Malawi voters take part in the first multiparty election in three decades

Present day Malawi became the British colony of Nyasaland in 1890, after aggressive diplomatic conflict with Germany. In 1964, Britain released the colony and it became Malawi, with Kamuzu Banda sworn is as the country's first president. From the beginning of his 30-year rule in Malawi, Banda followed policies which were at odds with other African leaders in the newly independent nations. He maintained cordial relations with the repressive White-supremacist regimes of the southern continent, in particular, South Africa and the Portuguese administration in neighbouring Mozambique. Within months of independence, several members of his cabinet resigned, partly on this issue, and in protest to the autocratic style of government which Banda adopted from the start. The aging Banda continued to rule Malawi with an iron fist throughout the 1970s and into the late 1980s. Several thousand people were imprisoned for political offences at one time or another during his rule. By 1992, Banda's grip had begun to weaken. External pressure, including threats by aid donors abroad to suspend assistance, increased. In October, Banda agreed to hold a referendum early in 1993 on whether Malawi should remain a one-party state. In the referendum, on 14 June 1993, 63% of those voting favoured adopting multi-party democracy. Two opposition groups, AFORD and the United Democratic Front (UDF), both led by former MCP officials, held a massive rally in January 1993. On 16 May 1994, the National Assembly adopted a provisional constitution, and on 17 May Malawi voters streamed from impoverished villages to take part in the first multiparty election in three decades. Kamuzu Banda, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders was overthrown. Bakili Muluzi of the UDF, a former cabinet minister, defeated Banda (MCP), Chihana (AFORD), and Kamlepo Kalua (Malawi Democratic Party). Of the 177 parliamentary seats contested, the UDF took 84; the MCP took 55, and AFORD 36. Muluzi immediately ordered the release of political prisoners and closed the most notorious jails. The new constitution took effect from 18 May 1995.