"I sat down in 1989 and I made up my mind at that point that I was going to spend the rest of my life assisting women and youth to gain social and political empowerment through business and education. I convinced myself economic empowerment of women was going to be key, especially in a country like this where most women didn't go to school."

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Source: Joyce Banda: 'I want Malawians to say our country became a better place' by Lucy Lamble, Nick Francis and Marc Francis, www.theguardian.com. December 17, 2012.

About the author

Joyce Banda

Politician

Joyce Banda is a Malawian politician and the first female president of Malawi, known for her advocacy for women's rights and social justice.

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"Most African women are taught to endure abusive marriages. They say endurance means a good wife but most women endure abusive relationship because they are not empowered economically; they depend on their husbands."

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"The first time I was privileged to meet president Mandela was during his visit to Malawi... shortly after he was released from prison. I was amazed by his humility and his great sense of leadership... Mandela's character has shaped my life."

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"It is only when a woman is economically empowered that she can negotiate at household level with her husband about the number of children that body of hers can have."

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"Lula da Silva was my hero when he was president. I Googled him so many times. The fact that he got 20 million people out of poverty... that happened by encouraging entrepreneurship, by supporting small business."

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