Tag Archives: MCCCI

Malawi

‘Anti-lockdown’ Kaferapanjira appointed economic advisor to Malawi President Chakwera

Maneno Chimulala
‘Anti-lockdown’ Kaferapanjira appointed economic advisor to Malawi President Chakwera

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) Chief Executive Officer, Chancellor Kaferapanjira, has been appointed as chief economic advisor to the president Lazarus Chakwera, MaraviPost has learnt.

According to sources, the appointment is with immediate effect.

Chakwera has also appointed Dr. Samson Lembani and Mr. Chris Chaima Banda as Chief Advisor on Public Policy and Governance and Chief Advisor on Strategy and Manifesto Implementation respectively.

Kaferapanjira was one of the economists who argued against implementing a nationwide lockdown during the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration in the face of coronavirus.

 He warned that any move to lockdown the country as a way of preventing the coronavirus pandemic could have devastating consequences on the lives of the poorest of the poor Malawians.

Kaferapanjira said it was common knowledge that any planned lockdown would rock down any kind of business in Malawi’s very small economy, and certainly employees.

The MCCCI chief said in an economy which is very minute and, therefore, highly dependent on other countries even for basic food stuffs, a lockdown spells doom.

Chancellor Kaferapanjira holds an MSc(Economic Management & Policy) (with distinction) specializing in Industrialisation, Trade and Economic Policy, an MSc(Strategic Management), a Bachelor of Commerce(Business Administration), a Diploma in Business Studies, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.

He is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM) and a Member of Economics Association of Malawi. In addition he has attended various courses in Leadership, Change Management, Economic Analysis, Public Policy, Marketing, among others from the Royal Institute of Public Administration, London, the University of Maastricht School of Governance, University of the Philippines, and other reputable centres of excellence.

Kaferapanjira was Deputy General Manager of the Malawi Investment Promotion Agency before joining MCCCI in January 2003. Upon graduating from the University of Malawi in 1990, he had stints with Southern Bottlers, KPMG, and NICO Limited.

Kaferapanjira has varied experience from both the public and private sector and previously sat on the boards of Malawi Revenue Authority, National Roads Authority, Roads Fund Administration, and National Construction Industry Council, among others.

 Currently he sits on the boards of Old Mutual Unit Trust, Combine Cargo Limited, Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supplies, and the Malawi Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS.

Development, SADC

MCCCI expresses satisfaction with trade fair outcome

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Chichiri Trade Fair
One of the International companies exhibites their products during this year`s exhibitions at Chichiri Trade Fair in Blantyre – Pic by Abel Ikiloni

Blantyre, August 18, 2019: Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) has expressed satisfaction with the 31st International Trade Fair which took place in Blantyre despite the volatile political situation in the country.

Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday, Head of Communications at MCCCI, Millie Kasunda said despite the low turnout of exhibitors in this year’s trade fair, the institution met its objectives.

“Political and economic factors are the main issues that have contributed to low turnout of patrons to this year’s trade fair.
“As MCCCI, we have managed to meet some of the objectives that are required, such as building linkages between different businesses to create viable partnerships,” said Kasunda.

She added that MCCCI is going to submit questionnaires to the exhibitors to obtain feedback from them, saying such information would help them to improve on some areas.

However, Kasunda agreed with complaints raised by some exhibitors that business was very slow.
Speaking on the same, one of the exhibitors, Tissa Kapasa, who was selling second hand clothes during the trade fair said this year’s has never been successful compared to the past ones, saying the trade fair was marred by a number of obstacles.

“This year’s business has been very slow due to the challenges that the country is facing, the unstable fixed dates for the trade fair has also contributed to the low turnout.
“For example, this year the international trade fair was supposed to be held in May, but it has been held in August and students have gone on holidays.
“This has also affected my business because they are the ones who also buy the clothes,” said Kapasa.

She added that the post electoral demonstrations that have been happening across the country, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays also affected her business.

Another exhibitor who expressed dissatisfaction with the patronage, Dickson Kamesa said in this year’s trade fair the outcome was very slow as compared to last year’s.

This year’s trade fair attracted 187 local exhibitors and two foreign exhibitors while last year, 224 local exhibitors and 13 foreign exhibitors participated, according to MCCCI officials.

Education

TEVETA partners German Chamber to improve technical education in Malawi

Ausborn Banda

teveta

The Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) recently asked Malawian companies and industries to provide the country’s technical colleges with the latest equipment to enable learners move with the changing technology.

Board Chairperson Gilbert Chilinde said this on Thursday in Lilongwe when TEVETA briefed Malawi journalists about the TEVETA/HWK Cologne Chamber of Germany partnership.

Through the partnership, Chilinde who recently visited Germany, accompanied by representatives of Employers Association of Malawi (EAM), Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), and other stakeholders, toured German technical colleges and industries in June. During the visit the group learnt that private sector initiative.

The trip was to familiarize the stakeholders with the German technical education system, which is regarded as one of the best in the world.

“Malawi can also produce highly skilled and reliable workers if the country’s companies and industries emulate what their friends in Germany are doing,” said Chilinde.

Learners in Malawi’s technical colleges lag behind in skills and technology because they use outdated equipment, one of the presentations highlighted during the press conference by TEVETA Acting Executive Director Wilson Makulumiza Nkhoma.

“Companies and industries in Germany give technical colleges modern car engines, welding machines, carpentry, and joinery materials, among other important equipment,” the presentation stated.

It added, “the companies and industries enroll many secondary school graduates in technical colleges and sponsors their tuition to have them trained as their future staff. This enhances the companies and industries workforces and production.”

The TEVETA chief also announced of trainings that will take place in Malawi and Germany.

“We want to see Malawian companies and industries start signing mutual contracts with our struggling technical colleges as is the case in Germany. The aim is to produce highly skilled workers whose innovations would reduce the poverty of many people and help develop the country,” Chilinde emphasized.

Currently, Malawi has less than ten national technical colleges, and less than twenty community technical colleges with an annual enrollment of only two thousand students.