Yatuta Chisiza
Encyclopedia
Yatuta Chisiza was a former Malawi
an minister of home affairs who led a brief guerrilla incursion into the country in October 1967.
He entered Mwanza district from Tanzania with nine others. In the following clash with security forces on 9 October 1967 he and two other members of insurgent forces were killed, five captured, others fleeing (added by Vladimir Nosov).
) in 1926, to Kaluli Chisiza, a Group Village Headman. He was educated at Uliwa Junior Primary School and at the mission school at Livingstonia
. He subsequently worked as an Assistant Inspector of Police in Tanzania
(then Tanganyika
) and returned to Malawi in 1958. For a short time he, together with his brother Dunduzu Chisiza
, attempted to go in business operating a butcher's shop, but this venture soon failed.
convention in January 1959, he was appointed as bodyguard
to Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who later became the first premier
of Malawi. He was arrested along with hundreds of others (including his brother) in the dawn raids of Operation Sunrise on 3 March 1959, when the colonial administration declared a state of emergency in Nyasaland
. In 1960 he was named as Secretary General of the MCP under Banda's presidency. He was imprisoned in Khami Prison near Bulawayo
, Southern Rhodesia
. He was released, some months after Banda, in September 1960.
, in September 1962, Yatuta was elected to the Legislative Council
for Karonga district and Banda appointed him Minister
of Home Affairs.
in July 1964, he was one of several cabinet ministers who, chafing under an increasingly autocratic leadership, were ousted by Banda in the so-called Cabinet Crisis. He fled the country and, allegedly after undergoing military training in China
, later conducted guerilla operations against the Banda regime from Tanzania.
, an outspoken, American, Peace Corps Volunteer in Nyasaland, was declared persona non grata by Dr. Hastings Banda for supporting Yatuta, who was accused of attempting to overthrow the government. Theroux delivered a letter from an exiled opposition leader, David Rubadiri
, to Chisiza in Tanzania. He also carried a coded messages from Chisiza to a “Greek fellow” in Blantyre. According to an account by Theroux in Esquire Magazine, when Theroux delivered the message on October 16 to the Greek baker, who was enroute to delivering his bread to Ntcheu,
the baker “trembled and went pale.” Theroux guessed the Greek baker had been caught, interrogated by the Malawi Criminal Investigation Department about the “bread van”, and exposed Yatutas whearabouts and Theroux's involvement. Banda told the American ambassador that he had proof Theroux was plotting to kill him, and demanded the Volunteer be sent home. He found out later that in his final day, instead of finding “bread” waiting in a van, Chisiza found Malawi soldiers, who ambushed and killed the revolutionary gunman from Tanzania where he was plotting against Banda. Paul Theroux
was thrown out of the peace corp for his role in Malawi and is now a renowned novelist.
regime in Southern Rhodesia. His body was put on display at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital near Blantyre
as a warning to other potential insurgents.
He was survived by two sons, Vyande Yatuta Chisiza and Kwacha Chisiza. The grandchildren...Millie, Bakalele, Mphikwa, Matebe, Mutale, Lusayo, Atupele, Mbakaya and Chikosa. He is the brother of Dunduzu Chisiza
, and uncle to Du Chisiza
Jnr.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
an minister of home affairs who led a brief guerrilla incursion into the country in October 1967.
He entered Mwanza district from Tanzania with nine others. In the following clash with security forces on 9 October 1967 he and two other members of insurgent forces were killed, five captured, others fleeing (added by Vladimir Nosov).
Early years
Chisiza was born in the Karonga district of northern Malawi (then NyasalandNyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
) in 1926, to Kaluli Chisiza, a Group Village Headman. He was educated at Uliwa Junior Primary School and at the mission school at Livingstonia
Livingstonia
Livingstonia or Kondowe is a town located in the Northern Region district of Rumphi in Malawi. It is 270 miles north of the capital, Lilongwe. The town of Mzuzu can be reached on tarred road in about 2-3 hours....
. He subsequently worked as an Assistant Inspector of Police in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
(then Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
) and returned to Malawi in 1958. For a short time he, together with his brother Dunduzu Chisiza
Dunduzu Chisiza
Dunduzu Kaluli Chisiza was an early agitator for independence in Central Africa.-Early life:He was born in Florence Bay in the Karonga district of Nyasaland on August 8, 1930, the youngest and eleventh child of Kaluli Chisiza, a group village headman and farmer...
, attempted to go in business operating a butcher's shop, but this venture soon failed.
Nyasaland Independence Movement
After the historic Nyasaland African CongressNyasaland African Congress
The Nyasaland African Congress was an organization that evolved into a political party in Nyasaland during the colonial period. The NAC was suppressed in 1959, but was succeeded in 1960 by the Malawi Congress Party, which went to on decisively win the first universal suffrage elections in 1961,...
convention in January 1959, he was appointed as bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
to Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who later became the first premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
of Malawi. He was arrested along with hundreds of others (including his brother) in the dawn raids of Operation Sunrise on 3 March 1959, when the colonial administration declared a state of emergency in Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
. In 1960 he was named as Secretary General of the MCP under Banda's presidency. He was imprisoned in Khami Prison near Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
. He was released, some months after Banda, in September 1960.
Political career
After the death of his brother, Dunduzu ChisizaDunduzu Chisiza
Dunduzu Kaluli Chisiza was an early agitator for independence in Central Africa.-Early life:He was born in Florence Bay in the Karonga district of Nyasaland on August 8, 1930, the youngest and eleventh child of Kaluli Chisiza, a group village headman and farmer...
, in September 1962, Yatuta was elected to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
for Karonga district and Banda appointed him Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
of Home Affairs.
Nyasaland cabinet crisis
Not long after Malawi had gained independence from Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in July 1964, he was one of several cabinet ministers who, chafing under an increasingly autocratic leadership, were ousted by Banda in the so-called Cabinet Crisis. He fled the country and, allegedly after undergoing military training in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, later conducted guerilla operations against the Banda regime from Tanzania.
Paul Theroux & the bread van affair
In 1964 Paul TherouxPaul Theroux
Paul Edward Theroux is an American travel writer and novelist, whose best known work of travel writing is perhaps The Great Railway Bazaar . He has also published numerous works of fiction, some of which were made into feature films. He was awarded the 1981 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his...
, an outspoken, American, Peace Corps Volunteer in Nyasaland, was declared persona non grata by Dr. Hastings Banda for supporting Yatuta, who was accused of attempting to overthrow the government. Theroux delivered a letter from an exiled opposition leader, David Rubadiri
David Rubadiri
James David Rubadiri is a Malawian diplomat, academic and poet. At independence in 1964, Rubadiri was appointed Malawi's first ambassador to the United States and the United Nations...
, to Chisiza in Tanzania. He also carried a coded messages from Chisiza to a “Greek fellow” in Blantyre. According to an account by Theroux in Esquire Magazine, when Theroux delivered the message on October 16 to the Greek baker, who was enroute to delivering his bread to Ntcheu,
the baker “trembled and went pale.” Theroux guessed the Greek baker had been caught, interrogated by the Malawi Criminal Investigation Department about the “bread van”, and exposed Yatutas whearabouts and Theroux's involvement. Banda told the American ambassador that he had proof Theroux was plotting to kill him, and demanded the Volunteer be sent home. He found out later that in his final day, instead of finding “bread” waiting in a van, Chisiza found Malawi soldiers, who ambushed and killed the revolutionary gunman from Tanzania where he was plotting against Banda. Paul Theroux
Paul Theroux
Paul Edward Theroux is an American travel writer and novelist, whose best known work of travel writing is perhaps The Great Railway Bazaar . He has also published numerous works of fiction, some of which were made into feature films. He was awarded the 1981 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his...
was thrown out of the peace corp for his role in Malawi and is now a renowned novelist.
His death
Chisiza was killed by a single shot to the head in October 1967, apparently by Malawian security forces, although rumours have attributed a role to security forces of the Ian SmithIan Smith
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...
regime in Southern Rhodesia. His body was put on display at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital near Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
as a warning to other potential insurgents.
He was survived by two sons, Vyande Yatuta Chisiza and Kwacha Chisiza. The grandchildren...Millie, Bakalele, Mphikwa, Matebe, Mutale, Lusayo, Atupele, Mbakaya and Chikosa. He is the brother of Dunduzu Chisiza
Dunduzu Chisiza
Dunduzu Kaluli Chisiza was an early agitator for independence in Central Africa.-Early life:He was born in Florence Bay in the Karonga district of Nyasaland on August 8, 1930, the youngest and eleventh child of Kaluli Chisiza, a group village headman and farmer...
, and uncle to Du Chisiza
Du Chisiza
Dunduza Chisiza Junior was a Malawian playwright, director and actor and founder of the first professional theatre company in Malawi, the Wakhumbata Ensemble Theatre. He wrote over 20 plays and was involved in the writing and directing of some 25 others. Many of his plays had a political and human...
Jnr.