Mama Kadzamira hails ‘special one’ Kamuzu
Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamila who was the official state hostess during President Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s presidency, says Kamuzu had a unique dream to give Malawians classical education.
Kadzamira was speaking at the 3oth anniversary celebrations of Founders Day of Kamuzu Academy in Kasungu, 120 Km away from the capital Lilongwe, a magnificent Malawi’s First Grammar School also nick named as ’Eton of Africa’
The former official hostess said Kamuzu – a medical doctor by training – led this country to social-economic development and was a “visionary leader” who established the Grammar School to open gateways for intelligent young men and women to the road of education and career success.
Kamuzu ruled Malawi for 30 years. He died three years after a defeat with his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) by former president Bakili Muluzi and his United Democratic Front (UDF) during the first multiparty general elections in 1994.
Mama said Kamuzu’s dream is still very much alive as they celebrated the 30th anniversary of the academy’s foundation.
“Kamuzu grew up and went to school under a kachere school,” said Kadzamira. Apparently the academy was built in the shadow of the kachere tree under which Scottish missionaries taught the young Kamuzu to read and write at the beginning of the 20th century.
“He went to church under Kachere. He walked all the way to [South Africa] in search of education,” she added.
“Wherever he was in United States, he had in mind of a school in Nyasaland (Malawi)and he always said I will call it academy which will produce the elite,” said the former confidant of the diminutive founding president.
She said Kamuzu first constructed Mtunthama primary school in his Chiwengo village in Kasungu district and later founded Kamuzu Academy.
Mama said the academy has made “a great impact” to Malawi, saying its alumnus have “done so well”.
The relationship between Kamuzu and Mama Kadzamira was special to the extent that even after Banda was defeated in the multiparty presidential elections of 1994, Kadzamira stayed by his bedside and nursed him until his death in November 1997.
The Eton is now a private, profit-making, fee-paying school.
Frank Cooke, the head teacher since 1992 and worked at the academy as history teacher from 1982 also heaped praise to Kamuzu saying he was “an extraordinary leader with vision.”
Kamuzu could have spent money in something else – like buying phone hacking machine – but instead built the school.
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