Career
He was elected in 2009 as the Chair of the 19 member Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Africa region. There is no relation between him and the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda. He also served for a time as Minister of Energy and Minister of Mining, Youth Sports and Culture.
Banda is from Chipembere village in Nkhotakota District, Central Malawi.
He received a Diploma in Education obtained from the University of Malawi in 1984. Subsequently he earned a Diploma in Education Management which he acquired from Brandon University.
He joined the Ministry of Education as a Diploma teacher in 1985 and was posted to Euthini Secondary School in Northern Malawi until May 1989 when kwanu-nkwanu caught up with him. He was posted to his home district of Nkhotakota where he rose to become Headteacher of the school.In 1993-1995, he became the Regional Publications Officer for the National Teachers Union of Malawi.
In January 2000 to September 2001, he became Commissioner in the Parliamentary Service Commission and subsequently Minister of Mines, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.
In 2004 he was appointed as the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture. He also served as Minister of Energy and Mining and helped to secure the Paladin Energy mining deal with Goodall Gondwe. He also served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.