Malawi Congress Party Gains Majority in Legislative Council

In 1961, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) led by Hastings Kamuzu Banda gained a majority in the Legislative Council elections. This significant political victory paved the way for Banda to become Prime Minister in 1963. The dissolution of the Federation in 1963 led to Nyasaland's independence from British rule on July 6, 1964, when it was renamed Malawi. This day is commemorated as the nation's Independence Day, a public holiday. Under a new constitution, Malawi became a republic with Banda as its first president. The new document also formally established Malawi as a one-party state with the MCP as the only legal party. In 1971, Banda was declared president-for-life. For almost 30 years, Banda presided over a rigidly totalitarian regime, ensuring that Malawi did not suffer armed conflict. Opposition parties, including the Malawi Freedom Movement of Orton Chirwa and the Socialist League of Malawi, were founded in exile. Despite the political repression, Malawi's economy under Banda was often cited as an example of how a poor, landlocked, and heavily populated country deficient in mineral resources could achieve progress in both agriculture and industrial development.