Chakufwa Chihana (23 April 1939^[1] – 12 June 2006) was a Malawian human rights activist, pro-democracy advocate, trade unionist and later, politician. He held the post of Second Vice President in Malawi, under President Bakili Muluzi. He is often called the 'father of Malawian democracy'.^[2] He served as leader of Malawi's first underground political movement, which urged President Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who had ruled for three decades, to call for a referendum on political pluralism.^[3] He was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award in 1992.

Chihana was born in Mhuju Village, Kawiluwilu, in the Northern Region of Nyasaland (Colonial Malawi). His father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother, an activist for local women. After secondary school, he worked for the colonial government and became active in the 4000-strong Commercial General Union, a Trade Union. In 1958, he became the union's publicity secretary and magazine editor.^[4]

The following year, aged 21, he was made secretary-general of the Trade Union. He was active in campaigns involving Malawi Railways and the Imperial Tobacco Group. He studied at Oslo and Dubrovnik universities and received a Masters in Politics at Bradford University. He worked as a lecturer at the University of Botswana. In 1985, he became a co-founder and secretary general of the Southern Africa trade union coordinating council.^[4]

He was the founder and leader of the political movement Alliance for Democracy which became a political party once it became legal to establish political parties in Malawi.^[5] Other parties formed then as well including Bakili Muluzi's United Democratic Front (UDF). In the ensuing general election Banda's party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), lost power to Bakili Muluzi's United Democratic Front (UDF), with Chihana's new political party, the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), placed third. Ironically, in spite of Chihana's prominence as the leader of democracy in Malawi, the leader lost elections to the charismatic Bakili Muluzi who had been living outside of the country. Muluzi became the first democratically elected president of Malawi but appointed Chihana as the Second Vice President under his administration.

Chihana served as Vice President of Malawi under President Bakili Muluzi from 1994 to 1996 and again from 2003 to 2004.^[1] The period saw the political decline of AFORD under his leadership, shrinking to only two seats in the 193-seat parliament by 2006. Chihana also entered into a damaging feud with the Church of Central Africa, warning them to stay out of politics.^[2]

According to The Guardian, he failed to manage the growing food crisis in the nation during his second term, leading to his resignation.^[4]

He died after a brain tumor operation in Johannesburg, South Africa on 12 June 2006 at the age of 67. He received a state funeral.^[3] He is survived by his wife Christina Chihana, son Enoch Chihana,^[2] and two daughters, Nina and Tawonga.

• Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award - 1992^[6]