Rose Chibambo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rose Lomathinda Chibambo
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| Parliamentary Secretary for Community and Social Development | |
| In office 1964 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 September 1928 |
| Died | 12 January 2016 (aged 87) Blantyre, Malawi |
| Nationality | Malawian |
| Occupation | Activist |
Rose Lomathinda Chibambo (born September 8, 1928 – died January 12, 2016) was a very important politician. She lived in the British Protectorate of Nyasaland (which is now Malawi) before and right after it became an independent country in 1964.
Rose Chibambo helped organize women in Malawi. They joined the fight against British rule, working alongside men to gain independence. She was arrested on March 23, 1959, just two days after her baby girl was born. She was taken to Zomba prison. Other freedom fighters, like Hastings Banda, were arrested earlier. This happened after the governor, Robert Armitage, announced a state of emergency. After Malawi became independent in 1964, Rose Chibambo was the first woman to be a minister in the new government. Later, she disagreed with Hastings Banda and had to live away from Malawi for thirty years. She came back when democracy returned to the country.
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Early Life and Family
Rose Lomathinda Chibambo was born on September 8, 1928. Her birthplace was Kafukule, in the Mzimba District of Nyasaland. At that time, Nyasaland was a protectorate ruled by the British.
In 1947, she married Edwin Chibambo. He used to be a teacher and then became a civil servant. Edwin's father, Reverend Yesaya Chibambo, was one of the first African Christian ministers in the area. In 1948, her husband was moved to the Public Works department in Zomba. Rose continued her education by going to night school in Zomba in 1948. She had her first child that year. She had another child in 1951, and four more later. Her youngest child was born in 1961.
Fighting for Independence
In 1952, Rose learned about the politics of the Nyasaland African Congress (NAC). This group was against the British government's plan to make Nyasaland part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The NAC felt this plan went against the promise to put the interests of Africans first. Rose believed that women needed to be more involved in this struggle. She started organizing her friends in Zomba, many of whom were wives of civil servants.
Why Women Joined the Fight
Some issues were especially important to women. For example, in some stores, women could only shop through a small window. Also, older women were not examined privately in hospitals. Instead, they were in rooms full of women of all ages. Rose explained that women were worried about their children. Many young men were sent to work in South Africa and often did not return. She also spoke about people being forced to move from their homes to make room for Europeans. She said, "We are being pushed here and there. And the women understood. They said, oh yes, then we must do something."
In 1953, Edwin Chibambo was moved to Blantyre. Rose believed this was because of his political activities. In Blantyre, Rose Chibambo joined the local NAC branch. She was chosen as the treasurer, becoming the first woman to hold such an important position in the NAC. She also worked with Vera Chirwa to create the Nyasaland African Women's League. This group was closely connected to the NAC. Members of the Women's League would wear matching outfits to show they were united at public events.
Standing Up to Authority
Rose respected the NAC leaders but felt some were too careful. She strongly opposed the federation plan. In 1955, she was among those who asked NAC members to leave the Federal parliament in Salisbury. At a meeting in 1956, delegates from Johannesburg supported her idea of not working with the Federal government.
In 1956, Rose Chibambo organized a group of women to protest. This happened when the NAC president, James Frederick Sangala, and secretary, T.D.T. Banda, were arrested. Rose's group traveled by bus to the High Court in Zomba, singing:
- "War! War! War today!*
- We are going to have war.*
- We don't want, we don't want, we don't want federation.*
- We want freedom today!"*
Her group was arrested and fined for their protest.
The Power of Song
In an interview, Rose explained how they used songs at women's meetings. She said they would take village songs and change the words to fit their political message. She made it clear that singing and dancing were not the main purpose. Her goal was for women to be a full part of the movement. She wanted women to be involved in making decisions for the country.
Working with Hastings Banda
In July 1958, Dr. Hastings Banda became the President of the Congress. He traveled around the country, speaking about the need for independence. In 1958, Chibambo organized the League of Malawi Women. This group used money from selling millet beer to pay for their activities.
As tensions grew between the NAC and the British, a meeting in January 1959 decided that if Banda was arrested, there would be a general strike. Rose Chibambo was chosen to be part of a four-person committee. This committee would lead the Congress if Banda was not there.
Arrest and Imprisonment
On March 3, 1959, Governor Robert Armitage declared a state of emergency. Almost all the leaders of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which was the new name for the NAC, were arrested within 24 hours. In April 1959, Jet magazine reported that Mrs. Rose Chibambo, 29, was arrested after giving birth to her fifth child. She took her baby with her to jail. She had been allowed to stay free until her child was born.
The British government later realized that Nyasaland would become independent. They released Hastings Banda in March 1960. Banda was made the lifelong President of the Malawi Congress Party. The MCP won the elections for the Legislative Council in 1961.
First Woman Minister
On February 1, 1963, Nyasaland gained self-governance. Banda became Prime Minister. Rose Chibambo won the Mzimba North seat in the 1964 elections. She was then made the Parliamentary Secretary for Community and Social Development. Later that year, the country became independent and was renamed Malawi.
Challenges and Return
On September 7, 1964, there was a cabinet crisis. Rose Chibambo and others disagreed with Hastings Banda. They were concerned about Banda's decision to charge for health services. They also wanted faster "Africanization" of the civil service, meaning more Africans in important jobs. There was also a feeling that Banda was becoming too powerful.
Rose Chibambo was removed from the government the next day. Banda said that the leaders who disagreed with him were traitors. Chibambo and the others were suspended from the party. This meant they could not attend party meetings, and other party members could not meet with them. This gave Banda full control of the MCP. Rose and her husband faced constant difficulties. They eventually fled to Zambia in 1965, where they had to start a new life.
Rose Chibambo returned to Malawi in 1994. She became a businesswoman in Mzuzu. She was also active in politics and church groups. She was part of organizations that helped orphans of HIV/AIDS victims. She also worked with the Christian Service Committee, the Malawi Council of Churches, and a group that supported prisoners.
Rose Chibambo passed away on January 12, 2016, in Blantyre. She was 86 years old.
Legacy and Recognition
In 2009, President Bingu wa Mutharika met Rose Chibambo and honored her. A street in Mzuzu City was named after her.
Since January 1, 2012, Rose Chibambo's image has appeared on Malawi’s 200 Kwacha banknote.
Images for kids
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Rose Chibambo on the 200 Kwacha banknote.
