Chisomo Ngulube Writes

  Okay I can’t sing, I have a really pitchy voice, but I do appreciate good music. 

I was determined to travel to Likoma Island on Lake Malawi in 2015 and experience the amazing views that the Island has to offer. My two work colleagues from my employer at the time the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Steve Balaleya and Thoko Kamwanja had assured me of a hearty welcome from their relatives on the Island.  So, my two children Vithero and Takondwa and I travelled to Mzuzu, to visit my mother in-law en-route to Likoma. After the welcoming pleasantries, I informed her I intended to travel to Likoma with the kids. She looked at me, then at the kids who at the time were eight and nine and told me there’s no jetty on Likoma Island.  “I know,” I replied.                               TK and Vithero watch people load their goods on the Illala "I’ve been told that there are boats that ferry people to the shores of Lake Malawi,” I continued.  “True, but with the kids I do not think it is a ...

  In case you missed how this all started. We (me and my family) visited Liwonde National Park (LNP) the other day and I looked to nature for the lessons I'm sharing.

In today's world we all seem to be jostling for attention and opportunities.  But the different animals that we saw peacefully, grazing in the Liwonde National Park Savannah is testament to idea that there is enough for everyone if we look hard enough. In fact what are the chances that we all want the same thing.  We also don't always have to agree on everything, we can disagree on somethings but still be friends and graze!  If the animals big and small can do it, ife bwa?

Chisomo Ngulube at Liwonde National Park. Photo by my son Vithero Ngulube. So my husband James Ngulube, our two kids Vithero Benjamin and Takondwa Apoche, and I ventured into Liwondwe National Park on 29th August, 2021. 

I was at one of the ATMs in Blantyre, Malawi's commercial city; the man in front of me appeared to be struggling to transact, although he did not seem like one of those who have never used the machine. To cut the story short, he was trying to make a cashless withdrawal but was miserably failing. It appeared he was expecting to transact by just pressing the cardless button on the machine, while the machine was asking him to enter some code/token. In case you're wondering, I did help him out! But I've seen a lot more people struggle, like I initially did.  The cardless service is convenient when you've forgotten your ATM card or you have like me waited for two months to get a card and find cheque books antiquated...So I decided to write, just in case... Here is how it works: You first need to download or have the MO626 Digital+ app from whatever app store you use. Once logged in to the app, select the Cardless Withdrawal Request icon. It will then give you two options: R...

  Malawi’s Ombusdman Martha Chizuma had just released a damning report into unprocedural, nepotistic, tribalistic and irregular recruitments at the Malawi Communications Regulatory (MACRA), ahead of her confirmation appearance before the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament for the job of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) director. This report was not a first, she had previously made hard-hitting revelations into abuse of office at the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority and the abuse of COVID-19 funds, to sample a few. In the reports, she recommended strong action that in some instances included firing of the officers involved. To sum it all, she stole the hearts of most Malawians who have been dying to see government take a strong aim at nepotism or any sort of favouritism in offering employment, promotions in government departments and institutions that draw from the public purse. Malawians were clearly placated by her nonsense approach to dealing with m...

Grace Kaudzu and I were in the same year at St. Mary's Secondary School back in our day. I must say she was really quite but loud with her exam marks! Our school had the 'bad habit' of posting everybody's end of term marks in a secured notice board! So we pretty much new who was what. Anyhow, Grace went on to study agriculture all the way to PhD level. In this article that first appeared on a USAID website, she talks about why women should have a prominent role in Malawi's agriculture. Some very impressive stuff really. According to Dr. Grace Kaudzu, Team Leader for the Seed Certification and Quality Control for the Ministry of Agriculture’s Seed Services Unit (SSU), the answer is simple.  “Women are the ones who put food on the table every day.  They also represent 40 percent of Malawi’s farming community and are willing to grow neglected crops that men ignore.  When it comes to agriculture, women should not just be sitting at the family table, but be a heard voice...