Joyce Banda

Joyce Hilda Banda was president of the Republic of Malawi from April 7, 2012 to May 31, 2014. She was Malawi's fourth president and its first female president. Before becoming president, she was Malawi's first female vice-president.

Banda was born on April 12, 1950, in Malemia, a village in the Zomba District of Nyasaland (now Malawi). She has a Bachelor’s degree from Atlantic International University.

Banda achieved success in several business ventures, leading her to help other women achieve financial independence. She was the founder of the Joyce Banda Foundation, the National Association of Business Women (NABW), Young Women Leaders Network and the Hunger Project.

Banda was elected to the National Assembly as a member of the United Democratic Front in 2004. She moved to the Democratic Progressive Party and served as a minister of gender, child welfare, and community services from 2004 to 2006. She served as minister of foreign affairs from 2006 to 2009. She was vice president from 2009-2012. In 2011 she founded the People’s Party. She became president upon the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika in April 2012, despite attempts by Mutharika's cabinet to block her presidency. She was defeated for re-election in 2014.

Denzer, L. (n.d.). “Joyce Banda” Britannica. Retrieved September 10, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joyce-Banda

Council of Women World Leaders (n.d.). “Joyce Banda” Council of Women World Leaders. Retrieved September 10, 2022. https://www.councilwomenworldleaders.org/joyce-banda.html