A SUMMARY OF THE THEOCRATIC HISTORY

OF THE BROTHERS IN MALAWI::

1995 Yearbook, on page 43 reported:

"During the past year or so, some of the most thrilling news has come from Malawi. How Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide rejoiced when they heard that, on August 12, 1993, the 26-year ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Malawi had been lifted! This was followed, on November 15, 1993, by the registration of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and, on February 25, 1994, by the lifting of the ban on literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Interestingly, it was just a few weeks after the registration of the Society that the headquarters of the Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP), who had so brutally mistreated Jehovah’s Witnesses, was destroyed. All their offices were closed down and many of them were hunted down and killed by the army. Others fled for their lives into Mozambique.

 

"The brothers in Malawi are learning once again how to go from house to house, offer literature, and start home Bible studies. Right after the lifting of the ban on the Society’s literature, a country-wide campaign was arranged for April, during which the publishers distributed, in three languages, the tract What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe? More than 1,000,000 of these tracts were distributed."

Don't miss reading the entire 1999 Yearbook Report on Malawi, pages 149-223.  A few excerpts are quoted from it below to summarize Malawi's history.  However, the report contains many interesting and encouraging experiences of our Malawi brothers over the years of persecution as well as when the ban was lifted.

"A few years later, the branch office had a very well-known neighbor. The building next door, Mudi House, became the official residence of the prime minister of Malawi, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda." (Page 169)

"In harmony with an agreement made with Britain, full self-rule was to be granted in mid-1964 after a general election. In the meantime, Dr. Banda was installed as an internal prime minister for the colony." (Page 171)

"Contact was made with the prime minister’s office, and an interview was granted with Dr. Banda on January 30, 1964. On that occasion, Jack Johansson was able to explain clearly the neutral stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses, basing his discussion on Romans chapter 13. The prime minister seemed quite pleased with what had been said, and when Brother Johansson left, Dr. Banda thanked him very much." (Page 173)

"The result was another meeting with Dr. Banda as well as two of his ministers, on February 11, 1964. Harold Guy and Alexander Mafambana accompanied Jack Johansson. This time, though, the mood was very different. Waving the telegram in the air, Dr. Banda said: "Mr. Johansson, what do you mean by sending a telegram like this one?" The brothers calmly tried to assure the prime minister of our neutral stand and obedience to the laws of the land. But the prime minister and his companions argued that Jehovah’s Witnesses were deliberately provoking their attackers. The meeting ended on a negative note, with Jehovah’s Witnesses being blamed for the confused situation in the country. Brother Johansson was even threatened with immediate deportation. However, it appears that Dr. Banda’s anger was directed more toward the incompetence of his two ministers who were unable to present sound evidence of provocation by Jehovah’s Witnesses." (Page 174)

As the excitement of voter registration wore off, the prime minister appealed for peace and calm in the country. "No trouble to the Europeans, police, Indians, even the Jehovah’s Witnesses," he said. "Forgive them!"

In the early part of 1966, there was another opportunity to explain the neutral position of Jehovah’s Witnesses to Dr. Banda. The Watch Tower Society had requested permission for more missionaries to enter the country. Dr. Banda, who controlled the issuing of permits to Europeans entering Malawi, had asked why more missionaries were needed. This resulted in a meeting between Dr. Banda and Malcolm Vigo, the branch servant. Dr. Banda stressed that he did not want anyone engaging in politics. Brother Vigo assured him once again of our obedience to the laws of the land and our neutral stand in matters of politics." (Page 175)

"So intensive and sustained was the international reaction to this situation that eventually the president issued a decree stating that the persecution must stop. At a later time, Dr. Banda even said that nobody should be forced to buy a party membership card. "I want people to be free to renew cards, from their own hearts, not to be forced," he said." (184)

"Political Changes: When a new wave of "democratic" fervor began sweeping through southern Africa, Malawi was not left unaffected. During 1992, international pressure mounted against the government to improve its human-rights record. Responding to this, the president, Dr. Banda, announced: "Anyone forcing the people to buy party cards . . . is acting against the rules of the Malawi Congress Party." He added: "This is very bad, very bad . . . I have never ordered anyone to do such a thing." Dr. Banda thus stopped something that for 25 years had caused much suffering to our faithful brothers in Malawi." Page 211)

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