Malawi Aleke Banda No More – Cancer

Malawi Veteran politician Aleke Banda has died yesterday in South Africa after a long battle with lymphatic leukemia cancer for the past four years. Aleke who was born on September 19, 1939 died at Morningside Clinic in Johannesburg following a stroke.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and since then he was in and out of hospital in SA, receiving treatment. Banda, a veteran of Malawi’s fight against colonialism as well as single party, spent over 50 years in politics and public service. According to Aleke’s brother Dikani, the date when the remains of the late Aleke Banda will be thrown home as well as burial arrangements will be made shortly.

Meanwhile both state president Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and former leader Dr Bakili Muluzi have sent their condolences to the bereaved family. Aside from being a former president of People Progressive Party (PPM) and Nkhata-bay central parliamentarian, Aleke was also the chairperson of Nation Publications Limited.

He was one of the first and youngest ministers in Kamuzu Banda cabinet. During Muluzi’s era, he served as cabinet minister for Finance, Education and Agriculture.

Many will rember Aleke Banda as once of the people that fought for democracy in the country when the late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda ranted about him as a liar in many of his political campaigns against referendum in 1993. ”Aleke Banda is a lier ndi wabodza lankuniza”. He was a hero for malawi politics and economy. May his soul rest in peace – Malawi Voice