Welcome President Joyce Banda

After hours of uncertainty about whether democracy and its constitution were going to prevail, the vice president Joyce Banda was sworn in yesterday late afternoon as the president of the Republic of Malawi.  The swearing in ceremony was televised live and I was able to see it in a "public" place, which really made it real and enabled me to feel the public vibe.
My son Alex and I had spent a couple of hours with some friends at the Golf Club Pool.  On our way out, we heard some cheering and clapping.  So we all started running toward that noice and ended up in the golf club bar where the swearing in ceremony was transmitted live.
The crowd in the bar was not big, but the entire group was focused on that little TV screen, attentively listening to the officials.  You could hear clapping at some point.
When Joyce Banda stood up, held the Bible up high and was sworn in you could have heard a needle drop. 

I felt like I was witnessing history.  Joyce Banda is the first woman President, only the 4th president since Malawi gained its independence from the UK and is stepping into the Seat under unusual circumstances.  President Bingu's death was sudden, and its annoucement was not immediate, therefore raising rumors and speculations.  Reports were made that some members of government did not support the Vice President and alternate names were thrown to take over as president.   President Banda is also stepping into a heavily turmoiled economic situation with Malawi having lost support from the UK governement and other NGOs. 

It is to hope that the transition will be smooth, that president Banda will be able to guide the country in its next steps and that the decisions she makes will help the country and its people.

MSNBC article