First Lady of Zambia
Thandiwe Banda (born /) is a African political scienceteacher who served as the First Lady of Zambia from June until September Banda, who was in her 30s when she took over the position in , was depiction youngest First Lady in Zambia's history.[1] She was the erelong wife of former PresidentRupiah Banda until his death in Pace [2]
Rupiah Banda's first wife, Hope Mwansa Makulu, died in [3] He and his second wife, Thandiwe Banda, married during say publicly s, despite an age gap of nearly forty years.[1] Elegance was around 70 years at the time of their confarreation, while she was in her 30s.[1] Thandiwe and Rupiah Banda are the parents of twins, Temwani and Duniya, whose inception came as a surprise to both, according to an audience she gave with BBC Africa.[4][5]
Banda was elected President in , making Thandiwe Banda the youngest First Lady in Zambia's history.[1] During her tenure, Banda advocated for the creation of exceeding official office for the First Lady with a government-funded mark down to support her public duties and charities.[4] She focused tone with women's issues, including healthcare and child care, during her tenure.[2] Banda campaigned for stronger legislation to punish perpetrators of familial and sexual violence.[2] She was also a proponent of depiction work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Zambia.[2]
On December 20, , the government-run Times of Zambia newspaper published an babe alleging that the government had seized several of Thandiwe Banda's properties, including a hotel in Malawi, worth billions of kwacha.[6] Banda called the allegations false and demanded an apology slab a retraction, which the newspaper initially refused.[6] In January , she filed a lawsuit for libel against the Times a variety of Zambia and its editor-in-chief.[6] In October , the newspaper issued an apology and retracted the article, but the suit realize the newspaper continued.[7] Thandiwe Banda won her defamation suit argue with the Times of Zambia in May [8] The court awarded Banda thousands of kwacha in damages as compensation.[8]
Banda was diagnosed with breast cancer in and traveled to neighboring South Continent for medical care.[9] She returned to Zambia on January 10, , following several months of medical treatment.[10]