Administration & Management
Commissioner Sefu, is a Chairperson for Child Rights Directorate, and is responsible for Gender and Women Rights and a member of Corporate Services. She also falls in Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee. Commissioner Dr. Bertha Sefu has more than 20 years’ experience on issues of human rights particularly rights to education and health, gender equality, children’s rights, and civic engagement. She is a holder of PhD from Columbia Commonwealth University and Master of Science Degree in Strategic Management from University of Derby.
She has previously worked as a National Programme Coordinator for 50:50 Programme under Ministry of Gender, a programme that brought about 43 women members of Parliament. As a Lecturer in Teacher Training Colleges, Curriculum Developer with Malawi Institute of Education, Chief Examiner for Teacher Training Colleges at Malawi Examinations Board (MANEB). Commissioner Sefu has also been a Programme Manager for Malawi Council of Churches responsible for Gender, HIV and AIDS, Economic Justice and Family Programs, and Programme Manager for MIDEA responsible for Civic and Voter Education. Commissioner Sefu has also authored several books for Primary Education, and besides she is trained in NGO Management with University of Wye, United Kingdom.
Commissioner, Dr. Sefu has also previously been a Board Member for the following boards: A member of Malawi Accountants Board, a member of National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), a member of Southern Africa People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) Netherlands, Chairperson for MASAF III Board and Chairperson for MANET + Board.
Dr. Tiyesere Mercy Chikapa is a Senior Lecturer of Public Administration and Human Resource Management in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies (PAS) at Chancellor College of the University of Malawi. She has served as Head of the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at Chancellor College between 2011 and 2013, during which she led a team that bid for a NORHED funding for a project titled ‘Strengthening capacity for democratic and economic governance in Malawi’ that has seen the department earn funding large enough to introduce a Masters degree in Public Administration and Management, and engage in research for 5 years, from 2014 to 2019.
In July 2018, she was awarded a PhD in Business and Management from the Alliance Manchester Business School of the University of Manchester in the UK.
Through her PhD research, by considering how specific Human Resource Management processes like recruitment, selection and promotion contribute to men and women’s career trajectories as well as the different experiences between men and women in formal employment, this gave Dr. Chikapa an understanding of how implementation of these processes (in a particular cultural context) contribute to the gender differences that exist in private and public organisations. Some of these aspects related to sexual harassment that mostly women faced, and gender-based discrimination (against women) in recruitment and promotion. This provided her with first-hand experience with gender equality and gender mainstreaming efforts in both government and private sector organizations and why these efforts are not yielding the intended results.
Anne Lisa Chavula currently holds the position of Operations Manager for Blantyre Malaria Project (BMP), an affiliate of the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences. BMP specializes in research of Malaria in infants. Anne has vast experience (29 years) in administration, human resource management and marketing having occupied senior positions at Ecobank Malawi Limited, Finance Bank Malawi, Standard Bank and Bestobell Malawi Limited.
Anne holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management and Public Relations.
In addition, she is a Board member of Employers Consultation Association of Malawi (ECAM) and chairs the Finance and Administration Board. She also sits on the Tripartite Labour Advisory Council (TLAC). The TLAC is the highest Labour Board in the country. Its key purpose is to advise the Minister of Labour on labour matters and this position has seen her representing ECAM at several SADC Meetings. Furthermore, as a Board Member of the Chimwankhunda Living Waters Church, Anne holds the position of Church Secretary.
Married to Griffin, she is a mother of 2 girls and 1 boy.
Atupele is a gender, women’s development specialist and a women’s rights advocate with strong expertise in organizational development, project management in humanitarian setting, leadership and results-based management.
Atupele Wirima holds a Masters in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics. She was awarded the Future Leaders Program award by Oxford University. She is the director of the National Women`s Lobby Group.
She founded a Non – Profit Organization called: Build Her.
Atupele stands by three mantras: Respect, Dignity and Equality. She is a Wife, Mother, Entrepreneur, and an advocate for women’s rights, empowerment and development.
Phyles is a holder a post graduate degree in Leadership and Change Management from Leeds Metropolitan University. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Accountancy Degree and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Malawi (The Polytechnic). Phyles is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) (UK); a member in good standing in recognized accounting institutions in Malawi and UK such as Malawi Accountants Board (MAB), Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi (ICAM), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA-UK), International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) and others.
She is also a Chartered Insurer with the Chartered Insurance Institute in UK. Phyles is currently serving as the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi (ICAM). She has worked in all sectors of the Malawi economy, three parastatals, three NGOs including local and international NGOs, private sector and government departments. She has work experience in financial management, leadership, human resource, administration, ICT, investments, insurance and corporate services. Phyles has held board positions in government and private sectors and currently serving in two boards.
Prisca a fifth Born from Neno District is one of the hardworking, dedicated and result oriented Human Resource Practitioners in Malawi. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations from University of Malawi, a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from University of Malawi, an Advanced Diploma in Business Management from Malawi College of Accountancy and a Diploma in Secretarial management.
Her professional career started as a Book binder at Blantyre Print in 1997 and later joined the public service in 2000 as a Copy Typist. She was later promoted to Secretary, personal Secretary, Human Resource Management Officer in the public service and currently she is working as a Principal Human Resource Management Officer at Zomba District Council where she heads the Human Resource Section. Prisca is successfully handling disciplinary cases, managing recruitment, selection and promotions for the Council.
In addition, Prisca is championing a 3 year recruitment and management of 155 health care workers under USAID G2G Project which aims at implementing critical health and social welfare activities at the district contributing to the improvement of HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health (MCH), family planning (FP), nutrition, and social welfare service delivery in Zomba District. She also managed the process of transitioning PEPFAR supported health care workers to the Government payroll another USAID Supported Project in 2019 where she got experience on USAID guidelines. Because of her character Prisca have been a Member of Institutional Integrity Committee both at Domasi College of Education and Zomba District Council.
Prisca a worshipper and a Church Administrator is married with two children Gift and Tusekile. She believes that all things are possible to those who believe. During her free time Prisca the motivational and public speaker likes hiking, singing and cooking.
Mary Lipunga is a professional Banker, having joined the Banking Sector in June, 2009 as Management Trainee, then joined Corporate Banking Department as Corporate Banking Manager for 10 years. Currently, working as Trade Finance & International Payments Manager.
A career banker with vast experience in Business and Corporate Banking, Risk Management, Business Development, Credit Management, Customer Management, Monitoring, Routine Control, Procedural Compliance, Training & Knowledge Management. A financial services professional who is able to set goals, perform, monitor progress to achieve and meet deadlines.
Mary Lipunga is a holder of Master of Business Administration (International Business – MBA IB) offered under the Republic of Malawi/ Pan African e – network project by Amity University/Chancellor College. Mary Lipunga is a person of high integrity, goal oriented, self-driven and able to work under minimum supervision. She is also well disciplined with proven ability to manage multiple assignments efficiently, under extreme pressure while meeting tight deadlines.
Key Achievements
• Set the department and managed to grow a loan portfolio of the department from scratch to K983 million by the end of 201 6.
• Grew deposit book for the bank amounting to K 18 billion by June 2020.
• The loan book grew further to K2.8 billion by June 2020.
Deidra Mangisoni was born on the 25th of May in 1990 and is a holder of a M.Sc. in Agribusiness Management Degree from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with a Major in Management from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (UEAB) and a Project Practioneer Certification.
She has 8 years’ work experience and is a compassionate Agribusiness, and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with proven experience in the Agricultural Sector. She has worked with the Cotton Council of Malawi as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and Agribusiness Officer, Standard Bank Limited an on various research projects with Purdue University (PICs Bag Project), IITA (Africa Rising project), LUANAR and DHN Consultancy Services.
Her skills and experiences are channeled towards the improvement of smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in Malawi. She is also motivated to see communities where no groups are downgraded, where women and youth can exercise their rights fully in pursuing economic goals through participation in farmer-based organizations and other forms of agribusiness.
She is a self-starter, detail oriented, efficient and an organized professional with extensive experience in proposal development, M and E System development, project management, financial management, report writing, budgeting, data management and community mobilization.
One of her major highlights was being selected to participate in FRUGAL Innovation Practicum III (a project aimed at improving Lilongwe urban markets conditions and food systems) during her studies at LUANAR. The major achievements of the project were the construction of a bus depot, sanitation facilities, and facilitating trainings on food safety and basic business skills for traders of the targeted markets.
Deputy Director of Human Resource Management in the Civil Service and now serving as Deputy Executive Secretary at Health Service Commission.
Lucy Bernadetta Kwacha Banda is a dynamic Senior Human Resource Management Practitioner, with ten (10) years’ experience and expertise in Human Resource Management, management, training and General administration; nine(9) years’ experience in project management, facilitation, monitoring and evaluating of activities and projects within the Public sector and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO); and eight (8) years in teaching. She is a competent strategist capable of developing innovative plans and activities designed to facilitate competitive growth and superiority.
Lucy Bernadetta Kwacha Banda possesses excellent interpersonal, communication, organisational, team building and negotiation skills and the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial internal and external relationships. She also enjoys being part of, as well as managing, motivating and training, a successful and productive team, and thrives in highly pressurised and challenging working environments.
She earned a Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) from Indira Gandhi National Open University in India, Bachelor of Arts (Human Resource Management) from University of Malawi and also Diplomas in Education, Management and Human Resource Management.
She is successfully managing recruitment, discipline, data entry and confirmations of Health workers in Central Hospitals and also successfully handled disciplinary cases, Recruitment and data entry for Civil Service, Judicial Service, Prison Service, and Police Service Commissions.
Lellen Kaunda is a result-oriented character who has special managerial skills which include; planning, strategy development, farm budgeting and works good with smallholder farmers including women and young girls. She is hardworking, innovative and Self-initiated. Works with interest, commitment and enthusiasm and has quick learning skills.
Wezi Chavula is a well-rounded banking professional with over 18 years practical experience in handling service center management operations, credit risk administration, driving sales, portfolio management, rehabilitation and recoveries and SME Banking. She has attended several training sessions and workshops in credit risk evaluation, credit administration SME management, customer service and customer experience, loan rehabilitation and recoveries, leadership and communications skills. She also has experience from a cross section of Banks in Malawi covering the following; Nedbank Malawi, First Capital Bank and NBS Bank Limited, with Nedbank which was recently bought by Mybucks Banking Corporation being the most recent where she manages Victoria Avenue branch currently.
Wezi Chavula is energetic, with lots of zeal and passion to implement operational strategies in line with organisation-wide strategy and budgets. She is serving as a board member in Mkaka Construction Limited from 2012 to date and as a voluntary board member for Special Olympics Malawi from 2011 to 2019.
Academically, she holds a professional Diploma in SME Management from Galilee College in Israel. Wezi also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Malawi University, the Polytechnic now Malawi University of Applied Sciences (MUBAS) attained in 1999.
Tawonga Mkandawire currently teaches the English language and Bible knowledge at Zingwangwa Secondary School. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Education (Magna cum-laude) from the University of Eastern Africa Baraton and her Master’s degree in Policy Planning and Leadership from the University of Malawi.
Tawonga has been teaching for Nine years. The first two years were spent teaching students at an International High School; the last seven years have been spent teaching secondary school students in two Malawi Government schools. Her professional passion is inspiring and empowering school girls to work hard in order to achieve their goals.
Gladys M’bawa Vitsitsi is a woman who was born to both late William and Lyness M’bawa in Mangochi District in the Southern Region of Malawi. She is a first born child in a family of four. Before her mum died, she sent her from Blantyre where their family was living to live in Balaka with her grandmother, the mother to William her father. This is where she did both her primary and secondary education. The change of location made her the woman that she is today, hardworking, patient and enduring in hard situations.
She was born on 5th February 1983. Right now, she is married to Mr. Brown Vitsitsi. Their marriage is blessed with three children, all boys. They live in Area 49, near Bingu Stadium in Lilongwe, the Capital City of Malawi.
Gladys did her tertiary education in Zomba, the old Capital of the Republic of Malawi. She is a holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. She did her dissertation on Citizen participation in MASAF projects in Lilongwe. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Nelson Mandela University, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Her area of research was Women Upward Mobility in the Public Sector. In addition to these, she also holds a diploma in Leadership obtained from the Hope School of Ministry.
Her interest in issues of good governance is what landed her in a Human Rights Institution. Currently she is working as Administrative Officer of the Malawi Human Rights Commission. She has worked for fourteen years in the same institution. This has given her vast experience in administration, leadership and human rights issues. Furthermore, this woman is of integrity, patient, persevering, and trustworthy.
Dorothy Likole Chijere is a Public Administrator and an Educator. She has over 10 years’ experience in Human Resource Management, Policy Analysis and Governance. She earned her M.A in Public Administration from the University of Northern Arizona University in USA with a distinction. She also has a Bachelors of Education from African Bible College Malawi.
Professional wise, Dorothy is currently working as a Human Resources Manager for Blantyre Synod Health and Development Commission (BSHDC). She also works as an Adjunct Professor at African Bible College in the Business Administration Faculty. Dorothy has also previously served as a member in the Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation Board of Directors.
Beyond this, Dorothy has a strong passion for women and girls rights. She has won several women champion awards such as the prestigious American Association for University Women award in 2018 and the US Philanthropy Education award due to her activism in women and girls rights.
Florence is 54 years of age, a Malawian Christian lady from Chimbalame Village, Mchinji District, married with four children. Florence has an MBA from ESAMI, Arusha, Tanzania; holds a BA in Human Resource Management from the University of Malawi, Chancellor College, and is currently pursuing a PHD in Business Administration with UNICAF University.
Florence has worked before in two organizations; Mandala Ltd and Save the Children Fund of Malawi from 1987 to 1993 as an Executive Assistant, where she got experience in Project management and administrative issues. Florence quit her employment and ventured into a family business, which together with her husband, Batto Kennedy Mataya, established OneStop Community Pharmacy in July 1997.
Florence is a hardworking and God-fearing lady, who pursues all her engagements with excellence, which has helped in the growth of OneStop from being a one Branch Pharmacy in Blantyre to opening three other branches across the country in Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Zomba. She is currently the Operations Director of OneStop Community Pharmacy.
Florence in her early years had once been a Head Girl at Lilongwe Girls Secondary School. She also served as a Treasurer in a Church Women’s Ministry group at Red Cross Church of Christ for three years. She once served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Region Water Board, where she was appointed the Finance Chairperson. She is currently Volunteering in the Bible Society of Malawi Fundraising Committee, raising funds for building the Bible Society Jireh House in Area 3, Lilongwe.
Florence was born a leader and result-oriented woman who pursues whatever tasks are presented before her with renowned precision, passion, honesty, and integrity. She believes in being influential and making a difference in the community she lives in and the country at large.
Florence loves uplifting others, reading motivational books, travelling, doing charitable works, and spending quality time with her family.
FAITH JERE MTHIKO
Deputy Regional Manager – Malawi Posts Corporation, Central Region.
Faith is an experienced administrator who has worked in the postal /communication industry for over 12 years in various capacities. Prior to holding the current position, she has worked as Regional Manager for the Northern region and was responsible for running the daily operational and administrative activities of the Corporation in the region efficiently. She has also worked as Controller of International Affairs for MPC and her main responsibilities included ensuring the provision of improved and uninterrupted international operational services and dealing with correspondence with international bodies, foreign postal administrations and all other stakeholders.
Furthermore, Faith serves in the Malawi Posts Corporation Pension Fund Board where she chairs the Finance sub-committee. The board comprises individuals entrusted with the duty to oversee the management of MPC Pension Scheme.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration obtained from Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute (ESAMI), Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Malawi and a Diploma in Marketing from Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
Ruth T. Nkhwazi, is a governance professional, an accomplished Social Accountability Specialist and Administrative expert with a strong professional background in Project resources & Administration management in governance and livelihoods sectors backed by a Masters Degree in Business Administration with Good Governance major. With 16 years of post-training experience, Ruth has 8 years in administration and 8 in project implementation. She has wide experience in executing organizational capacity strengthening initiatives with local partners (local NGOs and government), grants and budget management, assessment of public service provision, supporting & coordinating evidence-based advocacy for promotion of active citizenship & policy change, as well as developing business plans for sustainable livelihoods. Ruth has vast experience in research work, particularly assessments/satisfaction surveys plus general research. Two-thirds of her career, she has worked on transparency and accountability initiatives assessing quality of provision of public services through social audits and surveys. Her experience in project management and delivery settles on high emphasis monitoring and evaluation.
Amongst the Institutions Ruth has worked on national projects, contributing to their success in terms of achieving results are the following; The Kalondolondo Programme under a consortium of Plan Malawi, ActionaAid and CONGOMA, MamaYe Campaign under Evidence for Action umbrella project with Options Consultancy Services, Livelihood Restoration Plan with SMEC international under the Resettlement Action Plan of the Infrastructure Project by Millennium Challenge Account Malawi.
Ruth has also attended trainings in Policy and Advocacy analysis, Social Accountability Media initiatives, ToT in Comprehensive Community Scorecard process, HIV and AIDS Counseling and Testing, Village Savings and Loans -comsip approach among others.
Ruth also serves as a board member for Cross Boarder Trade Association of Malawi and is married and has been blessed with two lovely kids, a boy and a girl.
Tamara Mhone- Mutyavaviri
Tamara Mhone – Mutyavaviri currently works for an organization named Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR-MW) based in Lilongwe, Malawi. At CHRR, she is currently performing a dual role as the Information and Communication Officer as well as a Programmes Officer.
Tamara has worked in various industry sectors mainly Telecommunications, Agriculture, NGO’s and Banking which have all shaped her into the multi-skilled individual she is today, that is able to take on any new career advancing challenge that she sets her sights on.
She is a holder of a Bachelor in Business Administration degree in Finance and also attained a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Tamara also holds various certificates in other professional short courses such as Fundamentals in Digital Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement.
To add on, Tamara is a highly motivated and energetic young lady with a passion for working with the underprivileged and marginalized communities. She has vast experience in areas of Marketing, Finance, Public Relations and General Office Administration with skills in event planning, social media marketing, customer service engagement, programmes coordination and excellent organizational skills.
Her hobbies include travelling and occasionally playing basketball.