Dr. Hastings Banda (who had returned from London in 1958), leader of the Nyasaland National Congress (which in 1966 became the Malawi Congress Party), was released from detention, and constitutional negotiations were opened in London.
Malawi became independent. Banda quickly showed that his policies would be strikingly conservative, including slow Africanization of the civil service and cooperation with the Portuguese and South Africans.
As a result of pressure from neighboring countries after the death of Mozambique's president, Samora Machel, Malawi developed better relations with Mozambique and stationed 500 troops there to guard a railway line against RENAMO, which Malawi had previously been suspected of supporting.
Malawi was plunged into economic crisis as a result of food shortages, the presence of more than 400,000 refugees from the war in Mozambique, and growing dissent against Banda's repressive government.
Banda released a statement in which he admitted that he may have unknowingly been responsible for brutalities committed under his regime and apologized to Malawians for the pain and suffering inflicted during his presidency.
