Rodwell Munyenyembe

Rodwell Thomas Changara Munyenyembe (1 January 1936 – 27 June 2005) was a Malawian politician who served twice as Speaker of the National Assembly, from 1994 to 1999 and again from 2004 until his death. He also twice served as a cabinet minister, in the governments of Hastings Banda and Bakili Muluzi. He worked as a teacher prior to entering politics.

Early life Munyenyembe was born in Nthalire, a village in the Chitipa District of the Northern Region. He studied at a teachers' college in Domasi, and received his qualification in 1960, subsequently working as a primary school teacher. Munyenyembe later undertook further training in England in order to become a teacher of the deaf, receiving a certificate in deaf education from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1966 and a certificate in audiometry from the University of London in 1967.

Politics Munyenyembe was elected to the National Assembly in 1971, representing the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). However, he had a falling out with Hastings Banda a few years later, and in July 1977 was removed both from cabinet and from the MCP committee. Once his first stint in politics was over, Munyenyembe moved to Rumphi and took up tobacco farming. He eventually became chairman of the Tobacco Association of Malawi. Despite losing his seat in the National Assembly, Munyenyembe remained involved in politics, with President Bakili Muluzi appointed him to the position of Minister of State for Presidential Affairs. He was made Minister for Defence a few months later.