Mrs. Banda’s supporters cheered as she took the oath in the capital, Lilongwe. She called for calm and unity.
“I just sincerely hope that there is no room for revenge,” she said. “I just sincerely hope that we shall stand united.”
The government of Malawi confirmed on Saturday that Mr. Mutharika had died, but the delay raised concerns that democratic succession would be interrupted.
Earlier, Mrs. Banda declared 10 days of mourning, and ambassadors, the army chief, government officials and other prominent figures have been streaming to her home in Lilongwe.
She was once an ally of Mr. Mutharika, but the two fell out over efforts to groom the president’s brother, Peter, as a successor. Mrs. Banda then formed her own political party. On Friday, the information minister, Patricia Kaliati, hinted that the president’s party, the Democratic Progressive Party, did not see Mrs. Banda as a legitimate successor because she had been expelled from the governing party.
But with the military, the judiciary and an increasing number of cabinet members backing Mrs. Banda, any effort to replace her would face long odds of success, analysts said.
Mr. Mutharika, 78, had a heart attack on Thursday, but the government refused to confirm his death until Saturday. A former World Bank economist, Mr. Mutharika had been popular for his stewardship of Malawi’s economy, presiding over a period of extraordinary growth and increased farm yields thanks to popular fertilizer subsidies. He was first elected in 2004 and then returned to power in 2009.
Mimi kama mwanamke hii kitu imenifurahisha sana. Hongera Joyce Banda hongera sana.
ReplyDeleteBravo Joyce, kwa kweli umekonga nyoyo za wanawake. Mimi kama mwanamke na sema uko fit. tunawanawake wanatuangusha sana, position za chupi ni nyingi mnoooo, kujipendekeza kunakopita kiasi nakadhalika. Pravo Malawi mmeonyesha njia.
ReplyDeleteNyie Anony wawili hapo juu mnaonesha jinsi gani mlivyo na mawazo mgando. Hapo imetumika "The Law of the land" Rais akifa makamu anachukua na sio kufanya uchaguzi tena, sio kwamba kuna cha ajabu kilicho fanyika.
ReplyDeleteNdio kweli kabisa Mdau wa Tatu ''The Lwa of the land'' ingekuwa Pongezi zenu ni sawa kama angepata Uraisi kwa njia ya Masanduku ya Wapiga kura .
ReplyDelete