Aubrey Banda 1963– 2000

Aubrey Amos Kalonga Banda, Scientific Officer with the National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi (NHBG) 1996–2000, died in Zomba, Malawi on Monday, 9 October 2000.

Aubrey was born in Mwimba Village, Traditional Authority Lukwa, Kasungu District (Central Region of Malawi) on 12 May 1963. He attended various primary schools before going to St John Bosco Secondary School in Mzimba District (Northern Region) in 1981. In 1985, he enrolled for a Degree in Education, majoring in Biology and Earth Sciences, at Chancellor College, a constituent College of the University of Malawi. He obtained his Bachelor of Education degree in 1990.

In 1991, he got a job with the Ministry of Education and was posted to Mchinji Secondary School where he taught Biology and Mathematics. A year later, he enrolled for a full time MSc degree in Applied Biology (Weed Science) with the University of Malawi. He rejoined the teaching profession after receiving his MSc in 1994.

Aubrey joined the National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi (NHBG) as Assistant Scientific Officer in 1996 and was promoted to the rank of Scientific Officer in 1998. Aubrey was interested in the taxonomy of Cyperaceae, especially the genus Pycreus P.Beauv.

After joining the NHBG, Aubrey was served on a number of committees, such as the Social Welfare, Housing, and National Herbarium Committees. He also served on the national Technical Committee on the Environment. This Committee is mandated to look into the EIA processes of new and existing projects.

Aubrey attended two SABONET-organised courses: the Aquatic Plants Training Course held at Mboma Island, Okovango Swamps, Botswana, in 1998, and the Database Management Course, Pretoria, in 1999. In addition, he also participated in the Earth Watch Botanical Survey in Taita Hills, Kenya in 1997.

Before his death, Aubrey was Project Officer for an Italian funded project: “Service for Environmental Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Development” (SECOSUD).

Aubrey is survived by his wife, Lynn, and two daughters, Thokozani (8 years) and Mtendere (5 years).