IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2014 - 31

The Future
of Malawi
PresIdent Joyce Banda has
a strong vIsIon of the future
Malawi President Joyce Banda

I

In 2009, Joyce Banda was elected Malawi's first female vice president, but only months
later she found her job in jeopardy when she refused to back the nomination of President Bingu Wa Mutharika's brother Peter as successor of the Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP). Mutharika fired her as vice president of the DPP for "anti-party" activities,
but thankfully there was no impeachment. She continued to serve as the legal vicepresident of Malawi until 5 April 2012, when President Bingu Wa Mutharika suffered a
fatal heart attack. When Mutharika's cabinet sought to block Vice President Banda from
becoming president, Army Commander Henry Odillo assured her of his support.
Days later, Banda, leader of the newly established People's Party, was sworn in as the
first female president of Malawi, granting her, until May 2014, the opportunity to bring
lasting change to one of the world's most impoverished countries.
One of the many items on her agenda was to arrange a meeting with IEEE Women
in Engineering Magazine Editor-in-Chief Karen Panetta. In a stately New York hotel,
President Banda sat with Panetta and told her about the drought, the children in orphanages, and the abundant African sunshine whose power she wished she could harness.
In return, Panetta informed Banda about the international community of IEEE Members who were willing to tackle such challenges. They spoke about online education,
solar trailers capable of powering 40 homes, and volunteers who could train local teachers in technology. The 10-min meeting turned into an hour, and when Her Excellency
departed, she called it the best meeting she had had in New York.
President Banda has fought against the tide to bring lasting change to Malawi. She
has sought innovation in every area, including health care, education, entrepreneurship,
and agriculture. Throughout it all she has battled against corruption and greed and has
been a tireless advocate for women and children. Her goal has not wavered: to improve
life for her people.

A Historical View
Malawi's recent history is one of upheaval and transition. The small country in the
south of Africa is only 50 years old, which means that this former British colony of
Nyasaland gained its independence roughly around the time Beatlemania was sweeping
the world.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MWIE.2014.2353293
Date of publication: 7 November 2014

DECEMBER 2014

iEEE womEn in EnginEEring magazinE

31



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2014

IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2014 - Cover1
IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2014 - Cover2
IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2014 - 1
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IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2014 - Cover3
IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2014 - Cover4
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