Hastings Kamuzu Banda
Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1898?-1997) was the founding president and former dictator of Malawi. He became prime minister on February 1, 1963, president in 1966, and declared himself President for Life in 1971. During his rule, Banda accumulated $320 million, creating massive inflation in Malawi. He was one of the few African rulers to establish diplomatic ties with South Africa during apartheid and was widely seen has having contempt for African people and culture. One unverified story even has it that the real Kamuzu Banda died during college and one of his fellow American medical students became the leader of Malawi.Banda finally allowed democratic elections in 1994, and he was defeated in a massive landslide by Bakili Muluzi. He died in 1997. However, his death certificate was never found, and nobody has inherited his massive fortune.
