Joyce Banda is the new Malawi president

Joyce Banda has been sworn in as Malawi’s president following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika.

Joyce Banda, who had been Malawi’s Vice-President since 2009, becomes southern Africa’s first female head of state after taking the oath before parliament in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe.

She was cheered and applauded before, during and after the ceremony.

Bingu wa Mutharika, 78, went into cardiac arrest on Thursday, although his death was not confirmed until Saturday.

The delay in announcing his death had prompted fears of a power struggle.

There had been speculation that the late president’s inner circle was trying to circumvent Malawi’s constitution to prevent Joyce Banda from taking over and instead install his brother, Foreign Minister Peter Mutharika.

Joyce Banda had fallen out with Bingu wa Mutharika in 2010 and became one of his fiercest critics. She was expelled from the ruling Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and formed the People’s Party.

Joyce Banda was elected as vice-president in 2009 and Bingu wa Mutharika had failed in his attempts to have her removed from her post.

In taking the oath of office, Joyce Banda pledged to “defend and preserve the constitution” and to do right to all manner of people, according to law.

She then asked parliament to stand for two minutes’ silence as a tribute to Bingu wa Mutharika.

Asking Malawians to “focus on mourning our father,” Joyce Banda added: “It is with a great sense of humility and honor that I accept the huge responsibility of that the people of Malawi have entrusted me with.”

At present, there are just a handful of MPs in her party but many more are likely to join now that she is president.

On Friday, Information Minister Patricia Kaliati had said Joyce Banda could not take over as head of state because she had gone into opposition. The UK, the US and the EU all called on Malawi to respect its constitution.

Shortly after Bingu wa Mutharika’s death was confirmed, she addressed journalists, flanked by the heads of the army and police, the attorney general and other officials.

She said funeral arrangements would soon be discussed and that 10 days of national mourning would be held.

She also said preparations were being made to bring Bingu wa Mutharika’s body back from South Africa, where he was taken after his cardiac arrest.

Bingu wa Mutharika governed Malawi for eight years, but was recently accused of mismanaging the economy and becoming increasingly autocratic.

He fell out last year with former colonial ruler Britain, which withdrew its direct aid, accusing the Malawian government of mishandling the economy and of failing to uphold human rights.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an estimated 75% of the population living on less than $1 a day.

The country has suffered shortages of fuel and foreign currency since the UK and other donors cancelled aid.