Joyce Banda Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===President (2012 β May 2014)=== ====Transition of power==== On 5 April 2012, President Mutharika died.<ref name = "ceremony">{{cite web | last = Administrator | title = Her Excellency Mrs. Joyce Banda is the New President of Malawi | publisher = Embassy of the Republic of Malawi to Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Mission to the European Union | date = 11 April 2012 | url = http://www.embassymalawi.be/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87%3Aher-excellency-mrs-joyce-banda-is-the-new-president-of-malawi&catid=1%3Alatest-news&lang= | access-date =22 April 2012}}</ref> After his death the government failed to notify the public in a timely manner that the president had died. This led to the fear of a [[Malawian Constitutional Crisis 2012|constitutional crisis in Malawi]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Faith Karimi |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2012-04-06/africa/world_africa_malawi-president_1_malawians-president-bingu-wa-mutharika-patricia-kaliati?_s=PM:AFRICA |title=Potential crisis looms in Malawi amid reports of president's death |publisher=Articles.cnn.com |date=6 April 2012 |access-date=23 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515054125/http://articles.cnn.com/2012-04-06/africa/world_africa_malawi-president_1_malawians-president-bingu-wa-mutharika-patricia-kaliati?_s=PM%3AAFRICA |archive-date=15 May 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onenewspage.co.uk/n/World/74r755rd3/Bingu-Wa-Mutharika-death-leaves-Malawi-in.htm |title=Bingu Wa Mutharika's death leaves Malawi in constitutional crisis β One News Page [UK] |publisher=Onenewspage.co.uk |date=6 April 2012 |access-date=23 May 2012}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130127043447/http://www.kitv.com/news/national/Banda-sworn-in-as-Malawi-president/-/8905418/10322828/-/14mg6em/-/ Banda sworn in as Malawi president | National News β KITV Home]. Kitv.com. Retrieved 10 April 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-rt-malawi-mutharika-update-3-pix-tvl6e8f701d-20120407,0,2897156.story?page=1 Malawi VP Banda takes over after Mutharika death]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', 7 April 2012.</ref> [[Agence France-Presse]] reported Malawi's ex-President [[Bakili Muluzi]] as insisting on "constitutional order", saying the vice-president must automatically take power under the constitution. "I am calling for a constitutional order, for continued peace and order. The laws of Malawi are very clear that the vice president takes over when the sitting president can no longer govern. We have to avoid a situation where there is disorder. Let us follow the constitution. We have no choice but follow the constitution. It's very important that there must be peace and calm."<ref>Godfrey Mapondera, David Smith, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/06/malawi-president-reported-dead Malawi faces power struggle after president reported dead], ''Guardian'', 6 April 2012</ref> Malawi's security forces also wanted the constitutional order to prevail.<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i0Nf2obDaNyqrpBEMUZftxE0wsVQ?docId=bdc060664dfb409aaf384dec2651a5bc The Associated Press: Malawi's VP sworn in as president amid uncertainty], ''AP'', 10 April 2012.</ref> The Malawi Law Society confirmed that under section 83(4) of the [[Politics of Malawi|constitution of Malawi]], she was the legitimate successor to the Presidency.<ref>[http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/04/06/joyce-banda-next-malawi-leader-muluzi-and-law-society-say/ Joyce Banda next Malawi leader, Muluzi and Law Society say] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407104248/http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/04/06/joyce-banda-next-malawi-leader-muluzi-and-law-society-say/ |date=7 April 2012 }}, ''Nyasa Times'', 6 April 2012</ref> On 7 April, Malawi's cabinet sought a court order to block Banda from becoming president. In turn, she phoned the army commander, General Henry Odillo, and asked if he would support her. He agreed and stationed troops around her house.<ref name="army">{{cite journal | last = Smith | first = David | title = Malawi's Joyce Banda puts women's rights at centre of new presidency | journal = The Guardian | date = 29 April 2012 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/29/malawi-president-joyce-banda-women-rights | issn = 0261-3077 | access-date =30 April 2012}}</ref> Joyce Banda was sworn in on 7 April 2012 as President of Malawi, the first woman to hold the office.<ref name = "swornin">[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/04/201247111815207836.html Joyce Banda sworn in as president of Malawi β Africa], ''Al Jazeera English'', 4 October 2011</ref> Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo presided over the ceremony which was held at the National Assembly in [[Lilongwe]].<ref name = "ceremony" /> After she was sworn in, Banda appealed for national unity. "I want all of us to move into the future with hope and with the spirit of oneness and unity... I hope we shall stand united and I hope that as a God-fearing nation we allow God to come before us, because if we don't do that then we have failed."<ref name = "swornin"/> The Malawian and international media reported on Joyce Banda's smooth inauguration. They called it a triumph for democracy. A ''Malawi Sunday Times'' editorial said that the new president's inauguration had "helped to entrench and cement a democratic culture in the country."<ref name = "Mwagiru" /> ====Cabinet appointments and loss of 2014 presidential election==== On 26 April 2012, President Banda chose her cabinet, composed of 23 ministers and nine deputy ministers. She gave herself several key portfolios to strengthen her own power as the country's leader.<ref name="newcabinet">{{cite web |last1 = Mapondera |first1 = Derek |last2 = Tenthani |first2 = Raphael |title = Malawi's Pres Joyce Banda sacks predecessor's brother, hires new cabinet which includes ex-leader's son |work = The Maravi Post |date = 26 April 2012 |url = http://www.maravipost.com/malawi-national-news/malawi-political-news/855-malawi-s-pres-joyce-banda-sacks-predecessor-s-brother,-hires-new-cabinet-which-includes-ex-leader-s-son.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210118064944/http://www.maravipost.com/malawi-national-news/malawi-political-news/855-malawi-s-pres-joyce-banda-sacks-predecessor-s-brother,-hires-new-cabinet-which-includes-ex-leader-s-son.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 18 January 2021 |access-date = 26 April 2012 }}</ref> On 10 October 2013, a few days after returning from a trip to the UN, President Joyce Banda sacked her cabinet following the [[Capital Hill Cashgate scandal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24484557 |title=Malawi's Joyce Banda sacks cabinet amid corruption row |work= BBC News |date=10 October 2013 |access-date=28 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/malawi-cabinet-idUSL6N0I03M020131010 |title=Malawi president dissolves cabinet in wake of graft scandal |publisher= Reuters |date=10 October 2013 |access-date=30 December 2013}}</ref> On 15 October, a new cabinet was appointed, and notably Finance Minister [[Ken Lipenga]] and Justice Minister [[Ralph Kasambara]] were dropped from the cabinet. In May 2014 Joyce Banda was heavily defeated in the presidential election. She failed in an attempt to nullify the election. She did not attend the swearing in of the winner, Peter Mutharika, but offered him her congratulations.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27648964|title = Malawi election: Peter Mutharika sworn in as president|date = 31 May 2014|work = BBC News|access-date = 25 January 2015}}</ref> She lived outside Malawi beginning in 2014. A warrant for her arrest in connection with alleged corruption during her stint as President was announced on 31 July 2017, although she remained outside the country.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170801110321/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN1AH3KK-OZATP "Malawi issues arrest warrant for former president over graft scandal"], Reuters, 1 August 2017.</ref> She denied the charges and said that she would return to face them.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170802141807/https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN1AI0RC-OZATP "Malawi's former president says "innocent" of graft, will return home"], Reuters, 2 August 2017.</ref> ====International relations==== During Mutharika's presidency, Malawi was left in a poor economic situation due to foreign relations under the [[Bingu wa Mutharika|Mutharika administration]]. Within the last year of Mutharika's presidency, Britain, the United States, Germany, Norway, the European Union, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank had all suspended financial aid. They had expressed concern about Mutharika's attacks on democracy domestically and his increasingly erratic policies. In March 2012, Mutharika told these foreign donors to "go to hell." He accused them of plotting to bring down his government.<ref name="Somerville">{{cite web |last=Somerville |first=Keith |title=Malawi: New president must build support and mend donor relations (analysis) |work=African Arguments |publisher=The Norwegian Council for Africa |date=10 April 2012 |url=http://www.afrika.no/Detailed/21370.html |access-date=20 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027212215/http://www.afrika.no/Detailed/21370.html |archive-date=27 October 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> Part of Banda's challenge as president was to restore diplomatic ties with the aid donors. She also had the challenge of restoring diplomatic ties with Malawi's neighbours like [[Mozambique]], and regional countries such as [[Botswana]]. Within the first week of her presidency, Banda launched a diplomatic offensive to repair Malawi's international relations.<ref name="JB"> {{cite web | last = Munthali | first = Kondwani | title = JB cleans up Capital Hill | work = [[The Nation (Malawi)]] | date = 11 April 2012 | url = http://www.malawitoday.com/news/124476-joyce-banda-starts-cleaning-capital-hill | access-date = 22 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130914030353/http://www.malawitoday.com/news/124476-joyce-banda-starts-cleaning-capital-hill | archive-date = 14 September 2013 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }} </ref> She spoke to [[Henry Bellingham (Norfolk MP)|Henry Bellingham]] of the United Kingdom's Foreign Office. He assured her that a new British [[envoy (title)|envoy]] will be sent "within the shortest time possible." She spoke to the United States Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]]. Clinton promised to resume discussions on the $350 million energy grant as soon as possible. Banda announced plans to speak to [[Baroness Ashton]] of the European Union's Foreign Affairs office and the Malawi's IMF Resident Representative, Ruby Randall. She and Zambian president [[Michael Sata]] had also conferred about resuming close working relations.<ref name="JB" /> At least partly to further please donors, Banda's administration also refused in June 2012 to host that July's [[African Union]] summit on the grounds that the AU had insisted that [[Sudan]]'s president [[Omar al-Bashir]] be given assurances that Malawi would refuse to serve the [[International Criminal Court]] arrest warrant against him; the Cabinet decided that such conditions were unacceptable.<ref>{{cite web | title = Malawi not to host summit after row over Sudan leader | work = [[BBC News]] | publisher = BBC | date = 8 June 2012 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18364947 | access-date =8 June 2012}}</ref> President Banda is named by Forbes as the 40th most powerful woman in the world, the highest African name on the list.<ref name="Forbes14"/> ====Domestic policy==== [[File:Flag of Malawi.svg|thumb|right|200px|Malawi's flag was created in 1964 and readopted by MPs in 2012.]] [[File:Flag of Malawi (2010β2012).svg|thumb|right|200px|Malawi's unpopular 2010β2012 flag]] On 18 May 2012, Banda announced her intention to overturn Malawi's ban on homosexuality. The measure was reported to already have the support of a majority of MPs. If successful, it would make Malawi the second African nation to legalise same-sex sexual activity since 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18118350 |title=Malawi to overturn homosexual ban, Joyce Banda says |date=18 May 2012 |work=BBC News |access-date=18 May 2012}}</ref> [[Amnesty International]] reported in early November 2012 that Malawi had "suspended" laws criminalising homosexuality pending a vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/06/world/africa/malawi-antigay-laws/index.html|agency=CNN|title=Amnesty: Malawi suspends anti-gay laws|date=6 November 2012|access-date=17 January 2013}}</ref> On the advice of the [[International Monetary Fund]], in May 2012 Banda devalued the [[Malawian kwacha]], something Mutharika had refused to do. The announcement of the kwacha's devaluation by 33 per cent against the United States dollar, an attempt to attract donor funding, prompted "panic-buying" in Malawian cities, the [[BBC News]] reported.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17982062|agency=BBC News|title=Malawi devalues kwacha by 33%, leading to panic-buying|date=7 May 2012|access-date=17 January 2013}}</ref> Upon becoming President, Banda decided to sell her presidential jet and make a contribution of 30% of her salary to benefit the Malawi Council for the Handicapped.<ref name=":0" /> However, proceeds from the sale of the jet were not accounted for. An explanation given by Joyce Banda was that the jet had been sold to an arms company in South Africa with whom the Government of Malawi had an outstanding debt and so the jet was used to offset this debt. No paperwork or evidence was made available to back up that claim.<ref>{{cite web|author=Wanga Gwede |url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/2014/03/10/jb-mkwezalamba-differ-on-malawi-jetgate-who-is-fooling-who/ |title=JB, Mkwezalamba differ on Malawi jetgate: Who is fooling who? |publisher=Nyasa Times |date=10 March 2014 |access-date=6 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227034401/http://www.nyasatimes.com/2014/03/10/jb-mkwezalamba-differ-on-malawi-jetgate-who-is-fooling-who/ |archive-date=27 February 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref> On 17 January 2013, thousands of Malawians protested in [[Blantyre]] against rising inflation after Banda, joined by IMF chief [[Christine Lagarde]], defended the devaluation of the kwacha and said she would not reverse the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2013/01/06/jb-says-wont-reverse-malawi-kwacha-devaluation-imf-chief-defends-move/ |title=JB says won't reverse Malawi Kwacha devaluation |agency=Nyasa Times |date=6 January 2013 |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111085601/http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2013/01/06/jb-says-wont-reverse-malawi-kwacha-devaluation-imf-chief-defends-move/ |archive-date=11 January 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-malawi-protests-idUKBRE90G0O120130117|work=Reuters|date=17 January 2013|access-date=17 January 2013|title=Malawi sees first major protest under President Banda}}</ref> ==== Presidential Initiatives ==== President Banda has shown consistent commitment to maternal health and reproductive rights, specifically through her support of safe motherhood in Malawi. She showed her support through establishing the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood. In only two years, this Initiative showed a reduction in maternal mortality ratios from 675 deaths per 100,000 live births to 460 deaths per 100,000 live births.<ref name=":0" /> ====Flag==== {{Main|Flag of Malawi}} After the flag was changed in 2010 by the Mutharika government, there was public opposition. Many groups challenged the legitimacy of the flag. On 28 May 2012, Banda led the nation's MPs to vote to revert the flag back to its independence flag, which was originally adopted in 1964. All parties, except the DPP, voted in favour of reverting to the independence flag.<ref>{{cite web | title = Malawi MPs vote to fly old rising sun flag | work = BBC News Africa | date = 29 May 2012 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18255188 | access-date =8 June 2012}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page