What happened during the 1964 dispute between Hastings Banda and his cabinet ministers?

Shortly after Malawi gained independence, a serious dispute emerged between Prime Minister Hastings Banda and the majority of his cabinet ministers. The conflict culminated in September 1964, when Banda dismissed three ministers, prompting three others to resign in protest.12

One of the dissenting ministers, Henry Chipembere, was placed under house arrest but managed to escape. He successfully evaded recapture and became a central figure for antigovernment sentiment until his death in 1975. This event marked a significant consolidation of power for Banda, who subsequently transitioned the nation into a one-party state under the Malawi Congress Party and was eventually elected president when Malawi became a republic in 1966.12