‘So help me God’: President Joyce Banda calls for unity
Malawi President Her Excellency Joyce Hilda Banda said after being sworn in to the top job on Saturday that she would not apply politics of revenge and called for reconciliation after the divisive Bingu wa Mutharika died in office.
She was sworn in by Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo at Malawi Parliament in Lilongwe
“So help me God,” President Banda concluded in reciting her oath making her Commander –in-Chief of Malawi army and Police.
In her brief acceptance speech which started with a two-minute silence in hounor of the departed former President Bingu wa Mutharika.
- President Joyce Banda
Her Excellency Banda said: “I want all of us to move into the future with hope and with that spirit of one-ness and unity.”
“I just sincerely hope that there is no room for revenge. I just sincerely hope that we shall stand united.”
Her sentiments were a direct reference to what she has undergone since she was fired from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and formed her own Peoples Party (PP) where every Jim and Jack could lambast her without shame.
Banda’s accession to the presidency ends two days of political intrigue, as Mutharika’s inner circle sought in vain to block her rise to power.
Malawi leader also congratulated Malawians for respecting the rule of law which has resulted in a peaceful leadership transition.
Banda said considering that Malawians were in a mourning state, she would give a lengthy acceptance speech at later stage and asked everyone to put their focus on mourning the late president.
“I shall address the nation at an appropriate time but what I want now is all of us to put our focus on mourning our former president. I want all of us to move into the future with hope,” said President Banda amid deafening cheers from the gathering.
The President also said she earlier in the day she had a cabinet meeting and was delighted with the manner in which the meeting was conducted.
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