Joyce Banda became President of Malawi by accident.
Bingu wa Mutharika, her predecessor, died suddenly of a heart attack in April, an event which prompted 48 hours of confusion as senior political figures, including the President's brother, tried to engender a constitutional coup and prevent Vice President Banda from acceding to the Presidency. The coup failed, and Banda almost visibly shudders when it is brought up in discussion: "whatever happened in those 48 hours we shall (sic) not want to discuss."
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