based on Financial Times report
The Saj.isbury correspondent reported:
"It is believed here that the Malawi Prime Minister, Dr. Banda, specific purpose in sending troops on November llth to the Fort Johnson area of Malawi is to track dowmm the missing rebel Minister, Mr. Henry Chipembere, who recently escaped from restriction. The whole area around Fort Johnson is a Chimpembere stronghold. A Government spokesman said that troops and police had been sent to Fort Johnson "to restore law and order. Mr. Chimpembere recently sent a message saying that he was still in the country and would never leave. In a letter to Dr. Banda, a copy of which was received in Lusaka, this week, he refutes any suggestion that he had fled to Tanzania. Mr. Chimpembere said: "I will return to my house and you will be free to come and take me away and do the Lumumba thet you have always wanted to on me. I may go but you will not survive me long."
"Today" (November 12th) "Melawi Radio ‘said that Dr. Banda had received a letter from Chimpembere but it was not believed that he had written it in the country. "Chimpembere has run away to Tanzania," said the report. The District Council of Chiradzulu, near Blantyre, was dissolved by the Government today for "disloyalty to Dr. Banda." Four other district councils at Fort Johnson, Kasupe and Nkata Bay were recently dissolved for the same reason, All are strongholds of rebel ministers. Today a roving gang burned down an office and stcre on a European-owned tea estate at Mlanje, near Blantyre, and beat up African workers, Europeans were unharmed. Gangs put up roadblocks in the area and Duropean cars were stopped but allowed to proceed. A unit of the Malavi mobile police was sent to Mlanje today." Ed. note: Malawi and Portugal signed an important trade avhement this month - many other African countries have decided to boycott Portugal.
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