Joyce Banda

{{Short description|President of Malawi from 2012 to 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific prefix   = [[Her Excellency]] 
| name                = Joyce Banda
| image               = President of Malawi Joyce Banda (8985928177).jpg
| caption             = Banda in 2013
| office              = 4th [[President of Malawi]]
| vicepresident       = [[Khumbo Kachali]]
| term_start          = 7 April 2012
| term_end            = 31 May 2014
| predecessor         = [[Bingu wa Mutharika]]
| successor           = [[Peter Mutharika]]
| office1             = [[Vice-President of Malawi|Vice President of Malawi]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.opc.gov.mw/index.php/presidency/menu-showcase-2/dr-joyce-banda |title=Dr Joyce Banda |access-date=25 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426082920/http://www.opc.gov.mw/index.php/presidency/menu-showcase-2/dr-joyce-banda |archive-date=26 April 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| president1          = [[Bingu wa Mutharika]]
| term_start1         = 29 May 2009
| term_end1           = 7 April 2012
| predecessor1        = [[Cassim Chilumpha]]
| successor1          = [[Khumbo Kachali]]
| office2             = [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Malawi)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| president2          = [[Bingu wa Mutharika]]
| term_start2         = 1 June 2006
| term_end2           = 29 May 2009
| predecessor2        = [[George Chaponda]]
| successor2          = [[Etta Banda]]
| office3             = Minister of Gender, Child Welfare, and Community Service
| president3          = [[Bingu wa Mutharika]]
| term_start3         = 2004
| term_end3           = 2006
| birth_name          = Joyce Hilda Ntila
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1950|4|12|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Malemia, Zomba|Malemia]], [[Nyasaland]]<br />{{small|(now [[Malawi]])}}
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[United Democratic Front (Malawi)|United Democratic Front]] {{small|(Before 2004)}}<br />[[Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)|Democratic Progressive Party]] {{small|(2004–2010)}}<br />[[People's Party (Malawi)|People's Party]] {{small|(2011–present)}}
| spouse              = Roy Kachale {{small|(Before 1981)}}<br />[[Richard Banda]]
| children            = 5
| alma_mater          = [[Columbus University (Louisiana)|Columbus University]]<br />[[Atlantic International University]]<br />[[Royal Roads University]]
}}

'''Joyce Hilda Banda''' (née '''Ntila'''; born 12 April 1950<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mwnation.com/ew’s-big-interview-joyce-banda/|title=EW's big Interview: Joyce Banda|publisher=The Nation|date=21 September 2014|access-date=5 February 2019}}</ref>) is a [[Malawi|Malawian]] politician, who served as [[List of heads of state of Malawi|President of Malawi]], from 7 April 2012 to 31 May 2014. Banda took office as President following the sudden death of President [[Bingu wa Mutharika]]. She is the founder and leader of the [[People's Party (Malawi)|People's Party]], created in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Malawi|first=People's Party|title=People's Party|url=http://www.peoples-party-malawi.org/|publisher=People's Party Malawi|access-date=10 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415140346/http://www.peoples-party-malawi.org/|archive-date=15 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> An educator and grassroots women's rights activist, she was the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Malawi)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] from 2006 to 2009 and the [[Vice-President of Malawi]] from May 2009 to April 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17644009|title=Joyce Banda sworn in as new Malawi president|publisher=The BBC|date=7 April 2012|access-date=7 April 2012}}</ref> She has served in various roles as a member of Parliament and as Minister of Gender and Child Welfare before she became the President of the Republic of Malawi.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2016-08-01|title=Joyce Banda|url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/joyce-banda|access-date=2019-05-08|website=[[Wilson Center]]|language=en}}</ref>

Prior to her political career, she founded  the [[Joyce Banda Foundation]], the National Association of Business Women (NABW), Young Women Leaders Network and the [[The Hunger Project|Hunger project]].

Banda was Malawi's fourth president<ref name="Mwagiru">{{Cite journal|last=Mwagiru|first=Ciugu|date=18 April 2012|title=Malawi's Joyce Banda and the rise of women in African politics|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/-/691232/1388740/-/diw45/-/|url-status=dead|journal=[[Daily Monitor]]|location=Kampala, Uganda|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606205525/http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/-/691232/1388740/-/diw45/-/|archive-date=2014-06-06|access-date=19 April 2012}}</ref> its first female president and second female head of state, after [[Elizabeth II]]. She was the second woman to become the president in the African continent,<ref name=":0" /> after Liberia's [[Ellen Johnson Sirleaf]]. She was also the country's first female vice-president.<ref name="Tribune">{{cite journal|last=Olamitoke|first=Toluwani|date=14 April 2012|title=As Fate Throws Leadership in Joyce Banda's Path...Becomes Malawi's First Female President|url=http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/women-affairs/7087-as-fate-throws-leadership-in-joyce-bandas-pathbecomes-malawis-first-female-president.html|url-status=dead|journal=[[Nigerian Tribune]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414171037/http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/women-affairs/7087-as-fate-throws-leadership-in-joyce-bandas-pathbecomes-malawis-first-female-president.html|archive-date=14 April 2012|access-date=14 April 2012}}</ref> In June 2014, [[Forbes]] named President Banda as the 40th most powerful woman in the world and the most powerful woman in Africa.<ref name="Forbes14">{{cite web|title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall|work=Forbes|access-date=24 June 2014}}</ref> In October 2014, she was included in the [[100 Women (BBC)|BBC's 100 Women]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-29758792|title=Who are the 100 Women 2014?|website=BBC|date=26 October 2014}}</ref>

==Personal and family life==
Joyce Hilda Ntila<ref name="Tenthani" >{{cite journal
  | last = Tenthani
  | first = Raphael
  | title = Joyce Banda: Malawi's first female president
  | journal = BBC News, Blantyre
  | date = 10 April 2012 
  | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17662916
  | access-date =15 April 2012}}</ref> was born on 12 April 1950 in [[Malemia, Zomba|Malemia]], a village in the [[Zomba District]] of [[Nyasaland]] (now Malawi).<ref>{{cite web|title=Malawian president quietly celebrates 62nd birthday |url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/04/12/malawian-president-quietly-celebrates-62nd-birthday/ |publisher=Nyasa Times |access-date=14 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414023610/http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/04/12/malawian-president-quietly-celebrates-62nd-birthday/ |archive-date=14 April 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name=bdayparty>{{cite web|title=JB Celebrates Her 62 Birthday in Private |url=http://www.malawivoice.com/2012/04/12/jb-celebrates-her-62-birthday-in-private-67799/ |publisher=Malawi Voice |access-date=14 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414080836/http://www.malawivoice.com/2012/04/12/jb-celebrates-her-62-birthday-in-private-67799/ |archive-date=14 April 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> Her father was a police brass band musician. She began her career as a secretary and became a well-known figure during the rule of dictator [[Hastings Banda]].<ref name = "Mponda">{{cite web
  | last = Mponda 
  | first = Felix
  | title = Joyce Banda poised for Malawi presidency
  | work = Google hosted news: AFP 
  | date = 6 April 2012
| url = https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jOpjFWpYrm2b4Zl0peP6slJ4dB3A?docId=CNG.d8ee654dd734a2011258c4f87f9da37b.b21
  | access-date =20 April 2012}}</ref>

She earned a Cambridge School Certificate,<ref name="malawi">[http://www.malawi.gov.mw/information1/New%20Malawi/joycebpro.htm]{{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref> a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from [[Columbus University (Louisiana)|Columbus University]] (an unaccredited distance education institution),<ref name = "Tribune" /> a Bachelor of Social Studies in Gender Studies from [[Atlantic International University]] (also an unaccredited distance learning institution) and a Diploma in Management of NGOs from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Centre in Turin, Italy. Atlantic International University has been characterized as a [[Diploma mill|degree mill]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-28 |title=Probe IGP's ‘Fake’ doctorate degree - Academics |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Probe-IGP-s-Fake-doctorate-degree-Academics-481571 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}</ref> and its degrees have been widely dismissed as "fake." She also received a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from [[Royal Roads University]] in [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malawi.gov.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=197 |title=The President's Profile |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112091140/http://www.malawi.gov.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=197 |archive-date=12 November 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> and an [[honorary doctorate]] in 2013 from [[Jeonju University]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/korean-university-awards-malawi-president-with-doctorate-degree-dr-joyce-banda/ | title=Korean university awards Malawi President with doctorate degree: Dr Joyce Banda | access-date=18 March 2013 }}</ref>

She married Roy Kachale, with whom she had three children. At the age 25, she was living in [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]].<ref name = "Nairobi" >{{cite journal
  | last = Sigei
  | first = Julius
  | title = How Nairobi shaped future president
  | journal = Sunday Nation
  | publisher = Nation Media Group
  | location = Nairobi, Kenya
  | date = 15 April 2012
  | url = http://www.nation.co.ke/News/How+Nairobi+shaped+future+president+/-/1056/1386170/-/item/1/-/c4548d/-/index.html
  | access-date = 15 April 2012
  | archive-date = 15 April 2012
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120415032159/http://www.nation.co.ke/News/How+Nairobi+shaped+future+president+/-/1056/1386170/-/item/1/-/c4548d/-/index.html
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>

In 1975, a growing women's movement in Kenya motivated Banda to take her three children and leave what she has described as an abusive marriage.<ref>{{cite web |author=Raphael Tenthani |url=http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=169626 |title=Malawi's new leader takes charge with energy |publisher=BusinessDay |date=13 April 2012 |access-date=23 May 2012}}</ref> Her marriage to Roy Kachele ended in 1981. She later married [[Richard Banda]], retired Chief Justice of Malawi, with whom she has two children.<ref name = "energy">{{cite web
  | last = Tenthani
  | first = Raphael
  | title = Malawi's new president takes charge with energy
  | work = ABC News, Associated Press, 2nd page 
  | date = 13 April 2012
| url = https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/malawis-president-takes-charge-energy-16129884#.T4zdcNUzCSo
  | access-date =16 April 2012}}</ref><ref name = "Al Jazeera">{{cite web 
| last = Mutasa
  | first = Haru
  | title = Malawi to begin treason trial of ex-officials
  | work = Al Jazeera 
  | date = 10 April 2013
| url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/04/201341073057327861.html
  | access-date =10 April 2013}}</ref>

Between 1985 and 1997 Banda managed and established various businesses and organisations including Ndekani Garments (1985), Akajuwe Enterprises (1992), and Kalingidza Bakery (1995).<ref name="malawi"/> Her success inspired her to help other women achieve financial independence and break the cycles of abuse and poverty.<ref name="unfpa">[http://www.americansforunfpa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=353 Friends of UNFPA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202061622/http://www.americansforunfpa.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=353 |date=2 December 2010 }}. Americansforunfpa.org. Retrieved 10 April 2012.</ref>

She is sister to [[Anjimile Oponyo]], former CEO of the<ref name = "Friedman" >{{cite journal
  | last = Friedman | first = Roger| author-link = Roger Friedman | title = Madonna May Have Problems with the New President of Malawi—She Fired Her Sister | journal = Forbes Online | location = New York, NY | date = 9 April 2012 | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/04/09/madonna-may-have-problems-with-the-new-president-of-malawi-she-fired-her-sister/
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120412195419/http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/04/09/madonna-may-have-problems-with-the-new-president-of-malawi-she-fired-her-sister/
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 12 April 2012
  | access-date =17 April 2012}}</ref> [[Raising Malawi#Raising Malawi Academy for Girls|Raising Malawi Academy for Girls]], financed by [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]].<ref name = "Madonna">{{cite journal | last = Fekadu | first = Mesfin
  | title = Madonna: I'm happy Joyce Banda is Malawi's leader| journal = Boston Globe | publisher = Associated Press | location = Seattle, WA | date = 13 April 2012 | url = http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2012/04/13/madonna_im_happy_joyce_banda_is_malawis_leader/
  | access-date =17 April 2012}}</ref>

==Political life==

===Public offices (1999–2009)===

Joyce Banda entered politics in 1999. She won a parliamentary seat in Malawi's third democratic election as a member of President [[Bakili Muluzi]]'s party, the [[United Democratic Front (Malawi)|United Democratic Front]]. She represented the [[Zomba Malosa (Malawi Parliament constituency)|Zomba Malosa]] constituency.<ref name="unfpa"/> Muluzi appointed her as Minister for Gender and Community Services.<ref name = "Mponda" /> As minister, she fought to enact the Domestic Violence Bill, which had failed for seven years. She designed the National Platform for Action on Orphans and Vulnerable Children and the Zero Tolerance Campaign Against Child Abuse.<ref name="unfpa"/>

In 2004, she was re-elected as a member of Muluzi's Party. [[Bingu wa Mutharika]] became [[President of Malawi|President]]. Even though Banda was not a member of his party, Mutharika appointed her as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2006. Banda moved to change Malawi's recognition of the legitimate government of China from the [[Republic of China]] (on Taiwan) to the [[China|People's Republic of China]] on the mainland; she claimed the switch would bring economic benefits to Malawi.<ref name = "Mponda" /> In 2010, China finished the construction of a new parliament building in Lilongwe.<ref name = "parliament">{{cite web
  | title = China hands over new parliament building to Malawi
  | work = People's Daily Online, English
  | publisher = Xinhua  
  | date = 22 May 2010
| url = http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6994852.html
  | access-date =22 April 2012}}</ref>

===Vice-President (2009–2012)===

Banda ran as the vice-presidential candidate of the [[Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)|Democratic Progressive Party]] (DPP) in the [[2009 Malawian general election|2009 presidential election]], running alongside Mutharika, the DPP presidential candidate.<ref>[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20090517062152198C571749 "Women are ready to stand in Malawi poll"], Sapa-AFP (''IOL''), 17 May 2009.</ref> She served as Malawi's first female vice-president. In a surprise move by the DPP, Joyce Banda and second vice-president Khumbo Kachali were fired as the vice-presidents of the DPP on 12 December 2010 for undefined 'anti-party' activities.<ref name="google">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hL67jrYgDT7owjKuvbRyuFCXkkqg?docId=CNG.52397de5df64c519397daac1afa54385.ed1 |title=AFP: Malawi ruling party fires two vice presidents |date=11 December 2010 |access-date=7 April 2012}}</ref> In attempts to ostracise her, the President continued to give roles that were previously held by her to [[Callista Mutharika]], who was included in the cabinet in September 2011.<ref name="snub">{{cite web|url=http://www.afriquejet.com/malawi-cabinet-snub-2011090921991.html |title=Malawi: Mutharika's estranged deputy 'unmoved' by Malawi cabinet snub |publisher=Afriquejet.com |access-date=7 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612062217/http://www.afriquejet.com/malawi-cabinet-snub-2011090921991.html |archive-date=12 June 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> The court blocked attempts by Mutharika to fire her as Vice-President on constitutional grounds. This included attempts to seize her official government vehicle and to block her from registering her new party.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maravipost.com/malawi-politics/society/5522-new-natl-congress-party-on-the-cards-court-orders-pps-registration.html |title=Archived copy |website=www.maravipost.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531055912/http://www.maravipost.com/malawi-politics/society/5522-new-natl-congress-party-on-the-cards-court-orders-pps-registration.html |archive-date=31 May 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mwnation.com/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D20460%3Acourt-rescues-malawi-vps-vehicles%26catid%3D1%3Anational-news%26Itemid%3D3 |title=Home &#124;The Nation Online &#124; Your window on Malawi |access-date=11 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607015632/http://www.mwnation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20460%3Acourt-rescues-malawi-vps-vehicles&catid=1%3Anational-news&Itemid=3 |archive-date= 7 June 2014 }}</ref> On 8 September 2011, the role of Vice-President was left out in a cabinet reshuffle. However, she was still the legal Vice-President because the post was mandated by the constitution.<ref name="snub"/> She was urged by DPP spokesman [[Hetherwick Ntaba]] to resign as Vice-President.<ref>[http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/ntaba-argues-vp%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98constructive-resignation%E2%80%99/ Ntaba argues VP’s ‘constructive resignation’] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120904192203/http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/ntaba-argues-vp%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98constructive-resignation%E2%80%99/ |date=4 September 2012 }}. ''Nyasa Times''. Retrieved 10 April 2012.</ref>

[[File:Joyce Banda Department for International Development photo crop.jpg|thumb|Banda in 2012]]

===Factions in DPP===
The relationship between Banda and President Bingu wa Mutharika had become increasingly tense because of Mutharika's attempts to position his own brother, [[Peter Mutharika]], as his successor.<ref name="google"/> Although she was fired from the position as Vice-President of the [[Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)|DPP]] together with Second Vice-President [[Khumbo Kachali]], she continued to serve as [[Vice-President of Malawi]] as stipulated in the constitution.<ref name="google"/> This move led to mass resignations in the DPP and the formation of networks that supported her candidacy to become President of Malawi in the 2014 general election.<ref name="woes">{{cite web|url=http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/malawi:-vice-president%27s-woes-dominate-malawi-media-2010121864614.html |access-date=18 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220022503/http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/malawi%3A-vice-president%27s-woes-dominate-malawi-media-2010121864614.html |archive-date=20 December 2010 |title=Malawi: Vice-President's woes dominate Malawi media }}</ref> The DPP denied that mass resignations had occurred and insisted that they were only a few.<ref name="woes"/>

===People's Party===
Joyce Banda is the founder and leader of the [[People's Party (Malawi)|People's Party]], formed in 2011 after Banda was expelled from the ruling [[Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)|DPP]] when she refused to endorse President Mutharika's younger brother [[Peter Mutharika]] as the successor to the presidency for the 2014 general election.<ref>Jomo, Frank. (13 December 2010) [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-13/malawi-s-vice-president-joyce-banda-expelled-from-ruling-party.html Malawi’s Vice President Joyce Banda Expelled From Ruling Party]. Bloomberg. Retrieved 10 April 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/politics/people%E2%80%99s-party-file-for-registration.html |access-date=22 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515105420/http://www.nyasatimes.com/politics/people%E2%80%99s-party-file-for-registration.html |archive-date=15 May 2011 |title=People's Party file for registration &#124; Malawi news }}</ref>

===President (2012 – 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 – One News Page [UK&#93; |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 – 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 – 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 (2010–2012).svg|thumb|right|200px|Malawi's unpopular 2010–2012 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>

===Post-presidential life===
Banda stayed in self-imposed exile in the United States as a distinguished fellow at the [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars|Woodrow Wilson Center]] and [[Center for Global Development]] for three years, prior to returning to Malawi in 2018.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malawi-politics/former-malawi-president-joyce-banda-returns-from-exile-idUSKBN1HU2G8 Former Malawi president Joyce Banda returns from exile], [[Reuters]]</ref> To date, no charges have been formally filed against Banda.

Banda entered the [[2019 Malawian general election|2019 presidential election]] as a candidate for the [[People's Party (Malawi)|People's Party]], but withdrew her candidacy two months before the election;<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malawi-election/ex-president-banda-pulls-out-of-malawi-presidential-race-idUSKCN1QV2R3 Ex-president Banda pulls out of Malawi presidential race] Reuters, 14 March 2019</ref> she later endorsed opposition candidate Lazarus Chakwera.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/joyce-banda-withdraws-from-malawi-presidential-race/4831130.html|title=Joyce Banda Withdraws from Malawi Presidential Race|date=15 March 2019|website=VOA|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ewn.co.za/2019/03/18/malawi-ex-leader-banda-seals-another-opposition-pact|title=Malawi ex-leader Banda seals another opposition pact|date=18 March 2019|website=AFP via Eyewitness News South Africa|language=en}}</ref> After the 2019 presidential election was annulled, she endorsed Chakwera again in the [[2020 Malawian presidential election|2020 re-do]]. Banda's son Roy Kahele-Banda was named to Chakwera's cabinet as Minister of Industry.

==Joyce Banda Foundation==
Before becoming vice-president, she was the founder and CEO of the [[Joyce Banda Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joycebandafoundation.org/ |title=Joyce Banda Foundation |publisher=Joyce Banda Foundation |access-date=1 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425052618/http://www.joycebandafoundation.org/ |archive-date=25 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> for better Education, a charitable foundation that assists Malawian children and orphans through education. It is a complex of primary and secondary schools in the Chimwankhunda area of [[Blantyre, Malawi|Blantyre]]. It includes an orphan care center that consists of six centres and 600 children.<ref name="thejackbrewerfoundation1">[http://www.thejackbrewerfoundation.org/programs-partnerships/partnerships/joyce-banda-foundation/]{{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref> It also assists the surrounding villages by providing micro-credit to 40 women and 10 youth groups. It provided seeds to over 10,000 farmers and has provided other donations. The foundation has constructed four clinics in four of the 200 villages it assists. The foundation also assists in rural development. It has a partnership with the Jack Brewer Foundation, a global development foundation founded by NFL star, [[Jack Brewer (American football)|Jack Brewer]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spotlight: The Jack Brewer Foundation |url=https://nfl-pe-stage.azurewebsites.net/next/articles/spotlight-the-jack-brewer-foundation/ |website=NFL}}</ref>

==National Association of Business Women==
Banda is the founder of the National Association of Business Women in Malawi that was established in 1990. It is a registered non-profit foundation in Malawi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/africa/osaa/ngodirectory2/dest/countries/printNGO.asp?lang=ENG&country=29&ngo=MALW27 |title=National Association of Business Women |publisher=United Nations |access-date=7 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026124825/http://www.un.org/africa/osaa/ngodirectory2/dest/countries/printNGO.asp?lang=ENG&country=29&ngo=MALW27 |archive-date=26 October 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> The association aims to lift women out of poverty by strengthening their capacity and empowering them economically.<ref name="hivos">{{cite web |url=http://www.hivos.nl/dut/community/partner/10003036 |title=National Association of Business Women / Partners / Home – Ontwikkelingsorganisatie Hivos |language=nl |publisher=Hivos.nl |date=31 December 2008 |access-date=7 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304054222/http://www.hivos.nl/dut/community/partner/10003036 |archive-date=4 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> This is a social network of 30,000 women, dedicated to supporting women's businesses and supporting women who want to participate in business. Its activities include business training, technical training, record keeping and management skills.<ref name="hivos"/> They work towards creating dialogue with policymakers to make policies favourable to women business owners.<ref name="intracen">{{cite web|url=http://www.intracen.org/womenandtrade/ |title=Women and Trade – Home page |publisher=Intracen.org |date=17 December 2011 |access-date=7 April 2012}}</ref> Its current director is Mary Malunga.<ref name="intracen"/> The foundation has had a partnership with the Netherlands-based Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation ([[Hivos]]) at The Hague since 2003.<ref name="hivos"/>

==Philanthropy and development initiatives==
Banda has been involved with many grassroots projects with women since the age of 25 to bring about policy change, particularly in education. She founded the Joyce Banda Foundation for Better Education. She founded the Young Women Leaders Network, National Association of Business Women and the Hunger Project in Malawi. She (jointly with President [[Joaquim Chissano]] of Mozambique) was awarded the 1997 Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger by the [[Hunger Project]], a New York-based non-governmental organisation. She used the prize money to fund the building of the Joyce Banda foundation for children.<ref name="thejackbrewerfoundation1"/> In 2006, she received the International Award for the Health and Dignity of Women for her dedication to the rights of the women of Malawi by the Americans for United Nations Population Fund.<ref name="unfpa"/>

She served as commissioner for "Bridging a World Divided" alongside personalities such as Bishop [[Desmond Tutu]], and United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Mary Robinson.<ref name="malawi"/> Banda was also member of the Advisory Board for Education in Washington DC, and on the advisory board for the Federation of World Peace and Love in Taiwan (China).<ref name="malawi"/>

As part of a government move on austerity measures in October 2012, Banda cut her salary by 30%. She also announced that the presidential jet would be sold.<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://allafrica.com/stories/201210041137.html| title= Malawi: President Slashes Her Own Salary
| year = 2012 | publisher = [[Allafrica.com]]
| location = Africa
| access-date =11 October 2012
}}</ref>

===Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health===
In 2010, Banda became a member of the Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health,<ref name="womendeliver">{{cite web|url=http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/the-launch-of-the-global-leaders-council-for-reproductive-health/ |title=Updates " The Launch of the Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health |publisher=Women Deliver |date=21 September 2010 |access-date=1 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715020428/http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/the-launch-of-the-global-leaders-council-for-reproductive-health |archive-date=15 July 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> a group of sixteen sitting and former heads of state, high-level policymakers and other leaders committed to advancing reproductive health for lasting development and prosperity.<ref name="womendeliver"/> Chaired by former [[President of Ireland]] [[Mary Robinson]], these leaders seek to mobilise the political will and financial resources necessary to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015 – a key target of the UN Millennium Development Goals.<ref name="womendeliver"/>

==Accolades==

===National awards===
* Woman of the Year, Malawi, 1997<ref name="malawi"/>
* Woman of the Year, Malawi, 1998<ref name="malawi"/>
* Nyasa Times Multimedia 'Person of the Year', 2010<ref>{{cite web
 |last        = Lungu
 |first       = M'theto
 |title       = Media house awards Malawi Veep Joyce Banda 'Person of the Year 2010' accolade
 |work        = The Africa Global Village
 |date        = 30 December 2010
 |url         = http://www.africaglobalvillage.com/en/southern-africa/malawi/504-malawi.html
 |access-date  = 17 April 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20130116154347/http://www.africaglobalvillage.com/en/southern-africa/malawi/504-malawi.html
 |archive-date = 16 January 2013
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

===International awards===
* Martin Luther King Drum Major Award, 2012, Washington DC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/06/12/jb-receives-martin-luther-king-drum-major-award/ |title=JB receives Martin Luther King 'Drum Major' award &#124; Malawi news, Malawi – NyasaTimes breaking online news source from Malawi |publisher=Nyasatimes.com |access-date=1 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618191308/http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2012/06/12/jb-receives-martin-luther-king-drum-major-award/ |archive-date=18 June 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref>
*Legends Award for Leadership, 2012, Greater African Methodist Episcopal Church<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maravipost.com/malawi-national-news/malawi-society/1119-unwavering-pres-banda-gets-legend-award-for-leadership.html |title=Society delivers the latest Malawi breaking news and information on the latest top stories |publisher=Maravipost.com |date=5 April 2012 |access-date=1 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128065909/http://www.maravipost.com/malawi-national-news/malawi-society/1119-unwavering-pres-banda-gets-legend-award-for-leadership.html |archive-date=28 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* Women of Substance Award, 2010, African Women Development Fund<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10104:another-international-accolade-for-banda&catid=62:national-news&Itemid=59 |title=nationmw.net |publisher=nationmw.net |access-date=1 November 2012}}</ref>
* Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger, 1997, Hunger Project of NY<ref name="malawi"/>
* International award for entrepreneurship development, 1998, Africa Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)<ref name="malawi"/>
* 100 Heroines award, 1998, Rochester, New York<ref name="malawi"/>
* Certificate of Honors, 2001, Federation of World Peace and Love, Taiwan, Republic of China<ref name="malawi"/>

===Honors===
*Most powerful woman in the world 2014, Forbes Magazine – rank #40<ref name=Forbes14/>
*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

==See also==
*[[Malawian Constitutional Crisis 2012]]
*[[List of current members of the National Assembly of Malawi]]

==Further reading==

* {{cite journal | title=Constitutional provisions and executive succession: Malawi's 2012 transition in comparative perspective | author=Kim Yi Dionne, Boniface Dulani | journal=[[African Affairs]] | date=January 2013 | volume=112 | issue=446 | pages=111–137 | doi=10.1093/afraf/ads067 | jstor=23357150 }}

==References==

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol11no2/briefs3.htm United Nations 1997 Africa Prize]
* {{cite journal
  | last = Donnelly
  | first = John
  | title = Joyce Banda: "Women lacked training, credit and information"
  | journal = Global Pulse
  | publisher = Global Post
  | location = Boston, Mass.
  | date = 10 October 2011
| url = http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/joyce-banda-women-lacked-training-credit-and-information
  | access-date =15 April 2012}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[George Chaponda]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Foreign Affairs|years=2006–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Etta Banda]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Cassim Chilumpha]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice-President of Malawi|Vice President of Malawi]]|years=2009–2012}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Khumbo Kachali]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Bingu wa Mutharika]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Malawi]]|years=2012–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Peter Mutharika]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{MalawiPresidents}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banda, Joyce}}
[[Category:1950 births|Banda, Joyce]]
[[Category:21st-century women presidents]]
[[Category:Female foreign ministers]]
[[Category:Female heads of government]]
[[Category:Foreign ministers of Malawi]]
[[Category:Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi) politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malawian feminists]]
[[Category:People from Zomba District]]
[[Category:People's Party (Malawi) politicians]]
[[Category:Presidents of Malawi]]
[[Category:United Democratic Front (Malawi) politicians]]
[[Category:Vice-presidents of Malawi]]
[[Category:Women government ministers of Malawi]]
[[Category:Malawian women diplomats]]
[[Category:Women vice presidents in Africa]]
[[Category:Center for Global Development]]
[[Category:Women presidents in Africa]]
[[Category:21st-century Malawian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Malawian politicians]]
[[Category:Malawian women's rights activists]]
[[Category:First women presidents in Africa]]