The nation of Malawi bid a solemn farewell to one of its veteran political figures this week, as former Defence Minister Amadeus Monjeza Maluza was laid to rest in his ancestral home. The funeral, held in Ntakakata village, Dedza District, marked the end of an era for a man whose career spanned pivotal decades in the country’s post-independence history.
Maluza, who passed away on January 5, 2026, at the age of 89, served as a Member of Parliament for Dedza East—a constituency later renamed Dedza Ntakakata in honor of his home area. His political tenure was most prominently defined by his role as Minister of Defence during the United Democratic Front (UDF) era, a period of significant transition in Malawian politics following the end of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s one-party state.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shadric Namalomba delivered a message on behalf of the President, expressing the government’s profound sadness. “We have lost a dedicated servant of the people, whose contributions to our nation’s security and democratic development will not be forgotten,” Namalomba stated, capturing the official sentiment.
To understand Maluza’s legacy, one must consider the context of his service. As Defence Minister, he would have overseen the Malawi Defence Force during a time when its role was evolving from the Banda era. His tenure likely involved navigating the complex relationship between the military and a nascent multi-party democracy, ensuring the armed forces’ subordination to civilian rule—a cornerstone of any stable democracy. While specific details of his policy initiatives are not widely documented in public reports, his long service suggests a figure trusted with maintaining stability during political change.
Born in 1936, Maluza’s life nearly spanned the full century of modern Malawi, from colonial Nyasaland through independence, one-party rule, and into the multi-party era. His burial in his home village, rather than in an urban center, underscores a powerful cultural and political tradition in Malawi: the importance of ancestral roots and the connection between a leader and their community. Funerals for national figures in Malawi are often events of significant political and social gathering, serving both as a mourning ritual and a reaffirmation of communal bonds.
The passing of figures like Amadeus Maluza invites reflection on Malawi’s political generations. He belonged to the cohort of leaders who stepped into governance after 1994, tasked with building new institutions. His legacy, as hinted by the state’s recognition, is that of a stabilizer—a role often underappreciated but vital in fragile political environments. As Dedza and the nation mourn, they remember not just a former minister, but a chapter of their collective history now laid to rest.
Published on January 8, 2026 at 4:09 PM | Adapted from an original report by Edgar Naitha