In 2012, Joyce Banda became Malawi's first female president & Africa's second. Following the disastrous last years of Bingu wa Mutharika, she had enough goodwill to last her a lifetime.
But in just two years, she was out. Here are some of the mistakes that cost her presidency:
But in just two years, she was out. Here are some of the mistakes that cost her presidency:
1: After Bingu died in office, the same old opportunistic and greedy politicians joined Mrs Banda’s party such that her new party was new in name only. With them they brought the cronyism, corruption, executive arrogance etc that people disliked with the previous administration
2: Refusal to Declare Assets
Section 88 sub-section 3 of Malawi’s constitution compels the president and members of the cabinet to declare their assets.
Joyce Banda refused to declare her assets and, with that, she quickly lost the public trust.
Section 88 sub-section 3 of Malawi’s constitution compels the president and members of the cabinet to declare their assets.
Joyce Banda refused to declare her assets and, with that, she quickly lost the public trust.
4: Frequent travelling
President was a frequent traveller, both at home and externally but especially externally. Her trips, some of them to collect useless awards by dubious organisations, were said to cost the Malawian taxpayers K300 million a month.
President was a frequent traveller, both at home and externally but especially externally. Her trips, some of them to collect useless awards by dubious organisations, were said to cost the Malawian taxpayers K300 million a month.
5: Joyce Banda had a fixation on pleasing external audiences, ended up being far more popular elsewhere than in Malawi, where it mattered the most. The general public became increasingly displeased by the justification she gave for some reforms; "they have told me to do this"
6: The biggest blow to Joyce Banda was the Cashgate Scandal. On her watch, the state was defrauded of around $32m in just six months. What was worse were revelations that she had received cash/property donations from the kingpins of this scheme.
She never recovered.
She never recovered.
8: Malawi had a presidential jet which Joyce Banda said was an unnecessary luxury & said she had sold it. But she continued to use the jet, courtesy of "well-wishers” who had told her “not to disclose their identities”.
To this day, Malawians don't know what happened to the jet
To this day, Malawians don't know what happened to the jet
9: Three months into office, Mrs Banda commemorated her "100 days in Power" by holding elaborate ceremonies at six places, costing Malawian taxpayers huge sums of money. These events were seen as “celebrating 100 days of Mutharika’s death” and rubbed many people the wrong way
10: Joyce Banda had a ‘wonder woman’ tag which her admirers stuck on her from the day she took over power. There was a huge load of expectation by Malawians who were fed up with Bingu wa Mutharika's rule.
But when things didn't improve very much, they quickly slaughtered her.
But when things didn't improve very much, they quickly slaughtered her.
Joyce Banda’s very last act as President of Malawi was pitiful. When it was clear that she was losing the 2014 election, she tried to use an non-existent law to cancel the election & order a fresh one in 90 days. She even offered not to run.
But she was laughed at.
But she was laughed at.
