Orton Chirwa | |
|---|---|
 Orton Chirwa | |
| 1st Malawi Congress Party President and Founder | |
| In office 30 September 1959 – April 1960 | |
| Succeeded by | Dr. Hastings Banda |
| 1st Malawi-born Minister of Justice and Attorney General | |
| In office 1964 till Cabinet Crisis of 1964 | |
| Preceded by | Alan Munro |
| Succeeded by | Bryan Clieve Roberts |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Orton Edgar Ching'oli Chirwa 30 January 1919 |
| Died | 20 October 1992 (aged 73) Zomba prison, Malawi |
| Spouse | Vera Chirwa |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
| Known for | First Malawi black barrister, Minister of Justice, 1981–92 imprisonment |
Orton Chirwa (30 January 1919 – 20 October 1992) was a lawyer and political leader in colonial Nyasaland and after independence became Malawi's Minister of Justice and Attorney General.[1] After a dispute with Malawi's autocratic President Hastings Kamuzu Banda, he and his wife Vera were exiled. After being kidnapped abroad they were tried in Malawi on charges of treason and sentenced to death. Amnesty International named the couple prisoners of conscience.[2] After spending nearly eleven years on death row in Malawi, Orton Chirwa died in prison on 20 October 1992.[1]
- ^ a b Richard Carver (22 October 1992). "Obituary: Orton Chirwa". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "UA 329/92Death in custody of prisoner of conscience/ fear of physical safety/fear of harassement". Amnesty International. 22 October 1992. Retrieved 12 July 2012.