Chibambo whose image appears on a two-hundred Kwacha bank note was the first female cabinet Minister in the independent Malawi.

She died on Tuesday at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre due to heart complications.

A family member, Nyadindi Kumwenda told MBC that Chibambo's admittance at Mwayiwathu Hospital, has been on and off since late last year.

Chibambo is remembered as one political activist, who opposed Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, in the early days of the country's independence whose rebellion led her and others into exile.

In the post multiparty era, Government honoured her by naming one of the streets in Mzuzu, after her and most recently, her face was placed on the two-hundred Kwacha bank note.

Following her demise, the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, where she served as a church elder says it has lost a formidable leader, who promoted culture. Synod General Secretary, Rev. Levi Nyondo said Chibambo promoted culture through Ngoni music, which she also taught others.

Chibambo, born 8 September 1928, was a prominent politician in the British Protectorate of Nyasaland in the years leading up to independence as the state of Malawi in 1964, and immediately after.

She organized Malawian women in their political fight against the British rule as a political force to be reckoned with alongside their men folk in the push for independence.

She was imprisoned in 1959, while pregnant with her 5th child, along with other Malawians whom the Federal government felt were a threat to colonial rule.

She gave birth while in prison and was not released till a year later. After Malawi gained independence, Rose Chibambo was the first woman minister in the new cabinet.

When she fell out with Dr. Hastings Banda she was forced into exile for thirty years, returning after the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1994.