20100413
africanews

One of Malawi's renowned veteran politicians and one time media practitioner Aleke Kadonaphani Banda died last week at Morningside Medi Clinic in South Africa after a long battle with cancer.

Banda who died at the age of 70 was the founder of one of the private print media houses - Nation Publications Limited in the southern African country.

He was a veteran of Malawi's fight against colonialism as well as single party rule. He spent over 50 years in politics and public service before retiring in 2008.

Banda held several ministerial positions in the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) era led by late president Hastings Kamuzu and United Democratic Front (UDF) led by ex-president Bakili Muluzi.

In 1993, Banda became the first vice president of UDF where he served for about 10 years before he joined Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM) where he was the president.

The country has been shocked with the death of the politician who was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

Meanwhile the Malawi government has shouldered the responsibility of bringing into the country the body of the fallen veteran politician by meeting all transportation costs and buying of a casket.

According to the funeral programme, the politician's remains are expected to arrive in the country later on Tuesday. Banda will be buried on Thursday.