Lisungu Ethel Banda

They say family is everything, and as we step into this New Year, we couldn't agree more. Sending you all so much peace, love, and joy! Our prayer is that God leads your way and guides every step you take in 2026.

Happy New Year! ✨🙏

Today I was so honored to meet with the Vice Chancellor of the University that shaped me. The man who taught me Work! Our first engagement was when I was secretary General of Bunda Students Union. I remember I was fighting for rights of my fellow student in that disciplinary hearing lol…. Long story for another day… 🤣

Catching up with Professor Kaunda was a great reminder of the fundamentals he taught us…excellence, hard work, and the power of working with young people.

I reminded him of the time he told me to dream big, and I told him I wanted a PhD in Sport and development he laughed at me and said "what a waste!" 🤣 and so he advised me to do one in Resource Economics…. Today, he gave me his full blessing to go for the sports one 🤣, and we had a great laugh about it…

Well I just want to say….Thank you, Professor, for the continued motivation and for teaching me what true leadership looks like.

I'm feeling so much gratitude this morning! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the beautiful birthday wishes yesterday. What a great day it was!

Reflecting on my December 1st birthday, I recalled how I used to dread hearing about World AIDS Day as a child. Now that I’m older, I realize the crucial need to honor every life affected by HIV and AIDS, and to celebrate the remarkable strides that have been made globally.

I was also reminded that it falls within the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. Violence, stigma, and discrimination against women and marginalized groups directly fuel the HIV/AIDS epidemic and limit human rights.

Let's use these 16 days to honor the lives affected by both HIV/AIDS and GBV, celebrate the progress we've achieved, and recommit to a future free from stigma, discrimination, and violence.

Your support matters. Your compassion matters. Knowledge, compassion, and action save lives. Let’s keep going, let’s overcome disruptions and fight to end these…

Today's my birthday, and while it's filled with lovely messages and wishes (thank you all!), it also comes with the beautiful, messy, and very real realities of being me!

The truth is, birthdays as an adult are a little different. It's less about the wild parties and more about finding those precious moments for yourself amidst the demands of life. Yes I love my family and my friends and my work, but today, I'm reminding myself (and maybe you too!) about the vital importance of rest.

As much as I love pushing hard and juggling my roles, I know that to be the best family person and professional I can be, rest isn't a luxury; it's a necessity.

For anyone pushing hard in their career, remember that recharging your batteries isn't just good for you, it makes you better at everything you do. It boosts creativity, sharpens focus, and prevents burnout.

So, while I'll be celebrating, I'll also be making a conscious effort to carve out some peace and quiet today. I’ll have time to reflect and just to thank God for a whole new year ahead of me!

Am 38 now, and as I reflect on Gods goodness, I need silence, a few chapters of a book, a spa session or just a moment to breathe.

“So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.”

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/1sa.3.19.NKJV

Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed

There’s something I learnt early in leadership that shaped how I show up in every room: never fade into the furniture. Not in meetings. Not in boardrooms. Not in spaces where decisions are being made about your future.

I’ve watched brilliant people sit silently, hoping their hard work would speak for them, while less prepared voices walked away with opportunity. Silence doesn’t make you humble, it makes you invisible, and invisibility has never built a legacy.

So I made a different choice. Not to be loud, but to be intentional. To be noticeable enough to be memorable. To contribute with clarity. To ask questions that shifted the room. To speak when it mattered, and to make it count. Presence is not about volume, it’s about impact.

Here’s what most people don’t know: the most influential person in the room is rarely the one who speaks the most. It’s the one who listens with intention, then asks the question no one else thought of. That is where power lives; in timing, in precision, in the pause before the words.

Then you hear someone say, “what if you aren’t confident?” Confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It is built through preparation, repetition, and choosing courage over comfort.

If you want to strengthen your leadership presence, start here:
• Prepare before every room you enter.
• Ask questions that move thinking forward.
• Stop waiting to be chosen-choose yourself.
• Speak even when your comfort says stay quiet.
• Do the work when no one is clapping.

Moreover, Keep a Question Journal. Track the moments you chose visibility, the questions that made people pause and shift the conversation.

Most people want to be seen. Leaders want to make impact. The difference often comes down to one brave decision: using your voice.

Women and girls face so much in this life! Recently a Dr was Murdered in Blantyre, why her? Our kids are being r***d in our homes, lovers being abused and assaulted, can we just STOP!!

Ladies let’s repost this for awareness

begins !!

Happy Birthday Daddy B!

Such a man of faith, a man that has walked with God! A man that helped me find God. You are special Dad, I love you so much.

A Historic Achievement! 👏🇿🇦

Sending immense congratulations to South Africa on hosting a profoundly successful G20 Summit! As the first G20 ever held on the African continent, the world's leaders are focusing on the critical agenda set by South Africa: Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.

South Africa has truly centered the voice of the Global South on the world stage. Proud to see Mzansi leading!

Dear Grandma,

you taught me so much, and those lessons are a part of who I am today. You would be proud—I'm a big girl now, and I'm tackling life with the strength you showed me. I know you're smiling down on me.

Oh! Flo B and M***a B are fine too

I love you.