The Life and Death of the Legendary Gilbert Ponde ponde who fought for the independence of Malawi and how he was assassinated.

The  Life and Death of the Legendary Gilbert Ponde ponde who fought for the independence of Malawi and how he was  assassinated.

1963 Christmas eve , Gilbert Ponde ponde, the leader of Mbadwa Party, a small but very critical opposition party to Dr Banda's Malawi Congress Party  is dragged out  from his house at night by the Malawi Young Pioneers and members of Malawi Youth League to an isolated place where he was beaten and murdered in cold blood. 

But what had Ponde ponde committed to be assassinated? 

Malawi Congress Party had moved a motion in  its rank and file to endorse Dr Banda as the life President of MCP at that time. 

The country stood quiet.... while Gilbert Ponde ponde stood up and opposed this move. Ponde ponde warned the nation that they were building a lion that will massacre them in the years to come.

Ponde ponde stood for what he believed in and foresaw what nobody could see.

He had to be eliminated.... the MYP and the  Youth League were the perfect tools  to silence Ponde pondes dissenting views.

While the country was celebrated christmas in 1963... Ponde ponde's family was mourning this great upright son of Nyasaland.

Sir Glyn Jones summoned the Prime minister Dr Banda at Zomba and questioned him about the killing of Gilbert Ponde ponde. Dr Banda denied any involvement. Jones asked him to get a grip of his MYP boys.

Sir Glyn Jones admitted the assassination  of Gilbert Ponde ponde silenced a remarkably  tenacious and independent-minded individual in Nyasaland.

In 2003 while having a conversation with my old man....he mentions Gilbert Ponde ponde. He said Gilbert joined him at Lever Brothers Limbe HQ as a book keeper. 

My old man came back from Salisbury Rhodesia with Lever Brothers in 1962. 

His account of Ponde ponde was.. Gilbert was already in politics when he joined Lever Brothers. Ponde ponde was the Secretary General of Chester Katsongas/ TDT Banda's Christian Democratic Party from 1961. 

Towards the 1964 General Elections, Ponde ponde becomes so radical and decides to join the radical Mbadwa Party which was poised to oppose Dr Banda's growing dictatorial tendencies before independence. 

Ponde ponde  complained that the1964 elections campaigns were marred by violence and intimidation, arson by MCP.

Chester's Bar of Katsonga in Zomba torched by MCPs young pioneers.

The legendary Ponde ponde demanded  that the 1964 elections be postponed.

In the picture, the legendary Gilbert Pondeponde of Malawi.1

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