Who
won an award at WODA 2012 awards and what earned them the awards
By
Albert Sharra
March 10, 2012, will remain a day to remember in the
world of women awards in the Malawi as this is the day, both men and women from
all walks of life came together as a family to recognise and appreciate the
works some of our mothers have contributed to the economic and social wellbeing
of the country at a special function called Women of Distinction (WODA) 2012 awards
held at the New State House in Lilongwe. This was the first event of such
calibre to award 15 successful women who have contributed largely in various
fields at one time.
However, though various quarters have described the
event a success, some people have questioned on what earned most of the
awardees the honours. In an interview WODA awards elections committee chairperson
Dr Agness Chimbiri said the awardees were nominated by the public and the
committee only picked the cream from list, but Dr Chimbiri said the committee
had a tough task to identify the winner. She says most nominations were submitted
without giving brief success stories of the candidates.
According to Dr. Chimbiri each category had three
finalists and the best was picked after satisfying the following conditions. Contributed to community needs and
solutions, her activities have an impact and that the activities reflect an
innovative approach to meeting community, development and social needs of the
people in the country.
ALBERT
SHARRA digs to reveal what earned who the awards.
Life
Time Achiever
Mama
Cecilia Kadzamira
Out of the fifteen
awardees, former Hostess to the late president of the republic of Malawi Dr
Kamuzu Banda Mama Cecilia Kadzamira was named the Life time achiever. The award
comes among many others awards with notable ones being Older of Lion of Malawi
(OLM) award by the late Dr. Kamuzu Banda; Malawi Order of Achievement (MAC) by
president Professor Bingu wa Mutharika,Interior Decoration by Spanish Interior
Decorator and Honorary Doctorate in
Humanities. She was also once recognised for her successful work as a hostess
to the former president for 31 years and her charity projects in the rural
areas.
Mama is also the
founding member of Malawi against Polio (MAP) in the early 1970’s and Dzidalire
Community Development Agency from 2007. This woman of distinction also
co-founded Malawi Orthopedic Assistants Project in the 1980s and Chitukuko cha
Amayi M’Malawi (CCAM) in 1985. The Life Time Achiever also serves as a Trustee
and Board member of Kamuzu Academy (since 1977) and Mtendere Orphanage (from
2006). Also in support to the vulnerable, through her work with Mtendere
Orphanage and Dzidalire Community Development Agency, Mama Kadzamira sources
support from missionaries in America who provide shoes that are given to people
who plant more trees. With her team, she mobilizes women who teach orphaned
children from 6 years of age to secondary school level.
+won+the+Life+time+achiever+award.pic+ALBERT+SHARRA.JPG)
Mama Kadzamira (in glasses, with a walking stick),First Lady Callista Mutharika (in red blouse) WODA founder and director Zilanie Gondwe Nyundo (far right) and others celebrating after Mama had won the life time Achiever award
National Woman of Distinction
Also won the Science and Technology award
Felicity Malewezi
Wife to the former Vice president of Malawi Justin Malewezi, Felicity Malewezi was awarded the National Woman of Distinction. The award came after she also won the Science and Technology award. Malewezi is an astounding Mathematician and educationist. She holds a Masters degree in Mathematics Education from Leeds University with a distinction.
Business
Annie
Fletcher
54 years old enterprenuer.She hails from Zomba. Fletcher
is a woman with extra ordinary entrepreneurial spirit. She managed to expand
her business from a humble beginning of running a bottle store in 1986 to a big
business empire in the hospitality industry. Now proudly owners Annies Lodge Group
comprising of: Annie’s
coffee shop - Area 2, Lilongwe ,Annie’s
lodge - Area 47, Lilongwe, Annie’s lodge - Area 10, Lilongwe, Annie’s lodge –
Zomba and Annie’s lodge – Nyambadwe, Blantyre. She is also founder of a
Women Support Network formed in 2004 which trains women in entrepreneurship,
leadership and other economic activities. Current membership of the network is
500
Fletcher has also served as Member of Parliament
for Changalume constituency between 1999 – 2004.In 2010 Fletcher
was recognized
as “global eminent leader” by the
Leadership Studies Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
University.
Agriculture
Chrissie
Katundu
A cassava farmer
and an agro-processor from T/A Malemia, Domasi, Zomba.She is Director of
Alongolele Enterprises, a personal business which she started in 1998
processing Kondowole and selling it to supermarkets.
Founder of a
large Community Based Organisation called Cassava Mbatata Roots and Tubers
Enterprise (CMRTE) with current membership of 2,500 farmers (87% of whom are
women) with the aim of involving small scale cassava farmers in the farming and
agro-processing of cassava. CMRTE currently has a big factory which processes
cassava into high quality flour for baking which is supplied to different
bakeries.
Katundu has
received various awards and among them include Trade and Industry Award in
2003,Top Budding Women Entrepreneur Award winner in 2005 and Global
Entrepreneur Award in New York organized by United Nations in 2005.
Health
Maureen Chirwa, PhD
A professional nurse
with specialization in health systems management with more than 20 years
experience of teaching health professionals in state and academic institutions
including external examining of various local and international universities.
She has extensive
research degree supervision and other postgraduate teaching experience and has
carried out and managed consultancies for a number of international development
agencies and NGOs. She is on a pool of
distinguished international consultants with Health and Life Sciences
Partnerships a UK based firm and a German based Organisation called EPOS Health
Management.
She has a number of
book chapters and journal publications in peer reviewed journals.
She facilitated the development
of a Registered Nursing Diploma Program for Enrolled nurses for both Kamuzu
College of Nursing and Malawi College of Health Sciences, initiated a
University Wide HIV and AIDS programme on Life Skills within the University of
Malawi, when she was the Chief
Executive officer of the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi- she mobilised
resources to support the development of nursing and midwifery education and
practice in Malawi which included the development of a Diploma in Nursing and
Midwifery Technician Programme; Bachelors Degree in Nursing and Midwifery
programme for Mzuzu University. She also played a major role in development of
the non financial incentives for the hard to reach areas; and the development
of the six year Emergency Human Resources for Health in Malawi
Public
Service
Kettie
Mkandawire
Born on 23rd August
1971.Mkandawire is a female Solder in the Malawi Defence Force. Joined the MDF
in 1999.She has achieved a lot while in the MDF.In 2003 she became the first
female soldier to drive a Senior Officer (Brigadier),In 2001 she became the
first female soldier to obtain a Certificate in Boxing Coaching, In 2007 she
went to Israel and did a VIP protection course in which she emerged the best,
she is the first female soldier to establish a military police at Cobbe Barracks,
in 2010 she became the first female soldier in the history of MDF to undergo
Drill and Duties Course both basic and advanced and in 2011 she made another
history by becoming the first female soldier to be an Instructor in the Drill
and Duties Course in 2011
Education
Gertrude
Kasopa
A 37 year old PTE3 primary school
teacher with passion in the education welfare of girls. She encourages girls in
primary schools to fully utilize their potential in mathematics and science.
She has also been a source of motivation and encouragement for girls who have
dropped out from school after becoming pregnant. She is well known to the
communities surrounding St John Primary School in Lilongwe as she regularly
visits the school drop out girls in these communities encouraging them to go
back to school after delivering. She is also involved in Girl guide activities
through which she encourages girls to be patriotic to their country, helping
them to realize their full potential and also to have a clear mandate and score
of being responsible citizens of Malawi. She is a mentor for a lot of young
girls around St Johns Primary School. Apart from that, She also holds a
Certificates in Football Refereeing, Certificate in Insert Programme of PCAR
and Certificate in Counselling of Peer
Educators
Media
Gloria Banda
30 year old Radio and
Television Producer and Presenter for Malawi Broadcasting Corporation who
through her career has promoted and advanced women social issues. As a result
of her passion for women issues, she has been involved in a number of projects
involving both radio and TV productions which have had tremendous impact on the
lives of millions of women who listen to radio and watch the TV.
Banda holds a Diploma
in journalism from the University of Malawi, The Polytechnic. She has produced
and presented some well known programmes as well as improved the quality the
following programmes: Nthawi ya Amayi - a programme which tackles issues aimed
at achieving social economic empowerment for women,
Zoona Zake Zaumoyo - a programme that
tackles women Health issues and features topics on maternal health, HIV/Aids,
hygiene and malaria, Oyo N’kamodzi – also a programme which aims
at addressing maternal health problems to ensure that no woman
dies of childbirth related complications, She is also the producer and
presenter for a TV programme called Mayi wa Lero which aims at encouraging women to raise their living standards a
programme chosen as the most listened to program on MBC Radio one according to
an independent 2011 National Media Survey by Afro Management and Zokonda Amayi
- a popular program amongst women
which allows women to interact, share ideas and experiences.
Arts/Music
Grace
Chinga
An accomplished woman
who takes music career to the heights of her capabilities. She is among few
successful women who have survived the music market and find a place for gospel
music in the country. She has received various awards with the latest being
Malawi Music Awards 2011 Gospel artist of the year.
Sports
Mary
Waya
Was born on 25 May
1968.She is a Malawian
netball
player and coach. Waya started playing international-level netball at the age
14, and has played in more than 200 representative matches for Malawi. During
that time she has competed in two World Netball Championships (1995 and
2007), three Commonwealth Games (1998, 2006 and 2010), and two
World Netball Series (2009 and 2010).
Waya came to
international prominence during the 2007 World Championships
in New Zealand, where the Malawian national team (the
"Queens") finished 5th, their highest ever placing. She announced her
retirement after the tournament, but returned to international competition the
following year. She remains the national team's most high-profile player and
was chosen as the flag bearer for the Malawi team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
After the 2010 World
Series in Liverpool, Waya again announced her retirement from
international netball and later that year stepped into the role of head coach
of the Malawi U-20 netball team. Domestically, Waya plays for the
MTL Queens.
Maternal
Health
Dr.
Jane Namasasu
A Registered Nurse, Midwife, and Public Health Nurse
professional who has made great contributions to maternal health in Malawi. She
holds a Master’s degree in Community Health from the University of Liverpool in
the United Kingdom and a PhD in Public Health obtained at Edith Cowan
University, Perth in Western Australia and currently works as a Zone Supervisor
for Central East health zones. Some of her outstanding works and achievements
include:Her involvement in the establishment of
a Reproductive Health Unit for the Ministry of Health to implement a
comprehensive reproductive health programme ,She conducted a National Emergency
Obstetric Care Assessment which led to the development of the roadmap to reduce
maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity from 2005 -2015, the
implementation of which has so far been a success for Malawi and She also
co-founded the Centre for Reproductive Health
which is affiliated with the College of Medicine to undertake research, monitor
and evaluate the implementation of reproductive health programme.
Young
Woman Leader
Thembi
Thadzi
27
year old 4th year student in development studies with Share World
Open University with full of passion for youth development. She is the first
and only young woman in Malawi to be appointed on to the National advisory
Council on Strategic Planning. Thadzi was also amongst the 115 young people
across Africa, who had the privilege to meet the USA president,Barrack Obama in 2010 in
Washington DC. In 2010 was awarded the Commonwealth Youth Initiative Award and the Youth Development Award
by the National Youth Council of Malawi for her outstanding work in Youth
development. She is a representative of the regional youth caucus for the
commonwealth youth program and is Chairperson for the Resource Mobilization
committee for the yet to be launched Youth parliament, Vice chairperson of the
Ten Plus Link,an initiative that identifies and promotes the different talents
of the youth and also member of Pan African Youth forum, Young African leaders
network, The red cross , Scout Association of Malawi and was once chairperson of the National
Youth council. For her work, she received a leadership health award at the
Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics
30th anniversary function at the United States of House of
Representatives in September of 2003.
Woman
Champion
Sakina
Nyenge
She hails from Mponde
Village T/A Jalasi Mangochi district. Through her work she has had a tremendous
impact on women and girls in the communities around her village. She leads a
Community Based Organisation of women in her village which carries out a number
of activities which focus on the plight of women and girls. The organisation has been involved in the
provision of awareness and counselling sessions on HIV and Aids; support for
the elderly by proving them food and carrying out some chores for them. Her
organisation has also been involved in encouraging and counselling girls who
have dropped out from school due to pregnancies to go back to school to
continue with their education. The organisation has also been involved in
advocating and persuading schools around the communities to accept such girls
back into school.
Charity
Catherine
Chipembere
She is the founder of
the Women Initiative Network (International), a community based organization
(CBO) based in Mangochi and Blantyre which was formed in 1998 after she was
concerned with HIV/AIDS situation and its impact in the country. The
Organisation operates in remote villages where people are severely poverty stricken. Due to poverty, these people are hungry and
vulnerable to diseases. The programs carried out by this organization are run
by committees who work voluntarily in mobilizing and training villagers to run
these programs. The programs run by the organization include: Community Based
Child Care Centers, Home-based Care for the Sick, Hunger Project, Income
Generating Activities for food security, supporting the Old/ the Handicap,
youth and the girl child.
Chipembere has also assisted in forming a literacy
class at Ntangaluka Village, securing scholarships for needy students to attend
secondary schools, referring orphans to social workers for assistance.
Equal
opportunity employer
Standard
Bank
Standard Bank is one of
Malawi’s leading financial institutions and has been in operation as a bank in
Malawi for 42 years. The bank strives to move its customers, communities and
employees forward.
The bank’s main
competitive advantage is its people. The bank’s philosophy is to ensure members
of staff realize their personal and career dreams. One key component in the
Bank’s values is growing its people. To achieve this feat, Standard Bank has an
equal opportunity policy, which remains sacrosanct and is premised on
engagement of staff to fill a position being made looking at any status like
race,sex etc. Recruitment process is transparent and no favours are made. By
December 2011, more than 40% of the total employees are women.
Men and women at Standard Bank excel on equal footing and
there are many women than men in key and strategic positions within the Bank.
In 2011, Malawi Congress of Trade Union recognized Standard
Bank as one of the best employers in Malawi.
In addition, through its Cooperate Social Responsibility
policy,the bank supports basic education and maternal health which occupy an important aspect for the
attainment of the MDGs in Malawi.
That’s the cream some Malawian women have done to their
country. Read detailed aspiring stories for each awardee in Nation On Sunday on
Everywoman page every Sunday from 18th March to end May 2012.
For comments, write to albertshara@yahoo.com.
