H.E. Dr. Joyce Banda

Joyce Hilda Banda is a Malawian politician, who served as President of Malawi from April 7, 2012 to May 31, 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, created in 2011. An educator and grassroots women’s rights activist, she was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2009 and the Vice President of Malawi from May 2009 to April 2012. 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.