By Arnold Mnelemba
Former Malawi President Dr. Joyce Banda continue to reign supreme representing women leaders and Malawi on international platform.
Dr. Banda, Second woman president in Africa and the first in SADC region was at the epic of attraction when she spoke at a global conference held in Qatar.
The former Malawi leader told the conference that Peace and Security remain key and prerequisite for sustainable socio economic development of respective countries.
Dr. Banda was invited as a panelist along side Qatar’s Finance minister Ali Shareef Al Emadi.
The conference was held under the topic “Middle East opportunities and advances” and Professor Steven Spiegel was the moderator.
Setting the mood for discussion at the conference, Her Excellency Dr. Banda, asked participants to discuss the causes of the ongoing conflicts on both Middle East and Africa.
She asked delegates to discuss the context within which the youth are resorting to protests and violence at the expense of dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Dr. Banda believes that if leaders are practicing politics if inclusivity, support young people to self employ themselves, create jobs, listen to their concerns and engage them in finding solutions to challenges they face, countries would minimise chances for them to commit crimes or risk their lives travelling to Europe in search of green pastures. Some die in The Mediterranean, the situation can change.
She called upon authorities to integrate women in all areas of development.
The former Malawi President qouted the McKenzie Global Institute that suggests that if women are allowed to participate in the economy, they could add $28Trillion or 26% of the GDP by 2025.
“It is in our best interest to create opportunities for women to participate in the economy to grow our economies. Women also need to participate in leadership,” said Banda.
Asked what lessons she learned while she was president that other societies can learn from, she said;
“I learned that leadership is a love affair, the leader must fall in love with the people she leads and the people must fall in love with the leader.”
“Leaders must realize that they lead at the pleasure of those that elected them. Therefore they must serve the people with humility and selflessness. A leader must listen to the people especially young people, engage the people, address their needs.”
She emphasized on the need for striving to close the gap between rich and poor.
Dr Banda has since asked countries in the world to address issues of good governance to strengthen governance institutions.
She finished by sharing the good news from Africa saying six of the fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa.
Former Malawi leader hailed African men for opening up
for women to take up leadership roles, she cited as an example of five African countries, namely Liberia, Malawi, Central Africa Republic, Mauritius and Ethiopia for electing women presidents.
Dr Banda, JB, as she is fondly known continue to shine and attract more countries and organizations seeking her services to engage several sectors of the society in issues that affect their day to day lives.
Her diary is always full with engagements throughout the year.
Dr. Joyce Banda is the former president of the Republic of Malawi who served the country with dignity, love and passion from 2012 to 2014.
Before she became the President she also served in different portfolios as a Member of Parliament, MP, Minister of Gender Women, Children and Community Services, Foreign affairs Minister as well as Vice President.
The Former President is best known for her charity works and her love for a common common Malawian.
She has lived her entire life sacrificing everything for for the betterment of the poor, fellow women, fighting for rights of a girl child and finding means and ways to end child marriages and early pregnancies.
