Joyce Banda, born Joyce Hilda Ntila on April 12, 1950, is a Malawian politician who became the country's first female president. She served as the fourth president of Malawi from April 7, 2012, to May 31, 2014. Banda succeeded Bingu wa Mutharika after his sudden death while in office. Before becoming president, Banda had a long career in public service and was an advocate for women's rights and social justice.

Banda's early life was marked by a commitment to education and activism. She was educated in both Malawi and abroad, earning a bachelor’s degree from Atlantic International University and a diploma in Early Childhood Development from the University of Malawi. Her experience working in education and social development led her to start various initiatives aimed at empowering women and children in Malawi. In the 1990s, Banda founded the National Association of Business Women, an organization designed to promote and support women's entrepreneurship. She also established the Joyce Banda Foundation, which focuses on charitable works, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.

Her political career began in earnest when she was elected as a member of parliament in 1999. She served as Minister of Gender and Community Services, where she worked to promote gender equality and fight against domestic violence. Her rise to national prominence continued when she was appointed as Malawi's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2009. In 2009, she was chosen as the vice-presidential running mate for Bingu wa Mutharika during his re-election campaign. They won the election, and Banda became the Vice President of Malawi, making her the country's first female to hold the position.

However, Banda's relationship with Mutharika deteriorated, and she was sidelined by the ruling party. Despite this, she remained Vice President due to constitutional provisions. After Mutharika's sudden death in 2012, Banda ascended to the presidency amid a political crisis, becoming the first female head of state in Southern Africa. Her presidency focused on restoring economic stability and governance reforms. One of her major achievements was devaluing the Malawian kwacha to address the country's economic crisis. She also secured foreign aid, which had been suspended due to concerns over governance under her predecessor.

However, Banda's presidency was marred by the "Cashgate" scandal, a massive corruption affair in which public funds were looted by government officials. Although Banda denied involvement, the scandal severely damaged her reputation both domestically and internationally. She lost the 2014 presidential election to Peter Mutharika, the brother of the late president Bingu wa Mutharika. After the election, Banda left Malawi and lived in exile for several years due to threats to her safety, although she continued to maintain her innocence regarding the Cashgate scandal.

Banda remains an influential figure in Malawian and African politics, particularly as an advocate for women’s rights, education, and social justice. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including being named by *Forbes* magazine as one of Africa's most powerful women. Even after leaving the presidency, she continues to engage in international advocacy and development work.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Banda