In a significant move aimed at promoting the use of digital banking among university students, NBS Bank Plc has unveiled the ‘Afana Oyaza’ campaign which targets university students across Malawi, encouraging them to utilize the bank’s digital services for their financial transactions, particularly for paying their tuition fees.
The campaign is open to students enrolled at the University of Malawi (UNIMA), Mzuzu University (MZUNI), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), and Malawi College of Health Sciences (MCHS).
Participants who pay their fees using the bank’s Eazy Bank digital platforms are entered into a competition to win various awards, with the grand prize being a full year’s tuition covered by NBS Bank.
NBS Bank Chief Retail Officer Victoria Chanza, highlighted the bank’s commitment to enhancing educational access through digital banking solutions emphasizing on the convenience of paying fees via smartphones, the Eazy Wallet mobile wallet, and the Bank Pafupi agency banking platforms.
“As the ‘Caring Bank,’ we are devoted to the advancement of education. This campaign is part of our efforts to ensure students have seamless access to education through our digital channels,” said Chanza.
She said the promotion is not only about easing the fee payment process but also includes exciting prizes like laptops, smartphones, and NBS Bank-branded merchandise, such as t-shirts, pens, and wristbands.
“The ‘Afana Oyaza’ campaign represents a forward-thinking approach to integrating digital banking services within the educational sector, offering tangible benefits to students while fostering a digital-first mindset,” said Chanza.
Endorsing the initiative, Steve Omar, Entertainment Director at Mzuzu University, described ‘Afana Oyaza’ as a beneficial and welcome development for the student community.
“This campaign offers significant support to university students, and we hope for NBS Bank Plc’s continued involvement each semester to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives,” said Omar.
The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) has commended National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Plc for its dedication towards nurturing creativity and resourcefulness within the agricultural sector, thereby shaping the future of Malawi.
The sentiments were expressed during the 2024 celebrations of LUANAR’s Innovations and Talents Day, themed ‘Unleashing Creativity for Purpose2024’ at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
Associate Professor Grivin Chipula, Chairperson of the organizing committee, further hailed NBM’s swift recognition of LUANAR’s initiatives and its support of K2 million towards the event.
“This support has significantly incentivized our innovations. The K2 million has motivated not only the winners of the awards, but also those who were shortlisted,” said Chipula.
LUANAR’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kaunda graced the event and reiterated the institution’s commitment to translating ideas into tangible realities to bolster the country’s economy.
“We possess immense potential. We sought an opportunity to unleash this talent. LUANAR students and graduates have the potential to drive advancements in the agricultural sector and contribute to the nation’s economic growth through their innovative activities,” he said.
In his remarks, Burton Ngwangwa, a fourth-year student at LUANAR and a pencil artist, expressed his excitement for winning and the inspiration gained from the Innovations and Talents Day.
“It is a monumental day for us as artists and innovators to exhibit our ingenuity. We have demonstrated our capabilities to the world. The drawings are important in addressing global challenges like deforestation and climate change,” said Ngwangwa.
In an interview, NBM Plc Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager, Akossa Hiwa commended the students for their innovations which is one of the key focus areas for the Bank.
“As the Bank of the Nation, we are committed to fostering creativity and resourcefulness within the agriculture sector, ultimately shaping the future of the country. Innovation is our number one focus, and that is why apart from sponsoring the Innovation Jam in partnership ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM), we have also injected over K100 million into the establishment of Innovation hubs,” said Hiwa.
Veteran lawyer James Namphambo has been knighted for his commitment and dedication towards work of St John’s Ambulance, an international humanitarian organization that provides first aid and medical services.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom knighted Namphambo but delegated the Chancellor of St John’s Ambulance Scotland Simon Mackintosh to do the investiture ceremony at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral Church in Blantyre on Thursday.
Through the Investiture ceremony, Mackintosh also honoured nine other people as members and an officer of St John’s Ambulance Malawi.
Speaking after the event, Mackintosh said: “I am delighted to see St John Malawi in such a strong position in the service of humanity. St John Scotland and St John Malawi work together and there is one thing that binds us, that is why we all wear the same uniform and badge. Community health here in Blantyre and Lilongwe has been the driving force of what St John is doing and certainly St John Scotland has been supporting that.”
The knighting of Naphambo, who is St John of Malawi president means he has now been elevated to the title ‘Sir’ which is a special recognition approved by the King of England.
In his remarks after the investiture, Naphambo expressed gratitude saying the honour will drive further his passion for executing charity works.
“I am excited because there are very few knights in Africa. If I can remember we have Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and President Arap Moi who were knighted. This means that we have to continue working hard because we are being recognized for helping the needy, the less privileged with the money we get from our partners. We have used that money properly to help the people who cannot fend for themselves so that they can also enjoy life,” he said.
Naphambo indicated that one of St John Malawi’s areas of focus is primary healthcare, which focuses on teaching locals to have clean houses without the use of money.
“By making sure their houses are clean, it helps them to avoid contracting communicable diseases like diarrhea and cholera. I am happy with the positive response in the area that we work,” he added.
Among others who were recognized at the event include Chrissie Bema, Fred Demester, Precious Lucia Divala, Felister Kalasa, William Karanya, Dr Grace Wit Katha, Reverend Canon Charles Masina, Judith Ntonga and Vincent Blessings Tholo who is also the National Coordinator for St John’s Ambulance Malawi.
Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi Alinafe Kalemba also attended the ceremony and offered a homily themed ‘Caring for the neighbour’.
The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Mangochi has ordered Mary Saidi, 25, and Molly Kainga 34 to pay a fine of K2,450,000 each for being found guilty of selling falsified injectable medicines falsely claimed to be a cure for HIV.
Senior Resident Magistrate Muhammad Chande convicted the two last week Thursday on their plea of guilty to six counts under the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019, and HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Management) Act of 9 of 2018.
The Court heard that the two convicts were found to be purchasing vials of gentamicin from pharmacies within Mangochi town.
Subsequently, they would remove the original labels from these vials using methylated spirit and replace them with counterfeit labels, branding the medicines as “Gammora HIV cure” which they later sold to unsuspecting HIV patients at prices ranging from K90,000 to K120,000 per “dose” of three ampoules.
In his ruling, Chande, while observing that the convicts’ behaviour was cruel with the potential to deter HIV patients from accessing effective treatment in preference of the false cure, said in coming up with its sentence the court had considered the fact that the two were first offenders and that they had expressed remorse of their action.
He then proceeded to order the two to pay K700, 000 each or in default serve 24 months imprisonment on the first count of tampering with medicine labels contrary to Section 106(1); on the second count of keeping medicines on unlicensed premises contrary to sections 86 and 95 (1b) of the Act, the two have been ordered to pay K350, 000 each or in default serve 12 months’ imprisonment.
On the third count of dealing in medical supplies without an appropriate pharmaceutical license contrary to section 56 of the PMRA Act, the two will pay K350, 000 each or in default serve six months’ imprisonment.
On the fourth count of advertising medicinal products without authorization contrary to Section 68 of the Act, they will also pay K350,000 each or in default serve 12 months’ imprisonment.
They will pay another K350,000 each or in default serve six months’ imprisonment for the fifth count of supplying prescription-only medicines without proper prescription.
The two were also ordered to pay another K350,000 each or in default serve 12 months imprisonment on the last count of proclaiming, publishing misleading, false or inaccurate information concerning HIV and AIDS contrary to section 25 of HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Management) Act.
Reacting to the ruling, PMRA Public Relations Officer Joseph Josiah said the Authority will review the sentence before deciding on the next course of action.
A joint investigation by Malawi Police Service (MPS) and Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) led to the arrest of the two early this month after Ticktok adverts in which the convicts claimed they had a permanent cure for HIV went viral.
During the investigation, PMRA also sealed two Mangochi pharmacies, namely Medgurus and Pharmacare, for being implicated in the illicit sale of injectable drugs in excess amounts to the two women without a prescription. Two personnel from these pharmacies and a graphic designer from Infinity Media Group where the stickers were being printed were also arrested.
Saidi comes from Kalonga Village, T/A Mponda in Mangochi district and Kainga is from Kalilombe Village, T/A Khumbila in Ntcheu.
NBS Bank Plc has doubled this year’s Charity Shield football sponsorship package from K20 million to K40 million.
Announcing the good news at a press briefing on Tuesday, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kwanele Ngwenya said NBS Bank Plc decided to hike the package after being impressed with how the tournament has been run and its impact since they started sponsoring it in 2022.
“This year, we are elevating our commitment to the zenith of possibility with a sponsorship of K40 million. We are championing the cause of education, the bedrock of sustainable development and the cornerstone of Malawi’s vision. Education empowers, enlightens, and emancipates.”
“The NBS Bank Charity Shield is more than a competition; it is a manifestation of our shared values, our hopes for a brighter future, and our commitment to the holistic development of Malawi. As we embark on this year’s journey, let us be reminded of the power of partnership, the impact of investment in our communities, and the transformative potential of sports and education combined,” said Ngwenya.
Ngwenya also announced that the Bank will bankroll the Charity Shield for the next three years, with this year’s proceeds going toward construction of sanitary facilities in selected schools in the Central Region.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) represented by General Secretary Alfred Gunda thanked NBS Bank Plc for the kind gesture.
“We are very excited that NBS Bank has taken us to another level with the charity shield sponsorship pushing us to K40 million.”
“Apart from the charity events and entertainment, football offers employment to a lot of people ranging from the players, coaches, referees and others,” he said.
Gunda also commended NBS Bank Plc for committing towards the cause in the next three years.
“We have always had yearly sponsorships for the competition, and now this news gives us hope as we now know we have a sponsor for the next few years,” he added.
TNM Super League champions FCB Nyasa Bullets and runners-up Silver Strikers are set to battle for the Charity honours at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe on March 30.
Last year, the NBS Charity Shield match between Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers raised over K20 million which was channeled towards the victims of the Cyclone Freddy which hit most parts of the Southern Region districts.
In 2022, NBS Bank Plc sponsored the Charity Shield with K15 million and the proceeds went to Cyclone Ana victims in Nsanje district.
Malawi’s First Lady Monica Chakwera through her Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) has commended NBS Bank plc for its continued support to the foundation since its inception.
Madam Chakwera said this at a fundraising dinner held at Sanjika Palace recently where she presented an award to the ‘Caring Bank’ in recognition of the partnership with SOFF.
“I sincerely thank our supporters for this dinner – NBS Bank, who have shown unwavering support to our bursaries and mentorship program. We have made significant progress in the last three years, providing bursaries nationwide, girls mentorship, and supporting economic empowerment programs, awarded over 2500 scholarships across 150 Public Secondary Schools.”
“We organized in-school mentorship sessions and national girls’ mentorship retreats, impacting over 1300 girls. This indicates the effectiveness of offering financial assistance to education together with tailored mentorship,” said Chakwera.
Receiving the award on behalf of NBS Bank Plc, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Temwani Simwaka said NBS Bank places great value in ensuring girls and women are given a conducive environment to thrive.
“At NBS Bank Plc we have mentorship programs for girls, that is why we saw the need to partner and provide support to the First Lady’s foundation. Our aim is to see a girl child empowered to shine,” she said.
NBS Bank partnered with Shaping Our Future Foundation in 2020 to promote the holistic development of the village girl and street child.
The Foundation’s main goal is to increase enrolment, retention, and completion of secondary school education of 5000 village girls and boys by 2026.
FDH Bank Plc has become the first bank to open a fully-fledged service centre on Likoma Island, a district that has always faced financial accessibility challenges.
Speaking during the opening ceremony on Monday, FDH Board Chairperson Charity Mseka said financial inclusion is recognized as a main pillar of the global development agenda, as such opening the service centre is an important milestone for the Bank and the people of Likoma.
“Worldwide, 2.5 billion adults still lack access to basic financial services. Closing this gap is vital to ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity.”
“The World Bank Group has set a target for Universal Financial Access (UFA) that ensures that adults everywhere have access to a transaction account to store money, and send and receive payments,” said Mseka.
The Bank’s Managing Director Noel Mkulichi added that the decision to open a Service Centre on the Island is informed by FDH Bank’s new strategy and plans that aim to provide easy access to financial solutions that enable communities to grow.
“This FDH Bank Plc Service Centre aims to break financial barriers for the people of Likoma. It was initially shocking to hear of the financial accessibility challenges that the people at Likoma face.”
“Civil servants had to contribute transport and accommodation for one person to travel to Nkhata Bay with ATM cards of the entire group to withdraw money. This was a huge risk and an inconvenience,” said Mkulichi.
He further noted that the absence of the banking facilities on the Island resulted in the closure of offices and businesses for some days as people had to travel to the mainland, which led to the loss of productive time.
“Tourists sometimes cut short their stay on this beautiful Island once they run out of money, and this is a lost opportunity for the country. These stories and many more are depressing! This is what the people of Likoma have been going through since time immemorial,” added Mkulichi.
“There will be local economic development as the Bank will support the growth of small businesses by enabling entrepreneurs to establish and expand their enterprises,” he said.
The opening of Likoma Service Centre means FDH Bank is available in all the districts in the country.
During the function, the Bank donated K3 millionto Likoma District Hospital towards procurement of linen for the women’s ward, and K2 millionto Likoma Secondary School towards procurement of mattresses for students as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Authorities in Mzuzu have sounded a timely warning to residents that if Kaning’ina forest is destroyed through deforestation, then Mzuzu is doomed in as far water supply is concerned.
Speaking at Kaning’ina Forest in Chimaliro where Northern Region Water Board NRWB partnered with the Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM) to plant trees in the catchment area, NRWB Director of Operations Engineer Dr. Ausmane Ungwe said Kaning’ina forest is crucial to continued water supply in the city.
“Let’s take this message seriously and to everyone. If we dare to destroy Kaning’ina Forest, then we are doomed here in Mzuzu,” said Ungwe.
Through the partnership, PRSM and NRWB on Friday planted hundreds of trees in Kaning’ina forest in a bid to afforest the catchment area.
The exercise was attended by all relevant stakeholder groups in the city including MDF, Forestry Department, Mzuni, the media and Mzuzu City Council.
PRSM has taken aggressive efforts in the afforestation frive by partnering with stakeholders to plant trees across the country. Last week, the PR professionals partnered with National Water Resources Authority to plant trees at Bua in Kasungu.
PRSM President Benson Linje said the PR body was ready and geared to partner various stakeholders and companies in various engagements, including training management teams in modern communication needs.
March 8 is International Women’s Day, which amplifies calls to invest in women and accelerate progress towards ending poverty and inequalities. We track how a local bank’s financing vehicle is greasing the wheels of women investors often rejected by financial institutions:
When Dr Thandie Mabedi decided to quit her job, she dreamed of owning a clinic where Malawians could access no-fee specialist services they obtain beyond the borders.
The medical doctor and her husband opened Uromed Clinic in Lilongwe in 2020 to fulfil her dream.
“My husband is also a doctor,” she says. “Together, we grew the dream of opening a clinic to offer general services and specialized services, but most banks we approached weren’t keen to support a start-up business and had tough conditions, including collateral.”
Mabedi was undeterred in search of capital for her dream project.
She is now the executive director of Uromed Clinic which offers more than just urology, a part of healthcare that deals with diseases of the male and female urinary tract such as kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. It also specializes in gynecology, which deals with the female reproductive system, including pregnancy-related procedures and complications.
“We also specialize in kidneys and our procedures don’t involve open surgery on prostates to avoid complications. We have laser treatment to treat kidney stones, which no other clinic treats in Malawi,” she narrates.
The clinic employs 44 workers, up from eight at the start.
Four years on, it is on course for expansion to a 30-bed facility following the acquisition of land just opposite the current five-bed clinic.
NBM Development Bank Limited, the development financing institution of the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc, supported the Mabedi’s dream project.
She recounts: “We made a presentation about our dream and we were stunned to hear NBM Development Bank Limited committing to support the building and buying of equipment.”
They paid back the loan within three years and qualified for another one from the Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Scaling [FInEs] project through the NBM Development Bank. The World Bank funds FInEs, a five-year initiative by the Government of Malawi through the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM).
“We are using the money to build a bigger hospital which will have radiology, X-ray and advanced laboratory,” says Mabedi.
A similar dream come true is Tapempha Medical Care Centre at Namitete Trading Centre along the Lilongwe-Mchinji Road.
Shareholder Tadala Kathumba, a human resources manager, says the FInEs project provided K375 million through NBM Development Bank Limited to construct the 100-bed clinic and procure medical equipment.
Shareholder Tadala Kathumba
“The clinic employs 65 people and serves about 3 000 patients per month. We aim to see Malawians getting medical care here, not outside the country,” she says.
The two stories testify to the need to invest in women to achieve their dreams of changing the world around them.
In both cases, the women were first rejected by other financial institutions.
This year, the International Women’s Day theme, inspire inclusion, calls for a shift towards investing in women “Invest in women to accelerate progress. This highlights the importance of gender equality, women’s empowerment and their rights to healthier lives.
Ministry of Gender spokesperson Pauline Kaude commends NBM for its commitment to empowering women financially in line with the theme of inspiring inclusion.
She states: “One of the ministry’s mandates is ensuring that women are economically empowered. This development is a plus for us. If women are economically empowered, women will make meaningful contributions to the country’s economy.
“The ministry appreciates the good collaboration with FInEs. By complementing each other, we will capacitate women who lack the financial and technical muscle to do businesses like their male counterparts.”
NBM Development Bank Limited general manager Bernard Masi says the bank took a different approach to close the gaps that impede most Malawian entrepreneurs from accessing finance.
The main winners are small and medium enterprises, including women entrepreneurs.
When asked about the success stories of Mabedi and Kathumba, Masi said: “We believed in their dreams and gave them a chance to realize those dreams.
“Today, we witness how the two women and many others have excelled in their businesses. As a development bank, we are here to change people’s lives and contribute to the development of this nation.”
NBM plc marketing and corporate affairs manager Akossa Hiwa is happy that with NBM support, the two enterprising women have achieved what they never expected to achieve within five years when access to capital was tricky.
“The bank places great efforts in ensuring women are empowered,” she says.
National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Plc says it has made strides in empowering women to grow professionally and financially in the country.
One of the Bank’s Directors, Bernadette Malunga, said in an interview ahead of the International Women’s Day (IWD) commemoration, which falls on 8 March (today), that promoting women in leadership positions and building their capacity is one of the Bank’s priorities.
“If they want to improve their education, we provide training opportunities so that they can further their studies, which in the long run may push them to acquire leadership positions within the company.”
“The Bank has several initiatives to promote women’s leadership. We try to ensure that each department has equal representation of both men and women. Further to this, females who are seen to be lagging behind are allowed to further their education ,” said Malunga.
This year’s IWD is being celebrated under the theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’ and is meant to emphasize the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society.
Malunga further said through a social media campaign termed ‘Inspiring Inclusion’, NBM plc seeks to celebrate strides made by female employees at different levels, female members of its Board of Directors and female customers.
“The Bank hopes that this will serve to encourage other women to keep striving for greatness in all their endeavors,” said Malunga.
One of NBM Plc’s employees Hlupikire Phalira, an accounts officer, also shared the progress made on her career path since she joined the Bank.
“At National Bank Plc, we have policies that promote equal opportunities for both men and women. When I joined the Bank, I only had a Diploma in Accounting but because of the Bank’s policies I got a degree from the University of Malawi, furthermore, I am studying to become a chartered accountant with the ACCA,” said Phalira.
Apart from empowering female employees, NBM Plc also has female customers at heart as they offer tailor-made services to support women entrepreneurs.
Owner of Mikos and Milkshake Dessert Parlor, Chisomo Munthali said she managed to access a loan that helped boost her business.
“I can confidently say that National Bank of Malawi Plc has been a very positive support in my journey and my dreams. Back in 2021, I needed financing and I approached my Bank with all hopes that they would find something to help me, and truly I was included in the ‘Amai Angathe’ program. I managed to access financing to help boost my business,” she said.
