Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-12-29
BY ENOC p. WATERS, JR.
AMP EDITOR, now touring Africa


life and philosophy Of one man
who, through born here, has spent
most Of his life in another world
Yet, the aspirations of these
people were never fully crystalized
until DR.. Hastings Kamusu Banda,
now SO, dramatically returned in
1858 after living abroad for 40
years, to give leadership and direc-
ton to their smouldering discon-
tent.
Though he is the greatest poll
teal personality of any race or
color this country has ever pro-
duced, he is not a professional pol
itician - not even now that his
mastery is complete.
Professionally, he Is a physician,
trained in England and the United
States. Like midas late, great
mystic, Mahatma Gandhi who
gave up a successful law career
in England to return and lead his
people to freedom so did DR..
Banda abandon a lucrative medical
practice in London to come back
here and go to Jail in his fight for
political independence.
One cannot very well doubt
the sincerity and motives of a
man who has nothing to gain
but the realization Of a high
moral conviction.
Even most of the 5000 whites
In this country, who have no great
affection for DR.. Banda, can find
no grounds upon which to attack
him - except his determination to
end white domination and to- sub
tract Nyasaland from the Fedora
ton with Northern and Southern
Rhodesia.
AS matters now stand, there is
every reason to believe he will sue
coed in both very soon. Now that
his powerful political juggernaut,
the Malawi Congress Party (MCP)
has captured % Of the % seats in
the Legislative Council, there is
but one obstacle remaining in the
path Of Nyasaland's withdrawal
from the Federation and becoming
Independent - Sir Roy Welensky,
the Federal Prime Minister.
Nyasaland, according to the fed
eral constitution, cannot withdraw
except with the consent Of the
other two countries. It Is possible
that Northern Rhodesia would
agree since it, too, would like to
withdraw. But Welensky, who
dominates Southern Rhodesia, will
never consent -. for the Fedora
ton Is largely Of his own making.
I went to the sprawling bunga-
low, surrounded by a high stone
wall with uniformed guards at the
gate, where DR.. Banda lives as a
bachelor - indulging in neither
smoking nor drinking - to find
out why he opposes the Fedora
ton.
Here, both whites and Africans
refer to it as the presidential
palace" in very much the same
way that Gatundu - where Jomo
Kenyatta lives - Is commonly re-
garded as the capital of Kenya.
The reference is one of sarcasm
with whites. But Africans are seri-
GUS. To them he once was 1.-THE
Messiah" a title he has discour-
aged. Living already in a world
that is yet to come, the Africans
regard DR.. Banda as the president
Of Malawi, the ancient African
name for Nyasaland which once
again will become official when
independence come. They also re-
fer to him as "the Malawai;" Kam-
uzu, which is his African name;
Ngwazi, meaning great warrior;
KANSAS, another African appella-
ton, and finally Kamkhwala,
meaning doctor. He is the life pres
ident of MOP, and his associates
refer to him affectionately as 1.-The
Old Man"
He is a MISUNDERSTANDING
man, small of stature, clean-shav-
en-, immaculately-attired and pos
sessing great animation. When
turned loose on a subject close to
his heart, he is inclined to lecture
rather than converse.
He ignored the fact that he was
scheduled to depart by plane in a
few hours for Nairobi to confer
with Kenyatta, and told me he
didn't want me to leave the house
until I fully understood the issues
and his position.
I'm England and to a greater
extent in America" he said, II am
misunderstood because Of deliber-
ate distortions Of what I say"
Every once in a while, he in
terrupted his easy flow of words
to ask If fully understood what
he was saying. IF you don't say
so and I'll repeat it."
First" he sold, the federation