Aleke Banda
{{short description|Malawian politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Aleke Banda (crop1).jpg
| caption = Aleke Banda
| birth_date = {{Birth-date|1939}}
| death_date = {{Death date|2010|04|09|df=yes}} (age 70–71)
| nationality = Malawian
}}
Aleke Kadonaphani Banda (1939 – 9 April 2010) was a Malawian politician who served as a Member of Parliament, as Minister of Finance, and as Minister of Agriculture in Malawi. He was also co-founder of 'the Nation Publications Limited'.[http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/aleke-banda-is-dead.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417071204/http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/aleke-banda-is-dead.html|date=April 17, 2010}} Banda's life in politics (1953–2008) was devoted intensely to his country as it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, as it established the political and economic structures of an independent state under Hastings Kamuzu Banda and as it created the framework of a multiparty democracy under Bakili Muluzi.{{cite web|url=http://www.africa-confidential.com/article-preview/id/3498/No-Title |title=Subscription Required to View | Africa Confidential | The world's leading fortnightly bulletin on A |publisher=Africa Confidential |date=2010-04-16 |accessdate=2011-08-13| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110721081949/http://www.africa-confidential.com/article-preview/id/3498/No-Title| archivedate= 21 July 2011 | url-status= live}} Banda died from leukemia on 9 April 2010.{{cite web |author=Mzuzu Rotary Club |url=http://www.lilongwetimes.com/general/more-general-news/185-mzuzu-rotary-club-to-continue-alekes-dream |title=Mzuzu Rotary Club To Continue Aleke's Dream |publisher=Lilongwetimes.com |accessdate=2011-08-13 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713205818/http://www.lilongwetimes.com/general/more-general-news/185-mzuzu-rotary-club-to-continue-alekes-dream |archivedate=13 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Early life
Aleke Banda was born in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and educated in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). His family's home district, however, was Nkhata Bay, in the northern Region of Malawi. His father worked in Livingstone, Zambia, before moving to Moss Mine near Que Que (Kwekwe) in Southern Rhodesia, where Aleke Banda attended school. He became involved in politics from a young age and was imprisoned. In 1959 on release from prison he entered Malawi for the first time.Zoë Groves, [https://doi.org/10.1080/03057070.2012.749611 "Review of: Owen Kalinga, Historical Dictionary of Malawi (4th ed 2012)], Journal of Southern African Studies, Volume 38, 2012, Issue 4.
He is believed to be the first cousin of Zambian politician and former President Rupiah Banda.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}
Career
He was the chairman of The Nation Publications Limited, Malawi's influential private media house that publishes the newspapers The Nation, Weekend Nation, Nation on Sunday and FUKO.[http://www.nyasatimes.com/columns/aleke-speaks-on-malawi-govt-advertising-ban-in-nation-newspapers.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824073145/http://www.nyasatimes.com/columns/aleke-speaks-on-malawi-govt-advertising-ban-in-nation-newspapers.html|date=August 24, 2010}} He invited controversial journalist Ken Lipenga to be a founder and editor in chief of the newspaper, The Nation. He was imprisoned under the Banda regime for no charge and this was contested by despite being a co founder of the Malawi Congress Party together with Orton ChirwaAmnesty International.{{cite web|url=http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/africa/comcases/64-92b.html |title=University of Minnesota Human Rights Library |publisher=.umn.edu |date= |accessdate=2011-08-13}} In communication no. 63/92 Krishna Achuthan appealed to the commission on behalf of his father-in-law, Aleke Banda. He had been imprisoned for 12 years without legal charge or trial. When Mr. Achuthan met with two successive heads of intelligence of Malawi they confirmed that there no case pending against Mr. Banda, but that he was being held "at the pleasure of the head of state."
Political career
He was Minister of Finance from 1994 to 1997, and Minister of Agriculture from 1997 to 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.afdevinfo.com/htmlreports/peo/peo_11986.html |title=Aleke Banda (Malawi) |publisher=Afdevinfo.com |date=2008-05-21 |accessdate=2011-08-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825072530/http://www.afdevinfo.com/htmlreports/peo/peo_11986.html |archivedate=2011-08-25 }} He was also Minister of Health. He was also President of the People's Progressive Movement.
Aleke retired from active politics due to his ailment and was hospitalized in South Africa.
Film
- Lifecycles: A Story of AIDS in Malawi (Documentary Film) - 2003, Played self Minister of Health[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422641/ Aleke Banda], Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 2011
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Finance ministers of Malawi
Category:Government ministers of Malawi
Category:Members of the National Assembly (Malawi)
Category:People's Progressive Movement (Malawi) politicians