Joyce Banda came to power in April after the death of former president Bingu wa Mutharika. She has made numerous breaks from her autocratic predecessor but few will be this popular:Her decision to sell or lease the impoverished country's £8.4m presidential jet and fleet of 60 Mercedes government cars seems likely to cement domestic goodwill – and confirm her as a darling of the west.
Britain, Malawi's biggest aid donor, announced on Friday that Andrew Mitchell the international development secretary, had raised the issue of the Dassault Falcon 900EX jet with Banda at a private meeting with the new government. Mitchell said: "At a time of austerity in both Britain and Malawi, president Banda's decision to sell or lease the presidential jet and expensive fleet of cars sends an enormously encouraging signal to British taxpayers and the international community about the seriousness President Banda is applying to overturn bad decisions taken under the previous government.
Last month Banda was quoted in local media saying the cabinet would discuss the jet's future, explaining she had no problems "offloading it as I can well use private airliners; I am already used to hitchhiking".
Mutharika bought the presidential jet in 2009, claiming it was less expensive than leasing a plane every time he travelled. But it came to be seen as a symbol of African kleptocracy and some observers compared him with Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe.
Thus Joyce Banda's decision has been welcomed by western countries such as Britain, whose
high commissioner was expelled by Mutharika for branding him "autocratic and intolerant of criticism".
So will Joyce Banda's bold decision inspire other leaders in the region to take similiar stance ? I doubt it but one thing for sure is that President Banda has done her reputation no harm at all.
Ben