By Conleith Selenje
The Nyasaland Minister of Finance, Henry Phillips was grooming Dunduzu Chisiza for a take over of the ministerial office at independence. All was in place.
On 16th April 1962, Henry Phillips and Dunduzu Chisiza left Nyasaland for London on official errands. Two days later reports circulated in the media that Nyasaland would partake in a loan worthy £1.785(1 million seven hundred and eighty-five thousand pounds) which the Ministry of Finance had negotiated from the Barclays Bank.
Although Nyasaland was about to complete its transition of breaking away from the Federation and achieve its independence from Britain, Dunduzu was aware that the bond between Nyasaland and Britain would still exist hence negotiating a loan from the colonial master by 1962 prior to independence did not actually mean perpetuating the existence of the Federation and delaying sovereignty. Chisiza had hard-core facts on how such a loan would benefit Nyasaland. One major outcome of the loan would be the construction of the Nkula Hydro-Electric Power Station on the Shire River.
When asked for a comment Kamuzu denied knowledge of the loan but did not officially reject it. He claimed it had been negotiated behind his back.
When Henry Phillips and Dunduzu returned from London, Dunduzu officially brought the positives of the Barclays loan and the economic importance of the construction of the Nkula Falls Hydro Electric Power Plant to Nyasaland.A bitter argument arose between Dunduzu Chisiza Snr on one side and Kamuzu and Kanyama Chiume on the other. Kamuzu and Kanyama Chiume had a very rigid stand on the Federation. Dunduzu Chisiza was frustrated. Kamuzu saw a rival and opponent in Dunduzu. Kamuzu was later quoted as ‘I would rather the Nyasaland people starved to death than have the benefit of Federal funds for the purpose of constructing this dam’
Feedback: c.selenje@historyofmalawi.com
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