The National Planning Commission (NPC) has handed over an MW2063 Intergenerational Champions Certificate to former President Dr. Joyce Banda, citing her strides in restoring economic stability in the country immediately she took office in 2012 and her life long work of empowering women in entrepreneurship.
Presenting the certificate during a ceremony that took place at Banda’s official residence at Area 43 in Lilongwe on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, NPC Chairperson Professor Richard Mkandawire said Banda has registered “extraordinary strides” as a political and NGO leader that needs to be emulated by many Malawians for the country to achieve economic transformation.
He gave an example of how quickly Banda’s administration restored economic normality in the country and implemented reforms that enabled Malawi to go back on the path to economic growth after some years of stagnation before she went into office.
“We all saw how you addressed forex and fuel shortages just a week after you entered office, improving the country’s import cover from one week in 2012 to 3.5 months at the time you left office in 2014,” said Mkandawire.
He said through her Joyce Banda Foundation and other non-governmental initiatives she has led, Banda has also empowered thousands of women not only in Malawi but also in Africa to start business and become financially independent.
“What is pleasing is that you started the work of empowering women and children before you became president and you have
continued years after leaving office,” said Mkandawire.
Accepting the certificate, Banda said she has received many awards internationally but described the MW2063 Champions Certificate as the best because it was coming from her fellow Malawians.
“This is the first time in my life to be recognized locally and I don’t take if for granted,” said Banda.
She said the recognition motivates her to continue working with women and communities and empower them economically, saying Malawi needs increased participation of women in economic activities to achieve Malawi 2063 aspirations.
“All of us as Malawians must run with Malawi 2063 but I can assure you that women will run the fastest if you empower them. Every woman wants her family to prosper and will make sure that happens when they are given a chance to participate in economic activity. It is prosperous families that will lead into prosperous communities and a prosperous country as envisioned in Malawi 2063,” said Banda.
During the ceremony, Banda’s initiative named ‘Market Women Activities and Initiatives – MWAI’, signed a memorandum of understanding with a local micro-finance organization, WealthNet, through which loans and other entrepreneurship support programmes will be advanced to women groups under the initiative in the country.