First ladies and gentlemen of Malawi

First ladies and gentlemen of Malawi
Madona oyamba ndi njonda zaku Malawi
since June 28, 2020
Inaugural holderCecilia Kadzamira
FormationJuly 6, 1964

First Lady (Chichewa: Madona oyamba) or Gentleman of Malawi (Njonda zaku Malawi) is the official title held by the spouse of the president of Malawi, an office created in 1964. Malawi's current first lady is Monica Chakwera, who has held the position since June 2020.

Cecilia Kadzamira was known as the "official hostess" of Malawi from 1964 until 1994, as then-President Kamuzu Banda was unmarried.[1][2] The country's present first gentleman is Justice Richard Banda, who took office in April 2012.

First ladies and gentlemen of Malawi

Name Portrait Term begins Term ends President of Malawi Notes
Cecilia Kadzamira 6 July 1964 24 May 1994 Kamuzu Banda Cecilia Kadzamira, who was not married to President Banda, was known as the Official Hostess of Malawi.
Annie Chidzira Muluzi 24 May 1994 1999 (Divorced in 1999) Bakili Muluzi Annie Chidzira Muluzi held the role of First Lady from 1994 to 1999. She and President Bakili Muluzi divorced in 1999.
Patricia Shanil Muluzi 1999 24 May 2004 Bakili Muluzi and Patricia Shanil Muluzi, his second wife, had been married since 1987. They renewed their marriage in a public wedding in 1999, shortly after Muluzi's divorce from First Lady Annie Chidzira Muluzi, making her the country's official first lady. She died in the 2024 Chikangawa Dornier 228 crash along with Vice-President Saulos Chilima.
Ethel Mutharika 24 May 2004 28 May 2007 (Died in office) Bingu wa Mutharika First Lady Ethel Mutharika died in office in Lilongwe on 28 May 2007.
Position vacant 28 May 2007 1 May 2010 President Bingu Mutharika was unmarried following the death of First Lady Ethel Mutharika.
Callista Mutharika 1 May 2010 5 April 2012 Callista Mutharika married President Bingu Mutharika on May 1, 2010. She was first lady until President Bingu wa Mutharika's death in office in 2012.
Richard Banda 7 April 2012 31 May 2014 Joyce Banda Banda, the Chief Justice of Malawi from 1992 to 2002, was the first First Gentleman in Malawi's history.
Position technically vacant 31 May 2014 21 June 2014 Peter Mutharika Gertrude Maseko and President Bingu Mutharika did not marry until 21 June 2014, several weeks after he took office.[3]
Gertrude Maseko 21 June 2014 28 June 2020 Gertrude Maseko previously served as a member of the National Assembly, representing the Balaka North constituency, from 2009 until 2014. She married President Peter Mutharika on 21 June 2014, several weeks after he took office, becoming Malawi's official First Lady.[3]
Monica Chakwera 28 June 2020 Incumbent Lazarus Chakwera

See also

References

  1. ^ Zgambo-Mapemba, Dumase (2013-03-26). "Mama Cecilia Kadzamira". The Nation (Malawi). Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  2. ^ Tenthani, Raphael (2000-05-17). "Mystery of the Banda millions". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  3. ^ a b "Here comes the bride: Malawi First Lady Gertrude". Nyasa Times. 2014-06-21. Archived from the original on 2014-06-24. Retrieved 2014-06-21.


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