimba (the widow of Lutengano Mwahimba), Senior Counsel Bazuka Mhango (nephew of Yatuta Chisiza), Kwacha Chisiza (son of Yatuta Chisiza), Al Osman (a journalist who covered the war), Major General Buxton Namwali (top Army official during Mwanza “war”) and political scientist Prof. Happy Kayuni.
This seminar marked LHF’s first public event and was a successful demonstration of LHF’s commitment to uncovering Malawi’s lost history, making it a significant turning point in the organization’s journey to becoming a key player in preserving and promoting the country’s historical narratives.
Conclusion
The founding of Lost History Foundation (LHF) in March 2018 at Chilomoni (Fargo) can be directly linked to the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Mwanza “War” of October 1967. The Mwanza “War,” a pivotal event in Malawi’s history, remains indelibly etched in the collective memory of those who witnessed or were involved in it. The story of 17 armed men, led by Yatuta Chisiza, who bravely crossed into Malawi to challenge the oppressive one-party state, became a defining narrative that motivated the creation of LHF.
Consequently, the first significant activity undertaken by LHF was the production of a video documentary on the Mwanza “War”, ensuring that the historical significance of this event would be preserved for future generations. Moreover, the very first book manuscript by LHF was focused on the Mwanza “War”, solidifying the connection between LHF’s inception and this crucial moment in the country’s struggle for justice and political change.
This demonstrates that the founding of LHF cannot be viewed in isolation but must be understood within the context of the Mwanza “War” of October 1967, which continues to serve as an inspiration for LHF’s mission of uncovering and preserving Malawi’s rich, yet often overlooked history.
TO BE CONTINUED…
NB: This photograph was taken on Saturday, 17 March 2018, at the battlefields of the Mwanza War. In the image, Frank Jiya is narrating the story, while Dengu Matumbi operates the camera and Paliani Chinguwo provides lighting. Lemani, a member of the technical team, holds the microphone. Standing between Chinguwo and Matumbi is Village Chief Liyenda, who guided the team from the main Blantyre-Mwanza road to the battlefields. This moment served as a prelude to the founding of the Lost History Foundation (LHF) on 25 March 2018.
