Nyasaland Emergency 1959 unwilling to release most of the detainees. The Malawi Congress Party was formed as the successor to the banned Nyasaland African Congress by Orton Chirwa after his release from detention in August 1959 as interim President, although he acknowledged Banda as the party's true leader, a position that Banda assumed on his own release and return to Nyasaland. Those other African politicians that had put themselves forward as moderate alternatives to Banda were, Armitage himself admitted, not credible and without influence. Armitage's hopes of negotiating with Orton Chirwa instead of Banda were dashed when Chirwa said that only Banda had
1958 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland election a more representative population mix. The general roll included 83,506 Europeans and Coloureds, 2,876 Asians and 1,055 Africans, whilst the special roll included 137 Europeans, 25 coloureds, 23 Asians and 692 Africans. Thousands of eligible Africans did not register to vote. The general roll elected 44 seats, 24 in Southern Rhodesia, 14 in Northern Rhodesia and six in Nyasaland. Both the general and special roll voted for eight African seats, four from Southern Rhodesia and two each from Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The single European seat elected to represent African interests was elected in Southern Rhodesia by members of both