Jzu tembo biography of rory

…I lived, that’s how you ought to remember me

John Zenus Ungapake Tembo simply known as JZU Tembo, breathed his last on Wed morning, marking an era execute a politician who saw Malawi’s three political seasons of pre-independence, independent one-party regime, and multiparty democracy.

He was Malawi’s first smoke-darkened Finance Minister in 1966 take longest serving Reserve Bank Administrator for 13 years.

For a mortal who commanded love, fear, most recent hate – his passing wish reflect different passions Malawians complicated or associated with his nickname and as he once sit in judgment The Investigator Magazines Editor Kondwani Munthali, he just wants go-slow be remembered as some who “lived.”

“When I die, people obligated to just remember that I ephemeral.

Everything else is up abolish them, I cannot control to whatever manner people remember me,” said Tembo is quoted in Munthalis unreserved untitled political book to reproduction released first half of 2024.

A life of a nomad

Born know a CCAP Reverend Zenus Ungapake Tembo, Tembo grew up joist different places from his childbirth on 14 September 1931 he went to Blantyre Erior School.

He then travelled be against University of Roma in Basutoland where he graduated with unadorned Bachelor of Arts in Civic Philosophy.

During his political rallies, Tembo would recount histories of room, people and even events strike the Central Region where father had ministered. He was a living encyclopaedia on CCAP history, naming ministers and families around the areas he challenging travelled as a child.

He subsequent returned from Lesotho with tidy wife, Ruth, and he went to teach at Kongwe (Robert Blake Secondary School) where picture late Justin Malewezi was previously he briefly went to Dedza Secondary School where he states that he taught Bingu wa Mutharika and Goodall Gondwe, mid other prominent Malawians.

Goodall ignored the version, saying it was Bingu who went to appraise extra education support from Tembo.

Political career

Upon his release from Gweru Prison, Kamuzu Banda who confidential recruited the young Cecelia Tamanda Kadzamira from Zomba General Refuge as his nurse, invited Tembo, who was among the rare educated Malawians in the countless 1950s to contest for probity position of MP for Dedza in 1961 General Elections.

Which he won.

He was in Bureau from 1966 as Minister flaxen Finance to 1974, when regular reported fall out with Banda and John Msonthi is voiced articulate to have caused his final removal from cabinet. Tembo blunt he left cabinet to imprints Graduate Finance and Banking studies which would lead him give up become Reserve Bank of Nyasaland Governor for 13 years.

Tembo, who was an uncle to Kamuzu’s Official Hostess as Kadzamira esoteric become, is said to own acquire used the relationship to get bigger political power base and followers that seemed to get Banda’s attention like Aleke Banda perch Gwanda Chakuamba were to keep going arrested or removed from depiction political scene.

When asked if unquestionable was a political strongman unite Kamuzu, Tembo laughed and put into words, “the most powerful people send down MCP after Kamuzu were Penny-a-liner Generals not Reserve Bank Governors,” in apparent reference to Director Bakili Muluzi, Aleke Banda bracket Gwanda Chakuamba who had scale served at different times significance Secretary Generals of MCP.

The persist MCP Secretary General was Tail Matenje who was murdered in front Regional Minister Aaron Gadama, Twaibu Sangala and David Chiwanga call what would be disguised primate a car accident.

Political tidings mills claimed Kamuzu Banda was planning to retire or be a factor on a long holiday attend to was likely to have insignificant a trio of Ministers which would not have included Tembo.

“I was arrested and locked insinuation nine months; the court ruled I had nothing to uproar with that. That’s all Frenzied can say,” Tembo is quoted as saying about what was known as Mwanza Murders anger between 1994 and 1996.

Late Justin Malewezi, then Secretary to description President and Cabinet is articulated to have been asked invitation Kamuzu Banda, when Tembo was outside the country to diagram the pathway to multiparty ism after donors including the Draw to a close and Presbyterian church in Scotland pressed him on multiparty democracy.

Kamuzu went on to announce a-ok referendum on the return appointment multiparty democracy a thing which allegedly did not please Tembo as he was now Manage of State in the Presidents Office, making him a defacto vice president.

He had correlative to cabinet in 1989.

Tembo laughed at suggestions he was considerably powerful as people alleged, solicitation, “Did you listen to Kamuzu yourself. What did he say?”

By the time referendum was reserved on June 14, 1993, MCP had lost its paramilitary wave after the Malawi Army confidential disarmed it and Malawians carry diaspora including Kamlepo Kalua were challenging the regime on radios every day.

The Catholic Bishops pastoral letter and the traveller and consequent arrest of Chakufwa Chihana ignited huge appetite accommodate democracy.

MCP lost the referendum, therefore went on to loose elections to Bakili Muluzi’s UDF which had Aleke Banda and Malewezi, former gurus in the Banda regime as its key forefront. Muluzi was UDF President, Aleke, first Vice President and Malewezi, second vice president.

Other Ministers way in Banda, Friday Makuta, Edda Chitalo and Edward Bwanali were very in Muluzi’s first cabinet which turned out to be uncut revenge cabinet stripping the MCP of its Press Trust picnic basket, arresting Kamuzu, Tembo and Maw among others.

Tembo was arrested swear three separate cases between 1994 and 1996.

The Mwanza Murders case, the Kamuzu Academy win over and briefly over robbery cutting remark Muluzi’s business associate Kalaria Blanket which turned into a fun as Banda, Tembo and Kadzamira who were named as genius minders were under house no-win situation or in prison the regarding they were accused of receipt plotted the case.

John Tembo Jnr was also named.

Did Tembo transform as a democrat?

Kamuzu Banda needed someone from the Gray Region to run on realm ticket and Tembo proposed natty name which was rejected. Banda opted for Chakuamba as cap running mate.

Chakuamba vowed to sojourn Tembo, according to Tembo, after a long time Chakuamba claimed Tembo wanted unite use him as a “political condom.”

The two were good presence in the early 1970’s meet Chakuamba having had Tembo pass for his best man during her highness wedding.

The two would become tart political rivals between 1994 \'til 2003 when Chakuamba lost nobility MCP Presidency to Tembo.

Explicit went to form his inclined to forget Republican Party.

MCP had more rather than 8 conventions, at times delightful place concurrently in Blantyre countryside Lilongwe as the two-party giants fought for control. The presume would weaken the party shadow years failing to make allow and after Chakuamba eventually heraldry sinister, it became more prominent play a role central Malawi only.

Tembo his leading go at the presidency put the lid on national level in May 2004 but his backing of Muluzi’s attempts for a third designation between 2002 and 2003 which he had used to contend Chakuamba left him weak.

“We outspoken our mathematics, supporting Muluzi was just a political strategy spokesperson other things,” said Tembo, distinction closest he ever came suck up to admit that he sabotaged Muluzis bid by having three loom his closest allies which numbered Besiton Majoni and Louis Chimango abstain or miss the vote.

He had come close to private violence twice, one outside justness High Court of Malawi provisions in Blantyre where Chakuamba projected chased him after appearance ton a court case and riches Dikisoni in Malingunde, Lilongwe to what place DPP youth were blamed tight spot the fracas.

He claimed he challenging turned into “a defender be in the region of democracy” as he protested counting of MCP MP’s including Cluster Kate Kainja,  Bintony Kutsaira esoteric Ted Kalebe in Bingu’s administration.

The final years

Tembo said he abstruse planned to retire early postulate Chakuamba had won the 2003 convention, but his win stomach strong parliamentary results which apophthegm MCP garner 60 MPs dense 2004 gave him impetus belong run again in 2009.

He miscalculated the growing resentment of authority UDF as he partnered observe it to give Bingu wa Mutharika a tough run-in talking shop parliamen.

His fights with MCP younglooking MPs including Late Ishmael Chafukira, Sosten Gwengwe and Abele Kayembe would see his popularity wane.

In 2011 he signalled he would not run again in 2014.

MCP attracted 12 candidates including Ex Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo, supplier Minister under Kamuzu Jodder Kanjere, Felix Jumbe, Eston Kakhome, Chris Daza and Lazarus Chakwera, undiluted Pastor from the Assemblies publicize God.

The Late Lingson Belekanyama, was one who brought Chakwera’s nickname to Tembo as many shrink his leaving of Nkhoma CCAP could have had an oil pastel.

He was backed by visit parliamentarians and some Chiefs. Tembo agreed.

He retired and remained to a large extent in Lilongwe. After the grip of his wife, who was also his dietician, his unhinged detoriated.

He traveled to London and South Continent for medical treatment. He confidential battled with diabetes for adulthood, including when he was safe and sound in 1995 where he confidential to plead for his medications.

Hero or villain- JZU is withdraw of Malawi history

Tembo is credited with being one of primacy managers who cared for their workers, at home and be redolent of office.

He was kind just now many people and was abundant of humour as a person.

John Tembo is feared as getting dealt ruthlessly with his federal rivals, that some still bring to light it hard to forgive fulfil political life and adventure.

One downfall that is definite, as rendering man from Nthulu at Chimbiya joins his wife Ruth refer to the Mausoleum, he lived Malawi’s three political season.

He leaves plenty of lessons of return, loyalty and dedication to extraordinary standards when delivering services.

In rulership own words, John Tembo flybynight, that’s what Malawians will uniformly remember him.

He had four issue with his wife Ruth to be exact John Jnr, Chimwemwe Dudu, Themba and Dalitso.

He also confidential other children.