The tendency is for people to forget that the Southern Africa nation, Malawi, had at one time produced a female President in the person of Mrs. Joyce Banda. In 2012, Mrs. Banda became the first female President of Malawi, and the second in Africa’s history after Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia. Perhaps, because her tenure was short-lived, many people tend to forget the feat achieved by Joyce Banda.
Mrs. Banda, who was well known for fighting corruption during her tenure, was herself recently cleared of corruption allegations. She has vowed to champion the campaign for the protection of the rights of women around the world. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, last Thursday, Mrs. Banda spoke to newsmen in the French capital, Paris.
According to her, “African leaders have continued to deride women, preferring to shun them despite the advances professional women have achieved in the continent. The question I always have is this: ‘Why do they ignore the volume of work done by the UN on the protection of the rights of women?’ she asked rhetorically.
The Police in Malawi had secured an arrest warrant for Banda last July over alleged abuse of office and money-laundering offences as part of the 200-million-euro “Cashgate” scandal, which erupted during her two year-tenure as Head of state in the country.
But Mrs. Banda stood her ground and continued to proclaim her innocence. “I want you to know that fighting corruption is not easy at all,” she said, claiming that a smear campaign was launched against her for being a woman and for her courage to shake up the status quo.
Seventy-two people were arrested over the Cashgate scandal, which resulted in several donor nations suspending aid to Malawi. “In fact, I was advised that it would be better for me to cover up corruption because of its negative consequences,” said Mrs. Banda.
Beyond the suspension of aid, a major worry for a country where 40 per cent of the budget relies on donor support, the other concern was that by exposing graft, Malawi would lose its position on the Global Corruptions Perception Index operated by Transparency International.
Mrs. Banda argued that it is a major challenge for a woman to become Head of state in any African nation. “I have always insisted that leadership is a love affair. The moment you raise the Bible to swear that you’re going to be a leader and you take oath, you must be prepared to face the times when you are wrongly persecuted.”
