Joyce Banda

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Joyce Hilda Ntila Banda is the first female president of Malawi and the whole of South Africa. She endured 10 years living with an abusive husband. Unlike most Malawian women, Joyce braved to raise her three children by herself. Eventually, she became a successful businesswoman. The National Association of Business Women was founded to provide Malawians the capital they need to put up their own business in the hope of making them less dependent on their husbands. After nine years, she established the Joyce Banda Foundation to help impoverished children get proper education.

Achievements

Why Joyce Banda is Extraordinary

Joyce Banda did the unimaginable—walk out of an abusive marriage and care for her three children on her own. Her perseverance made her a successful businesswoman and she did not waste time to give back and help her fellow women get out of poverty and helplessness. Joyce is the strong force behind the National Association of Business Women and her very own Joyce Banda Foundation. It did not take long before she took public service to a higher level and became a politician. From being a member of the parliament, she was appointed to become Malawi’s Minister of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services and after that, served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

She easily won her vice presidential bid that defaulted her to head Malawi when incumbent president Bingu wa Mutharika suddenly died.

The First Female President of South Africa

Next to Liberia’s Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Joyce Banda became South Africa’s first female president. Her gender did not stop her from serving her nation and undertaking tasks done only by men in her country. What made her different from other politicians is that she has no ulterior motives in leading Malawi. As far as Malawi is concerned, she has its best interest at heart.

But being president of a country as poor as Malawi isn’t a bed of roses. She’s facing immense economic crisis and international aids were frozen due to the previous president’s autocratic governance. Joyce had to use all of her charm to win them back. She had to sever ties with those she isn’t comfortable working with and was forced to make decisive actions to serve the interest of the majority.

The presidential jet had to go so as the ex-president’s fleet of luxury cars in order to help augment their deficit. Her salary was reduced by 30% and she devaluated their currency to encourage investors and foreign assistance to come in. And there’s the health issue. The death toll of AIDS and HIV is still at its highest and more and more children die at birth due to the lack of facilities and medicines.

She had to contend with all that and face controversy. But Joyce refused to be intimidated and disheartened. The legacy she wants to leave is that of a government that’s geared towards improving the lives of its people. One thing she is really determined to do is give women equal opportunity that men are privileged to enjoy:

"When we empower women with education and access to reproductive health services, we can lift an entire nation. Women who can choose when to have children and how many they will have are more likely to complete their education, start small businesses and participate actively in society. And as I witnessed with my friend Chrissie, education itself is vital to give women that choice in the first place. This is why efforts to improve the lives of women and children reinforce efforts to strengthen our economy and reduce poverty." (Source: CNN)

Joyce Banda still has a long way to go. For now, she’s doing all she can to uplift the lives of the people and address the most pressing issues left unattended by the government she inherited. It will take a while for Malawi to recuperate but with a determined leader who has seen the worst but managed to succeed against all odds, the people can dream of a good life and relax for they are in good hands.

Top Reasons why Joyce Banda is Extraordinary

She is the first female President of Malawi and was also the first Vice President of the country.
She is a successful business woman.
She endured 10 years in an abusive marriage and walked away to raise her three children on her own.
She founded the National Association of Business Women that gives women capital to fund businesses.
She established the Joyce Banda Foundation to help provide children quality education and improve livelihood of rural Malawian people.
She slashed 30% of her salary to prove that she is one with her people in their suffering.
She sold the presidential jet and their 60 luxury cars to augment their budget.
She founded her own party when she was expelled by the incumbent president upon her refusal to support his plans of creating a political dynasty.
She was included in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2013.
She is a recipient of the International award for entrepreneurship development from the Africa Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs and Economic Commission for Africa and twice hailed as Malawi’s Woman of the Year.

Biography

Biography of Joyce Banda

Date of Birth: Wednesday, 12 April 1950 | Born in: / Nationality: Malawi

Joyce Banda’s rise to political success became every Malawian woman’s inspiration to fight for their rights and strive to get equal opportunities with men. She got to where she is now because of her unique upbringing and her innate desire to make something of her life. What draws people to Joyce is the fact that she is one with them—she’s ready to suffer with her countrymen.

After a year of inheriting the highest political seat in Malawi following the death of the incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika, Joyce was welcomed by the people of Malawi with open arms. Neither the economic instability nor the cold treatment of Mutharika’s cronies kept Joyce from being sworn into office. The task ahead of her is maddeningly intimidating—without other countries’ aids, Malawi’s economy hang in the balance; add to that the people’s growing disillusionment in the corrupt governance of their late president. But instead of cowering, Joyce fought for her constitutional rights as the country’s Vice President. In the end, justice prevailed and Joyce created history.

To those who aren’t aware, Joyce is no greenhorn in the arena of public service. She championed organizations such as the National Association of Business Women, the Joyce Banda Foundation, the Young Women Leaders Network, and the Hunger Project in Malawi way before she even joined politics. Her educational background is just as commendable. She has a Cambridge School Certificate, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Columbus University, a Bachelor of Social Studies in Gender Studies from the Atlantic International University, and a Diploma in Management of NGOs from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Centre.

On the other side of the spectrum, she has known suffering like the back of her hand. An abused wife, Joyce endured 10 years of being maltreated emotionally and physically like most women in her patriarchal society. However, Joyce refused to live the rest of her life in such a miserable state. She stood up and decided to take charge of her life. Two decades later, she has become one of the most influential people in her country and made history as South Africa’s first female president.

Where did Joyce Banda get the courage to challenge the norms and break away from the mold Malawi society has made of their women? Let’s take a trip down the memory lane to get to know one of the most respected leaders of the 21st century.

Early Life

Joyce Hilda Ntila was born on 12 April 1950 in Zomba, Malawi in a village called Malemia to an average family. Her father, a leader of a police brass band, treated her and his other four children equally. He was very unlike other fathers who prioritized sons over daughters, seeing the latter merely as commodities. Joyce grew up with a sense of self-respect, something utterly rare in their gender-biased community.

When she was about five years old, one of her father’s friends said that Joyce will become successful someday. Her father believed his friend’s word and saw to it that Joyce’s needs were attended. She was sent to school—another privilege that not all girls in Malawi enjoy. Chrissie, her closest childhood friend, was her classmate. If she were to be asked, Chrissie was way smarter in class than her. Unfortunately, Chrissie’s family was poor and they couldn’t afford the six-dollar enrollment fee in secondary school. So Joyce went on to finish her studies while Chrissie was forced to wait on her family at home and marry early.

That was Joyce’s initiation to the harsh reality of being a woman in Malawi. Families support their sons’ education while their sisters are left on the sidelines. She felt sorry for Chrissie and other promising girls like her friend who are forced to leave school because of abject poverty or gender discrimination. As the eldest daughter, Joyce was tasked to care for her younger siblings and do the chores around the house while both her parents work. Her early training enhanced her leadership skills and equipped her with management know-how.

Joyce went on to complete not only an undergraduate degree but also secured diploma in Management of NGOs from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Centre and a Cambridge School Certificate.

Surviving 10 Years of Abusive Marriage

But her other educational achievements would come later in life. Roy Kachale became Joyce’s husband when she was only 21 years old. She bore him three children. Marrying Roy did not do Joyce any good. He turned out to be just like any other men in Malawi—abusive of women. For ten years, Joyce endured living a hellish life with Roy for the sake of their kids. She was then living in Kenya, away from her family in Malawi.

Her father began to doubt what his friend told him about Joyce becoming successful. They knew the kind of life Joyce has with Roy and there was little to no hope that she would ever get out of her miserable life. No woman has ever left her husband no matter how unhappy they are with the marriage. Joyce would be the first to do so. At 31 years old, Joyce packed her bags and brought her three children with her back to Malawi. She started her business and sold mandasi (fritters in English) just to get by. With three mouths to feed, Joyce couldn’t be picky.

Luckily for her, she’s got a natural acumen for business. In 1985, she established two businesses: Ndekani Garments and Akajuwe Enterprises. Both ventures became successful. It was during the heights of her entrepreneurial victory that Joyce felt the need to help fellow Malawian women who aren’t as fortunate as her. She explained in an interview:

"I started to worry about other women. I sat down in 1989 and I made up my mind at that point that I was going to spend the rest of my life assisting women and youth to gain social and political empowerment through business and education. I convinced myself economic empowerment of women was going to be key, especially in a country like this where most women didn't go to school." (Source: The Guardian)

Founding the National Association of Business Women and the Joyce Banda Foundation

In 1989, just as when her businesses were thriving, she established the National Association of Business Women. It was founded in order to help women put up their own business by giving them a starting capital. According to Joyce, the less dependent women are on their husbands concerning livelihood and income, the more empowered they will be. Her organization has helped improve the way of life of thousands of Malawian women. This initiative endeared her to the people.

The National Association of Business Women was a huge success and paved the way for Joyce to establish her own foundation, the Joyce Banda Foundation. What it focused on was the education of children. The Joyce Banda Foundation currently has three schools in Malawi. Their school provides free education to poor children, more than half of the schools’ population are composed of women.

The organization also have 35 Orphan Care Centers, each taking care of around 70 homeless and abandoned children. These children also get education aside from nutritious food. Children are not their only focus as the Joyce Banda Foundation also have what is called Youth Programs. They are programs tailor-made for Malawians aged 15 to 30 years old. They work like a fellowship where young people mingle and collectively do something for the good of the community. These kids also help the foundation in their building projects.

Since Malawi is an agricultural country, Joyce’s foundation created MWAI Farm located in Lilongwe. It was established to create jobs for the local people. It has recently begun the Passover Program wherein:

A poor family will receive a pregnant a cow.
They are then able to sell the milk and feed their families with the milk.
When the cow gives birth, they pass on the calf to another poor family
Once the cow grows and births a calf of its own, the calf is passed on to another poor family, and the Passover cycle continues (Source: Joyce Banda Foundation)

Joining Malawi Politics

It was not until 1999 that Joyce Banda became a politician. This time, she’s married to an amazing man, retired Chief Justice Richard Banda. The couple has two children. By the time she has won a parliamentary seat in Malawi's third democratic election, Joyce has become a celebrity in her own right. In 1997 and 1998, she was named Woman of the Year in Malawi and even received the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger for her work in the National Association of Business Women.

In the same year that she started her own foundation, Joyce received the International award for entrepreneurship development from the Africa Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs and Economic Commission for Africa and was a recipient of the 100 Heroines Award.

From 2004 to 2006, President Muluzi appointed her as Minister of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services because of her involvement in women and children's rights. Under her leadership, the Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill was finally enacted in 2007 after being derailed many times. She also championed the campaign on zero tolerance on child abuse and human trafficking and initiated the piloting of the social cash transfer for the vulnerable groups. She also revived the campaign for the review of the Property Inheritance Law. Because of her achievements, she has earned the “Role Models of Excellence” recognition.

The next cabinet position she held was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, this time, she was appointed by then-President Bingu wa Mutharika. During the 2009 presidential elections, the whole Malawi was surprised when Bingu wa Mutharika handpicked Joyce to become his running mate for his re-election bid. Some speculate that his move was largely influenced by his desperation to get re-elected. With Joyce being well-loved by the people, Bingu wa Mutharika’s 70% of votes were attributed to her influence.

Becoming Malawi’s First Female Vice President and Soon the Country’s Head of State

While her successful vice presidential bid pulled up Bingu wa Mutharika’s popularity, Joyce would soon have a falling out with the president because of her unwillingness to support their plans of grooming his brother Peter Mutharika to be his successor. Much as she would like to keep her relationship with the president cordial, setting up another political dynasty is against her principle. There was no way she could be talked into cooperating with the incumbent president’s scheme.

Joyce was then expelled from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which pushed her to establish the People’s Party in 2010. By then, Mutharika’s government had earned the ire of international organizations and nations whose aids provided 40% of the country’s income. This drove Malawi’s economy to a fatal crash. The corruption only worsened the situation and exacerbated the people’s suffering.

No one knew that Mutharika’s leadership would come to an abrupt end. He died in April due to cardiac arrest and Joyce was the last to know that their president is dead and his cabinet members and allies were already plotting a coup to overthrow her presidency. Refusing to be sidelined, Joyce called General Henry Odillo, Malawi's army commander, and asked for his support.

The unpopular president’s cronies did not stand a chance with the people’s united cry for the constitutional bylaws to be upheld. She was sworn in as Malawi’s president in 7 April 2012, five days prior her 62nd birthday.

The First Female President of Malawi

Joyce immediately chose her cabinet members—of course most of them were women. Asked why she believes so much in women’s leadership skills, she said:

“You know when a woman gets into State House, they notice the little things that would otherwise be ignored by a man.” (Source: Smart Global Health)

But that does not mean that she has disregarded the role of men in her life. According to her, when she was enduring beatings and harsh criticisms, it was men who stood by her side and became her closest allies. She also adamantly recounts how Richard, her husband, has provided the kind of support and balance she needed.

Being president of one of the poorest nations in the world isn’t a piece of cake. And Joyce knows that full well. She had to make bold decisions. She began with devaluating their currency up to 50%. While the International Monetary Fund was elated by her decision, it caused an outcry in her nation because the price of basic commodities skyrocketed, resulting in massive panic-buying. She also wooed their benefactors back by visiting them and talking with their heads of state. Again, some Malawians weren’t happy with the president’s frequent travels. She severed ties with Taiwan to focus on Beijing because of the latter’s pure entrepreneurial approach. In order to be one with her people in their suffering, she sold the presidential jet and 60 luxury Mercedes cars collected by the former president. As if that weren’t enough, she reduced her salary from £37,000 a year to £26,000.

Joyce is no fool to believe that Malawi’s problems will be solved in her regime, but what she wants to achieve is restore the people’s hope. In her inaugural address, she appealed to her fellow Malawians:

"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."

Organizations and Programmes Supported

Joyce Banda Foundation
National Association of Business Women (NABW)
Young Women Leaders Network
Hunger Project
Gender and Community Services
Domestic Violence Bill
National Platform for Action on Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Zero Tolerance Campaign Against Child Abuse
Jack Brewer Foundation
Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation
Bridging a World Divided
Advisory Board for Education (Member)
Federation of World Peace and Love in Taiwan (Member)
Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health
Aspen Global Health (Member)
Clinton Foundation
Clinton Health Access Initiative
Presidential Initiative on Hunger and Poverty Reduction
The Economic Recovery Program
Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Chairperson)
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Chairperson)
Malawi Housing Corporation (Chairperson)
Blantyre water Board (Chairperson)
Market Women in Development
Passover Program
Presidential Initiative for Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood

Awards and Achievements

1985: Established Ndekani Garments
1985: Established Akajuwe Enterprises
1989: Founded the National Association of Business Women (NABW)
1995: Established Kalingidza Bakery
1997: Received the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger
1997 and 1998: Named Woman of the Year, Malawi
1997: Sculpted for the Hall of Fame in recognition for championing women and children’s rights
1998: Founded the Joyce Banda Foundation
1998: Received the International award for entrepreneurship development from the Africa Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs and Economic Commission for Africa
1998: Received the 100 Heroines Award
1999: Won a parliamentary seat in Malawi's third democratic election
2001: Awarded Certificate of Honors by the Federation of World Peace and Love, Taiwan, Republic of China
2004: Re-elected as member of Muluzi's Party
2004-2006: Served as Minister of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services
2005: Received the “Role Models of Excellence” recognition
2006: Appointed as Foreign Minister
2006: Received the International Award for the Health and Dignity of Women for her dedication to the rights of the women of Malawi
2006-2009: Served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
2009-2012: Served as Malawi's first female Vice President
2009: Received Award of Recognition from the Black Mayors Caucus
2009: Received the Lifetime achiever Award by the Rehoboth Trust
2010: Became a member of the Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health
2010: Named Nyasa Times Multimedia 'Person of the Year'
2010: Received the Woman of Substance Award from the African Women Development Fund
2010: Started the Market Women in Development
2011: Founded and led the People's Party
2011: Ranked 3rd in Forbes list of Most Powerful Women in Africa
2012: Became the fourth President of Malawi and the first female to hold the highest office
2012: Cut her salary by 30%
2012: Received the Martin Luther King Drum Major Award
2012: Awarded the Legends Award for Leadership by the Greater African Methodist Episcopal Church
2012: Ranked 71st in Forbes list of Most powerful Women in the World
2012: Ranked 1st in Forbes list of Most powerful Women in Africa
Member of Parliament and Minister for Gender, Children's Affairs and Community Services
Founded Young Women Leaders Network and the Hunger Project in Malawi
Has a Cambridge School Certificate, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Columbus University, a Bachelor of Social Studies in Gender Studies from the Atlantic International University, and a Diploma in Management of NGOs from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Centre
Reading for a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership at Royal Roads University
Fought to enact the Domestic Violence Bill
Designed the National Platform for Action on Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Designed the Zero Tolerance Campaign Against Child Abuse