MALAWI: PRIME MINISTER BANDA ELECTED AS PRESIDENT-DESIGNATE

Record ID: 231139

  • Title: MALAWI: PRIME MINISTER BANDA ELECTED AS PRESIDENT-DESIGNATE
  • Date: 25th April 1966
  • Summary: DR. BANDA ARRIVES AT PARLIAMENT FOR VOTING SESSION, CROWDS GREET BANDA AS HE LEAVES AFTER VOTE. Initials JRG/V/MR/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 10th May 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ZOMBA -- MALAWI
  • Country: Malawi
  • Reuters ID: LVA6KRQ5IY4RYJQBNH1L23IFZS2H
  • Story Text: DR. HASTINGS BANDA OF MALAWI WILL BE PRESIDENT WHEN THE COUNTRY BECOMES A REPUBLIC WITHIN THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH IN JULY. BIG CROWDS OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENT IN ZOMBA GREETED THE NEWS OF HIS ELECTION AS PRESIDENT-DESIGNATE.

    DR. BANDA WAS THE ONLY NOMINEE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL POST. HE WAS ELECTED UNDER LEGISLATION WHICH PASSED ALL THREE READING WITHOUT OPPOSITION IN PARLIAMENT. THE CONSTITUTION DRAWN UP FOR THE NEW REPUBLIC MAKES MALAWI A ONE-PARTY STATE AND GIVES THE PRESIDENT THE RIGHT TO PROROGUE OR DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT.

    DR. BANDA SAID ACCEPTING THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE PRESIDENCY THAT HE DID SO WITH "FEAR AND HUMILITY". IN A SPEECH RELAYED OVER LOUDSPEAKERS TO A HUGE CROWD OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT, HE SAID HIS FEAR WAS NOT POLITICAL, BUT ECONOMIC. YET IT WAS TEMPERED BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT PARLIAMENT AND THE WHOLE COUNTRY WERE BEHIND HIM IN HIS TASK.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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