Joyce Banda facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Her Excellency Joyce Banda
Banda in 2013

4th President of Malawi
In office 7 April 2012 – 31 May 2014
Vice President	Khumbo Kachali
Preceded by	Bingu wa Mutharika
Succeeded by	Peter Mutharika
Vice President of Malawi
In office 29 May 2009 – 7 April 2012
President	Bingu wa Mutharika
Preceded by	Cassim Chilumpha
Succeeded by	Khumbo Kachali
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 1 June 2006 – 29 May 2009
President	Bingu wa Mutharika
Preceded by	George Chaponda
Succeeded by	Etta Banda
Minister of Gender, Child Welfare, and Community Service
In office 2004–2006
President	Bingu wa Mutharika

Personal details
Born	Joyce Hilda Ntila (1950-04-12) 12 April 1950 (age 75) Malemia, Nyasaland (now Malawi)
Political party	United Democratic Front (Before 2004) Democratic Progressive Party (2004–2010) People's Party (2011–present)
Spouses	Roy Kachale (Before 1981) Richard Banda
Children	5
Alma mater	Columbus University Atlantic International University Royal Roads University

Joyce Hilda Banda (born 12 April 1950) is a Malawian politician. She served as the President of Malawi from 2012 to 2014. Banda became president after the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

She is the founder and leader of the People's Party, which started in 2011. Before becoming president, she was a teacher and an activist for women's rights. She served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2009. She was also the Vice-President of Malawi from 2009 to 2012.

Before her political career, Joyce Banda started several important organizations. These include the Joyce Banda Foundation, the National Association of Business Women (NABW), and the Young Women Leaders Network. She also worked with the Hunger Project.

Joyce Banda was Malawi's fourth president and its first female president. She was also the second woman to become president in Africa. In 2014, Forbes magazine named her the 40th most powerful woman in the world. She was also named the most powerful woman in Africa.

Early Life and Family

Joyce Hilda Ntila was born on 12 April 1950. This was in Malemia, a village in the Zomba District of Nyasaland. Nyasaland is now known as Malawi. Her father was a musician in a police band. She started her career as a secretary.

She earned several degrees, including a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University in Canada. She also received an honorary doctorate in 2013 from Jeonju University.

Joyce Banda married Roy Kachale and they had three children. Later, she married Richard Banda, who was a retired Chief Justice of Malawi. They had two children together.

Between 1985 and 1997, Banda managed and started several businesses. These included Ndekani Garments, Akajuwe Enterprises, and Kalingidza Bakery. Her success inspired her to help other women become financially independent.

Political Journey

Early Public Roles (1999–2009)

Joyce Banda began her political career in 1999. She won a seat in Parliament as a member of President Bakili Muluzi's party. This party was called the United Democratic Front. She represented the Zomba Malosa area.

President Muluzi appointed her as the Minister for Gender and Community Services. In this role, she worked hard to pass the Domestic Violence Bill. This bill had been stuck for seven years. She also created plans to help orphans and vulnerable children. She started a "Zero Tolerance Campaign Against Child Abuse."

In 2004, she was re-elected to Parliament. Bingu wa Mutharika became president. Even though Banda was not in his party, Mutharika appointed her as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2006. Banda helped Malawi change its diplomatic ties from Taiwan to mainland China. She believed this would bring economic benefits to Malawi.

Serving as Vice-President (2009–2012)

Banda ran as the vice-presidential candidate in the 2009 election. She ran with Mutharika, who was the presidential candidate for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). She became Malawi's first female vice-president.

Later, Joyce Banda and the second vice-president, Khumbo Kachali, were removed from their party roles in the DPP. This happened in December 2010. However, the court stopped attempts to remove her as Vice-President of Malawi. This was because the position is protected by the constitution.

Banda in 2012

Forming the People's Party

The relationship between Banda and President Bingu wa Mutharika became difficult. This was because Mutharika wanted his brother, Peter Mutharika, to be his successor. Even though she was removed from her party role, Joyce Banda continued to be the Vice-President of Malawi. This led to many people leaving the DPP and supporting her.

Joyce Banda then founded the People's Party in 2011. She started this party after she was removed from the ruling DPP. This happened because she did not support President Mutharika's brother as the next president.

Becoming President (2012 – May 2014)

Taking Office

On 5 April 2012, President Mutharika passed away. There was a short period of uncertainty about who would take over. However, Malawi's laws clearly state that the vice-president takes over if the president cannot govern.

On 7 April 2012, Joyce Banda was sworn in as President of Malawi. She was the first woman to hold this high office. The ceremony took place in Lilongwe. After being sworn in, Banda asked for national unity. She said, "I want all of us to move into the future with hope and with the spirit of oneness and unity."

Malawian and international news reported that Joyce Banda's transition to power was smooth. They called it a success for democracy in the country.

Cabinet and Election

On 26 April 2012, President Banda chose her cabinet. This group included 23 ministers and nine deputy ministers. She took on some important roles herself to strengthen her leadership.

In October 2013, President Banda changed her cabinet. This happened after a financial scandal. In May 2014, Joyce Banda lost the presidential election. She did not attend the swearing-in of the winner, Peter Mutharika, but she did congratulate him.

Working with Other Countries

During the previous president's time, Malawi's economy faced challenges. Many countries and organizations had stopped giving financial aid. This was because they were concerned about how democracy was being handled in Malawi.

One of President Banda's main goals was to fix Malawi's relationships with these aid donors. She also worked to improve ties with neighboring countries like Mozambique and Botswana.

Within her first week as president, Banda started working to repair international relations. She spoke with officials from the United Kingdom and the United States. They promised to restart discussions about financial support. Banda also decided that Malawi would not host an African Union summit. This was because the AU wanted assurances that Malawi would not arrest Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir. Malawi's cabinet decided these conditions were not acceptable.

Changes at Home

Malawi's flag was created in 1964 and readopted by MPs in 2012.

Malawi's unpopular 2010–2012 flag

In May 2012, Banda announced her plan to overturn Malawi's ban on homosexuality. This measure had the support of most members of Parliament.

Following advice from the International Monetary Fund, Banda devalued Malawi's currency, the Malawian kwacha, in May 2012. This meant the kwacha was worth less compared to the US dollar. This was an effort to attract more funding from donors.

When she became president, Banda decided to sell the presidential jet. She also contributed 30% of her salary to help the Malawi Council for the Handicapped. However, the money from the jet's sale was not fully explained.

Helping Mothers and Babies

President Banda showed a strong commitment to maternal health. She supported safe motherhood in Malawi. She started the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood. In just two years, this initiative helped reduce the number of mothers who died during childbirth.

Changing the Flag

The flag of Malawi was changed in 2010 by the previous government. However, many people did not like the new flag. On 28 May 2012, Banda led the country's Members of Parliament to vote. They decided to change the flag back to its original design from 1964. All parties, except the DPP, voted for the original flag.

After the Presidency

After her presidency, Banda lived outside Malawi for three years. She was a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center. She returned to Malawi in 2018.

Banda ran as a candidate in the 2019 presidential election. However, she later withdrew her candidacy and supported another candidate, Lazarus Chakwera. After the 2019 election was cancelled, she supported Chakwera again in the 2020 election.

Joyce Banda Foundation

Before becoming vice-president, Joyce Banda founded the Joyce Banda Foundation for Better Education. This charity helps Malawian children and orphans through education. It includes primary and secondary schools in Blantyre. It also has an orphan care center that helps 600 children.

The foundation also supports nearby villages. It provides small loans to women and youth groups. It has given seeds to over 10,000 farmers and made other donations. The foundation has built four clinics in some of the villages it helps. It also works on rural development.

National Association of Business Women

Banda is also the founder of the National Association of Business Women in Malawi. This organization started in 1990. It is a non-profit group in Malawi. The association aims to help women escape poverty by making them stronger and more independent in business.

This group is a network of 30,000 women. It supports women's businesses and helps women who want to start businesses. Their activities include training in business, technical skills, and managing records. They also work with leaders to create policies that help women business owners.

Awards and Recognition

Joyce Banda has received many awards for her leadership and work.

National Awards

Woman of the Year, Malawi, 1997
Woman of the Year, Malawi, 1998
Nyasa Times Multimedia 'Person of the Year', 2010

International Awards

Martin Luther King Drum Major Award, 2012, Washington DC
Legends Award for Leadership, 2012, Greater African Methodist Episcopal Church
Women of Substance Award, 2010, African Women Development Fund
Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger, 1997, Hunger Project of NY
International award for entrepreneurship development, 1998, Africa Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
100 Heroines award, 1998, Rochester, New York
Certificate of Honors, 2001, Federation of World Peace and Love, Taiwan, Republic of China

Honors and Rankings

Most powerful woman in the world 2014, Forbes Magazine – rank #40
Most powerful woman in the world 2013, Forbes Magazine – rank #47
Most powerful woman in the world 2012, Forbes Magazine – rank #71
Most powerful woman in Africa 2012, Forbes Magazine – rank #1
Most powerful woman in Africa 2011, Forbes Magazine – rank #3