Joyce Banda
Joyce Banda
Joyce Hilda Bandais a Malawian politician who was the President of Malawi from 7 April 2012 to 31 May 2014. She is the founder and leader of the People's Party, created in 2011...
ProfessionWorld Leader
Date of Birth12 April 1950
ability achieve confronted distilled doubted dreams people soul throughout
Throughout my career, I have been confronted with people who have doubted my ability to achieve the dreams and ambitions distilled into my soul by my father.
business running
I prospered very quickly. Very quickly, I became politically empowered. I was running my own business.
dire inspired women work
I am tremendously inspired by many women around the world who work under dire circumstances to make a difference for their families.
people sit traders
You can still sit under the tree where Dr. Livingstone negotiated with slave traders to set people free.
follow forever thankful
I will forever be thankful to the Malawians and international community, and my professional army and army general, who said: 'No, we will follow the constitution.' That's why I'm here.
assist business education life mission political social women
My mission in life is to assist women in social and political empowerment through business and education.
ahead common falling good leadership learned love people personal serving
I learned that leadership is about falling in love with the people and the people falling in love with you. It is about serving the people with selflessness, with sacrifice, and with the need to put the common good ahead of personal interests.
african brought carries carry fear heavy loads move push skin thick
It's heavy, but I am able to carry it. Why? Because I'm an African woman. An African woman carries heavy loads anyway. That's how we are trained; we are brought up that nothing is unbearable. I use that now, positively. I use that now to have the thick skin that I have, and not fear, and move forward, and push; and push forward.
cry leader respect withdraw
If you want me to be a cry baby, I cannot: I am the leader of a country. If you want to give me something and then withdraw it, fine; I must respect your decision.
adage behind greater invest leave legacy provide rings strong true women
If we provide the young with a strong foundation, we can leave behind a legacy substantially greater than most are able to bequeath. As for the women, the old adage that you invest in a woman, you invest in a generation, still rings true today.
economic eradicate intend wealth
My dream is for Malawi to be poverty-free, and I intend to eradicate poverty through economic growth and wealth creation.
term
At the end of primary school, I went to secondary school. I paid $12 a term to go to school.
african brought carries fear heavy loads move push skin thick
An African woman carries heavy loads anyway. That's how we are trained; we are brought up that nothing is unbearable. I use that now, positively. I use that now to have the thick skin that I have, and not fear, and move forward, and push; and push forward.
advocating appreciation behalf challenges human justice life margins oppressed president republic rights social society spent
I have spent all my life advocating on behalf of the poor, oppressed and marginalized. As a social justice and human rights activist, and now as President of the Republic of Malawi, I have a deep appreciation for the challenges of those on the margins of society.