This Day in History: August 16, 1971
Additional Date: August 16, 1971
Following a visit by South Africa's Prime Minister B.J. Vorster to Malawi in May 1970, President Hastings Banda of Malawi became the first head of an independent Black African state to visit South Africa (16-20 August). During his visit Banda met with the State President and Prime Minister and invited the President to visit Malawi. On his return, he declared that 99% of the Africans whom he met supported his policy of contact with Pretoria. Though Banda's relationship with South Africa was widely criticised, Malawi continued to enjoy economic prosperity, which was attributed to foreign investment, including trade agreements with South Africa.