JOYCE BANDA, MALAWI'S NEW LEADER BECOMES SECOND FEMALE PRESIDENT IN AFRICA

 

Joyce Banda is Malawi's first female president - and Africa's second

Joyce Banda, who has made history becoming Malawi's first female president and only the second woman to lead a country in Africa, has a track record of fighting for women's rights.

She took power over the weekend following the death of 78-year-old President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office after heading up the southern Africa country since 2004.

Mr Mutharika's decision to appoint her as his running mate for the 2009 elections surprised many in Malawi's mainly conservative, male-dominated society - which had never before had a female vice-president.


Banda, 61, is a longtime campaigner for women’s rights and better education in Malawi.
She is expected to run the country at least until scheduled elections take place in 2014