Depicts a portrait of Hastings Banda right, country name in banner below.

Hastings Kamuzu Banda (c. 1898 – 1997) was the leader of Malawi from 1964 to 1994, serving as Prime Minister and then its first president when the country became a republic in 1966. Educated abroad in fields like medicine and history, Banda returned to Malawi to advocate for independence from British colonial rule. He declared Malawi a one-party state under the Malawi Congress Party, and in 1971, became its President for Life. Despite modernizing infrastructure and education, Banda's rule was marked by severe repression, human rights abuses, and political killings. Under pressure, he agreed to end the one-party system in 1993 and lost the 1994 election.

Depicts a long-tailed paradise whydah on a branch, date above, and denomination below.

The long-tailed paradise whydah (Vidua paradisaea) is a small passerine bird from the Viduidae family, native to Sub-Saharan Africa. These granivorous birds primarily feed on seeds and are challenging to differentiate between sexes outside of the breeding season. During breeding, males molt into striking plumage with a long tail that can exceed three times the length of their body. They are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other songbirds without harming the original eggs. Originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 as Emberiza paradisaea, they are now classified under the genus Vidua. Long-tailed paradise whydahs are known for their complex songs used in mating rituals, though females may also choose mates based on plumage or availability of singing males. Their conservation status is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN.