April 16, 2012
Malawi Becomes Second African Nation With Woman Prez
By Fungai Maboreke
Special to the Trice Edney Wire Service from GIN
(
TriceEdneyWire.com) – Following the sudden death of Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika last Thursday, Vice President Joyce Banda was sworn into office, making her the second female President in Africa. President Bingu wa Mutharika died from cardiac arrest. His death was officially confirmed Friday after a day of denials that he had passed.
The new President has received international and national awards for her support of women’s rights. She also becomes the third most powerful female politician after Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson and Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela. After her swearing-in, Mrs Banda began cleaning house, purging allies of the former president. "Although we are in mourning, certain decisions cannot wait," Banda told a news conference in the capital Lilongwe, three days after taking office.
She also announced an investigation into the mysterious murder of student activist Robert Chasowa. Mutharika's critics have accused police of staging a hit against Chasowa, implicating former police chief Peter Mukhito, who was sacked on Monday.
"As a mother, I feel for my fellow mother who doesn't know what killed her son. I understand how painful it is, and I will make sure we find out who killed our son Chasowa," Banda said.
She also sacked the head of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Bright Malopa, another Mutharika ally who used state media to campaign against her.
The new director general is Benson Tembo, a veteran broadcaster and former diplomat whose last posting was as ambassador to Zimbabwe.