It had been barely two months since one party s
tate fell in neighbouring Zambia after almost three decades ushering in multiparty democracy with Fredrick Chiluba as new head of state replacing Kenneth Kaunda.
By mid *December 1991,* employees in various workplaces in Blantyre had received Christmas/New Year cards from anonymous senders suspected to be domiciled in neighboring Zambia written: _Wishing you a happy Christmas and New Year full of joys of multiparty democracy._
Most of the recipients handed over such cards to their superiors who surrendered them to police as they were tantamount to be deemed seditious materials that would land recepients and superiors into jail without trial if they opted not to report this.
Barely three months after this, the catholic bishops issued a pastoral letter critical of one party state that was read in catholic churches across Malawi on *8 March 1992* .
10 months later on *18 October 1992* , Dr Banda announced the date for a referendum.
Was the message on these Christmas/New Year cards a prophecy that came to pass or mere wishful thinking?
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