Unima’s recognition of JZU Tembo

On March 23 2016, the University of Malawi recognised contributions of veteran politician John Zenas Ungapake (JZU) Tembo to the nation. The Daily Times reproduces the narration that the University made when it conferred on him Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Management Honoris Causa

The Rt. Hon. John Zenas Ungapake Tembo was born on 14th September 1932 the youngest of five sons and the last but one child in a family of ten of the Late Reverend Zenas Ungapake Tembo and Anachulu of Mphenzi Village, Dedza.

He received his primary school education at the Dutch Reformed Mission schools where his father served in Nkhoma, Mchinji, Salima and Mlanda up to Standard Six. This was the last standard in primary school in those days which he completed in 1949 as the best student in his class.

Thereafter, four years at Blantyre Secondary School earned him the Cambridge School Certificate in 1953. Lack of funds prevented him from continuing his education for nearly two years, during which he was employed in the Audit Department of the Nyasaland Government in Zomba. In 1955, he was awarded a Nyasaland Government Scholarship to study at Roma University (also known as St. Piux XII College) in Basutoland (Lesotho), where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Philosophy in 1958.

The experience at Roma must have prepared him for what was to become an illustrious career in politics, economics, leadership and management. For instance, while at Roma he was elected secretary of the debating society and member of the Students Representative Council (SRC), which was an affiliate of the white-dominated National Union of South African Students (NUSAS).

Throughout his stay at Roma, he also made contacts with Ntsu Mokhehle and other leaders of the Basutoland African Congress while, at the same time, following developments of the Nyasaland African Congress (later MCP) of which he was already a member.

He spent his holidays at the home of his elder brother, the Late Doniya George Tembo, in Benoni, South Africa where he was exposed to the harsh and bitter practice of apartheid. That experience fueled his activism within the Student Representative Council, especially during a campaign to dissociate the Roma SRC from NUSAS. He wrote a widely publicized article entitled, “The place of the African in NUSAS”, which split the student body at Roma but played a major role in the subsequent disaffiliation of Roma SRC from the white dominated NUSAS.

After graduation he returned home in December 1958 as Dr. Banda was making fiery speeches against the Federation and demanding self-government. As a beneficiary of the government scholarship he was virtually bonded to serve the colonial government.

Teaching was the only position set aside for the handful of African graduates, provided they completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). And so, he was earmarked for a teaching career but was first required to obtain the professional teaching qualification. Three months later, in March 1959, he was admitted to the University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland to pursue the required postgraduate certificate course. On successful completion he taught at Dedza Secondary School and later, at Kongwe Secondary School where he was appointed headmaster in January 1960.

Service to the Nation in the public and private sectors

This was during the time when the country was politically on fire since the return to Malawi of Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda in July 1958. Although teaching provided him with a source of livelihood as a fresh graduate, his mind was already set on a political career. That is precisely why he contested successfully on the MCP ticket in Dedza during the first multiparty General Elections of August 1961. He became a Member of the Legislative Council (now Parliament) for Dedza whilst continuing with his teaching occupation since that was allowed then.

When Malawi attained Self Government in 1963 Dr. Kamuzu Banda, now Prime Minister, appointed him Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. He was appointed Minister of Finance in the first Cabinet at Independence in 1964 and served in that capacity until 1969.

During the 1965 General Elections he was elected MP for Dedza South, a position he held until 1971, and during which he briefly served as Minister of Trade and Industry from 1969 through to 1970. In 1971 he was appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi after completing an extensive tour of financial institutions in the United States and Europe. He retained this position for over 13 years until 1984 when he retired from the Reserve Bank.

Between 1984 and 1990 he concentrated on various public and private enterprises as Chairperson and Board Member. In 1990 he was appointed Minister of State in the Office of the President and Cabinet until the advent of multiparty democracy in 1994.

In addition to these ministerial positions he also served as Chairman of University of Malawi Council and several other parastatal bodies and private sector companies including Malawi National Council of Sports, National Celebrations Council, Air Malawi, Viphya Pulp and Paper Corporation, New Building Society, Kamuzu Academy, Commercial Bank of Malawi, National Insurance Company, Tobacco Control Commission, Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company, Blantyre Print and Packaging and Press Holdings Group of Companies.

Achievements

His achievements, under the overall guidance of Ngwazi Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda, are too numerous to include in this brief narration. A few highlights will demonstrate the significant role he played as a leader, negotiator and manager.

Within the Southern African context, and on behalf of the Malawi Government, he played a material role in the negotiations for peace between Frelimo and Renamo of Mozambique that culminated in the signing of the Rome Peace Accord which he attended in 1992. Equally important but perhaps less known, is the role he played, on behalf of the Government of Malawi, as the main link and conduit for financial and material support to the liberation movements in Southern Africa.

During his tenure as Minister of Trade and Industry, he negotiated the huge investment that brought Carlsberg Breweries to Malawi. As Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, he coordinated the construction and later transfer of the headquarters of the Bank from Blantyre to Lilongwe. In addition, he initiated and facilitated the construction of the Reserve Bank’s staff residential houses in Areas 10, 18, 43 and 47.

While serving as Chairman of the Malawi-Canada Railway Project, he oversaw the construction of the railway from Salima to Mchinji. As Chairman of Viply, he led a dedicated group of Malawians that developed Chikangawa Forest to become the environmental pride of the nation. Most of the infrastructure that governs the tobacco industry was established during his tenure as Chairman of the Tobacco Control Commission. He coordinated the planning and construction of Chayamba Building in Blantyre CBD and contributed to the growth of the Press Group of Companies.

Staff welfare was always a priority in his dealings with employees as attested to by many who worked under him. He always strived to engage a very professional and well educated workforce by facilitating training opportunities and scholarships for staff in the various organizations that he headed.

The successful completion of various construction projects that he was charged to oversee remains a clear testimony of his leadership skills, dedication to excellence and adherence to the tenets of discipline that Ngwazi Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda always demanded and expected of Malawians.

Where he got the energy to accomplish all these tasks, and yet play a significant role within the Malawi Congress Party, remains a mystery – one we hope he will share with us one day. He served the party as a member of the National Executive Committee from 1970 until his retirement from politics in 2014. He was the Treasurer General of the Party for four years (1987-1991) and Deputy President from 1999 to 2003. During a period of ten years from 2003 to 2013 he served as the elected President of the MCP and as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament during the same period until 2014.

The Rt. Hon. Tembo also received other awards and recognition including the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace, London in 1985 and the Malawi Silver Jubilee of Independence Award in 1990.

The Rt. Hon.Tembo is among the Malawians who deserve the honour of having served Malawi so successfully and with such dedication and passion for excellence as demonstrated by his career.

The University of Malawi is delighted to recognize his achievements.