Joyce Banda

Joyce Banda
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Name	Joyce Banda
Caption	Banda in 2013
Office	President of Malawi
Term start	7 April 2012
Term end	31 May 2014
Predecessor	Bingu wa Mutharika
Successor	Peter Mutharika
Office1	Vice President of Malawi
Term start1	29 May 2009
Term end1	7 April 2012
President1	Bingu wa Mutharika
Predecessor1	Cassim Chilumpha
Successor1	Khumbo Kachali
Birth date	12 April 1950
Birth place	Malemia, Nyasaland
Party	People's Party (2011–present)
Otherparty	Democratic Progressive Party (2004–2010), United Democratic Front (before 2004)
Spouse	Roy Kachale, 1975, divorce, 1991, Richard Banda, 2014
Alma mater	Columbus University

Joyce Banda is a Malawian politician, philanthropist, and human rights activist who served as the President of Malawi from 2012 to 2014. She was the country's first female vice president and became its first female head of state following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. Her administration focused on economic stabilization, restoring international relations, and advocating for women's rights, though it was also marked by a major financial scandal. Following her presidency, she has remained active in global advocacy for women and girls.

Early life and education

Joyce Hilda Ntila was born in the village of Malemia in the Zomba District of the then Nyasaland. Her father was a policeman and accomplished musician in the Nyasaland Police Band. She received her early education at Malenga Primary School and later attended Zomba Catholic Secondary School. After completing her secondary education, she earned a diploma in community development from the University of Nairobi and later received a bachelor's degree from Columbus University. Her early career was in the civil service and with various development organizations, including work with the National Association of Business Women in Malawi.

Political career

Banda's political career began with her involvement in the United Democratic Front. She served as a member of parliament for the Zomba Malosa constituency and was appointed as Minister of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services under President Bakili Muluzi. In 2004, she joined the Democratic Progressive Party and was re-elected to parliament. In 2009, President Bingu wa Mutharika selected her as his running mate, and she was elected Vice President of Malawi. Tensions with Mutharika led to her expulsion from the DPP in 2010, after which she founded the People's Party.

Presidency (2012–2014)

Banda ascended to the presidency on 7 April 2012 following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika, as stipulated by the Constitution of Malawi. Her immediate actions included devaluing the Malawian kwacha and implementing austerity measures to secure an International Monetary Fund loan. She restored diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom and strengthened relations with donors like the United States Agency for International Development. Her administration launched initiatives such as the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood. However, her term was severely impacted by the "Cashgate scandal", a massive corruption case involving the looting of state funds, which damaged her credibility ahead of the 2014 general election, where she lost to Peter Mutharika.

Post-presidency and advocacy

After leaving office, Banda went into self-imposed exile, citing concerns for her safety, but returned to Malawi in 2018. She has dedicated her post-presidency to global advocacy, particularly for women's empowerment and education. She founded the Joyce Banda Foundation International and remains a prominent voice through organizations like the African Union and the United Nations. She has served as a distinguished fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and received honors such as the Africa Prize for Leadership from the Hunger Project. She continues to be involved in election observation missions across Africa.

Personal life and legacy

Banda was first married to Roy Kachale, with whom she had three children; the marriage ended in divorce. In 2014, she married former Chief Justice Richard Banda. She is a devout Christian and has spoken openly about surviving an abusive first marriage, which fueled her activism. Her legacy is complex; she is celebrated internationally as a trailblazer for women in African politics and for her advocacy, but domestically, her presidency is often associated with the economic hardships of devaluation and the Cashgate scandal. She remains a significant, though polarizing, figure in the political history of Malawi.

Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:Presidents of Malawi Category:Female heads of state in Africa Category:Malawian women in politics