Banda died at 45, after a short illness at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre. What happenedBanda, who took charge of the national broadcaster in March this year, died on Saturday. The careerBefore MBC, Banda was one of Malawi’s best-known broadcast voices, fronting talk shows for both the Times Group (Hot Current, Times Exclusive, Times Talk) and Capital Radio (Straight Talk, Sunday Round Table, NewsTalk). The tributesPresident Peter Mutharika: called Banda “a patriot, a distinguished media icon” whose “voice and vision resonated in homes across Malawi for decades.” UDF leader Atupele Muluzi: called it “a deeply painful and shocking loss,” adding Banda “was far too young to leave us.”