Source: allAfrica
Malawi former President, Joyce Banda, has hailed Malawians for being supportive to her during her reign as well as political career in the wake of her recent recognition by the CNN index as 2014's most inspiring woman in politics.

According to CNN's Leading Women special edition, the publication's readers, partners and reporters voted Joyce Banda among the "most inspiring women worldwide who stood out for their accomplishments this year".

Joyce Banda was Africa's second woman president. She was Malawi's vice president from 2009 but became president following the sudden death of president Bingu wa Mutharika on the 5 April in 2012.

Banda, who was also named Forbes' Africa's most powerful woman in 2014, failed to retain the position during the country's May 20 presidential elections, losing to Bingu's brother, Peter Mutharika.

However, Banda has maintained that the elections were rigged by the incumbent.

She founded Joyce Banda Foundation which empowers Malawian women and offers free education to some orphans and other vulnerable children in Malawi. She is on position 40 of the Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women.

In reaction Banda told a local paper she dedicates the recognition to Malawians describing them as being very supportive.

"I dedicate this to all Malawians as they have given me unceasing support since I became president and politician in the country. "said Banda.

JB as fondly known, as hit international recognition as she lead the African Union (AU) Observer Mission in Botswana during that country's 11th general elections held on Saturday returns to London and also invited to be a speaker at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC's) 100 Women event. JB was leading a team of 35 trained AU observers from various African countries.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Aung San Suu Kyi who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 and 1991 respectively are also on the list of the most inspiring women in politics.

Sirleaf has been recognized for successfully leading Liberia in the fight against Ebola. Aung San Suu Kyi is Burmese activist who has been championing for democracy through nonviolent means. Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate, tops the list as the most inspiring woman of the year.

Malala is widely known for her human rights advocacy for education and women in her native Swat Valley in Pakistan where the local Taliban militants had at times banned girls from attending school. She survived being shot by the Taliban as a result of her blogging to defend girl-child education and women's rights.

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