Former vice-president takes over as leader, following the death in office of President Bingu wa Mutharika two days ago.

Joyce Banda, left, becomes southern Africa's first female head of state [Reuters]
Joyce Banda, Malawi's former vice-president, has taken over the running of the southern African nation following the death in office of President Bingu wa Mutharika two days ago.

Banda, 61, was sworn in as president at the National Assembly in the capital Lilongwe on Saturday. She becomes southern Africa's first ever female head of state.

"I will well and truly perform the functions of the high office of the president of the Republic of Malawi," Banda said as she recited the oath of office.

She later added: "I want all of us to move into the future with hope and with the spirit of oneness and unity."

Malawi's government only officially confirmed the death of her 78-year-old predecessor earlier on Saturday, after Mutharika died following a heart attack on Thursday.

The delay in the announcement had raised concerns about a political crisis because Banda had been expelled from Mutharika's ruling DPP party in 2010 after an argument about the succession, though she retained her state position.

"I sincerely hope there is no room for revenge," Banda said after taking her oath.

"I hope we shall stand united and I hope that as a God-fearing nation we allow God to come before us, because if we don't do that then we have failed."

Days of mourning


Bingu wa Mutharika was president for eight years [EPA]
Banda appeared at a news conference earlier on Saturday to declare an official 10 days of mourning for Mutharika, who had ruled for eight years.

She ordered national flags to be flown at half-mast and the state broadcaster to play sombre music.

"I call upon all Malawians to remain calm and to keep the peace during this time of bereavement," said Banda, flanked by members of the cabinet, the attorney general and the heads of the army and the police.

Asked whether she was assuming the presidency, Banda, a women's rights activist, replied: "As you can see, the constitution prevails".

The Malawian constitution states the vice-president takes over if the president dies, but Mutharika appeared to have been grooming his brother Peter, the foreign minister, as his de facto successor.

Banda is expected to run the country until scheduled elections take place in 2014.

Smooth transition

To convince the international community of the smooth transition, both the presidency and cabinet issued a statement assuring "that the constitution of the Republic of Malawi will be strictly adhered to in managing the transition".

Both Britain and the US which had been major donors to Malawi until they froze millions of dollars in aid over rows with Mutharika over his policies and actions, urged a smooth transition respecting the constitution.

William Hague, the UK foreign minister, said in a statement on Saturday: "I urge all sides to remain calm and [hope] that a peaceful handover takes place as provided for under Malawi's constitution."

There appeared to be little public sorrow at Mutharika's death.

Many of Malawi's 13 million people had viewed him as an autocrat personally responsible for an economic crisis that stemmed ultimately from a diplomatic row with former colonial power Britain a year ago.

Britain and others froze aid worth some 40 per cent of government spending, fuel supplies dried up and food prices soared, leading to popular unrest.

Medical sources said Mutharika's body was flown to South Africa because Malawi's energy crisis was so severe the Lilongwe state hospital would have been unable to conduct a proper autopsy or even keep his body refrigerated.

Source: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/04/201247111815207836.html?utm_content=automate&utm_campaign=Trial6&utm_source=NewSocialFlow&utm_term=plustweets&utm_medium=MasterAccount

Good move.
Shame on Nigeria for hiding Yaradua's corpse for over a year.

these are the real giants of africa not the noise makers
good one for malawi

Nigeria next to have a female leader, or are all our men still chauvinistic?

A Video Of TB Joshua's Prophecy On An African President

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctk9ep1Pokc[/flash]