# Joyce Banda

_4th President of Malawi_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/joyce-banda
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Joyce Hilda Banda is a Malawian politician, educator, and activist who served as the 4th President of Malawi from 2012-2014. She previously served as the vice-president under Bingu wa Mutharika from 2009 till his death in 2012 when she succeeded him as President. A member of the People's Party, Banda has led the party since its creation in 2011. She was the first female president and the first female vice-president of Malawi. Banda was the second female African head of state after Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 12 April 1950 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Zomba ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Malawi ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; philanthropist; activist; diplomat; lawyer; minister ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P106))
- **Political party:** United Democratic Front; People's Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P102))
- **Education:** Atlantic International University; Providence Girls Secondary School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P69))
- **Spouse:** Richard Banda ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Malawi (7 April 2012 – 31 May 2014); Vice President of Malawi (29 May 2009 – 7 April 2012); Member of the National Assembly of Malawi (since 2009); Minister of Foreign Affairs (1 June 2006 – 29 May 2009); Member of the National Assembly of Malawi (since 2004) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P39))
- **Awards:** honorary degree; BBC 100 Women ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P166))
- **X (Twitter):** DrJoyceBanda ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P2002))
- **Facebook:** DrJoyceBanda ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P2013))
- **Instagram:** drjoycebanda ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388#P2003))

## Questions

**When was Joyce Banda born?**  
Joyce Banda was born on 12 April 1950 in Zomba.

**What positions has Joyce Banda held?**  
Positions held by Joyce Banda include: President of Malawi (2012–2014); Vice President of Malawi (2009–2012); Member of the National Assembly of Malawi (since 2009); Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006–2009); Member of the National Assembly of Malawi (since 2004).

**Where did Joyce Banda study?**  
Joyce Banda was educated at Atlantic International University, Providence Girls Secondary School.

## Related

- [Lazarus Chakwera](https://diginpl.com/people/lazarus-chakwera)
- [Bingu wa Mutharika](https://diginpl.com/people/bingu-wa-mutharika)
- [Hastings Banda](https://diginpl.com/people/hastings-banda)
- [Bakili Muluzi](https://diginpl.com/people/bakili-muluzi)
- [Peter Mutharika](https://diginpl.com/people/peter-mutharika)
- [Alan Sugar](https://diginpl.com/people/alan-sugar)
- [Aleksandr Skorobogatko](https://diginpl.com/people/aleksandr-skorobogatko)
- [Alinaghi Khamoushi](https://diginpl.com/people/alinaghi-khamoushi)
- [Andrej Babiš](https://diginpl.com/people/andrej-babis)
- [Anil Ambani](https://diginpl.com/people/anil-ambani)
- [Anutin Charnvirakul](https://diginpl.com/people/anutin-charnvirakul)
- [Aziz Akhannouch](https://diginpl.com/people/aziz-akhannouch)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Joyce Banda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Banda) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q57388](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57388) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Joyce Banda Department for International Development photo crop.jpg by Lindsay Mgbor/Department for International Development (CC BY 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joyce_Banda_Department_for_International_Development_photo_crop.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Joyce Banda, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Joyce Banda Department for International Development photo crop.jpg — Lindsay Mgbor/Department for International Development, CC BY 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Joyce Banda". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/joyce-banda. Retrieved 6 November 2026.