John Msonthi

John Dustan Msonthi served Malawi as interpreter to Kamuzu Banda and Minister of Transport and Communication. Banda could not speak Chichewa and needed to communicate to the people through a translator.^[1] Kamuzu’s message was being relayed to Malawians by his interpreter, John Msonthi.^[2] During the years from 1958 until the 1970s he deciphered English into Chichewa using expressions, proverbs, metaphors which mesmerized Malawians. His messages were vital in the Malawian fight for Independence.^[3] He is known as one of the greatest orators of out time.^[4] The job first fell to John Msonthi and later John Tembo.^[5]

Personal life

Msonthi was a Roman Catholic son of an Anglican clergyman, Reverend Canon Msonthi.^[6] He left the church because he did not see the Anglican church as being consistent with the politics of the time.^[7] He is brother to Boniface Msonthi, an activist in the National African Congress and later, a government Minister in the 1960s and 1970s.^[8]

Political Life

During the cabinet crisis of 1964, Msonthi, together with Yatuta Chisiza and Willie Chokani resigned from the cabinet in protest to Banda's dismissal of Kanyama Chiume, Orton Chirwa, and Augustine Bwanausi.^[9] He withdrew this resignation a few hours later.^[10]

Banda reinstated him as minister of Transport and communication.^[11] The Bill that established that the decisions of the Censorship Board which would allow the boards decisions to go unchallenged and gave powers to the board to dispose of undesirable publications was brought to the house in his capacity as Minister of Transport and Communication.^[12] It was claimed that its passage would allow for Malawi standards and interests of morality, decency and public order to prevail in entertainment and publications.^[13] It was opposed by Michael Blackwood, a spokesman for European settlers interests.^[14] Msonthi Noted that, "It is our duty, as a Government, to make sure that people who take any films in this country for show or their private use, do so in accordance with the decency and morality of this country. (Applause). We must make sure that what they photograph is the right thing".^[15] The bill was passed with three readings and within three days. The censorship board was run by Tobias Banda.^[16]

Msonthi was killed.

References