A group of young trailblazers, Wangiwe, Sithembile, Kelvin, Daniel, and Bright, are at the forefront of Malawi’s growing tech community, pioneering digital solutions that are not only transforming their own lives but also empowering countless other young Malawians.

Digital Opportunities in African Businesses, a recent report by IFC, highlights the rapid growth of Africa’s digital startup ecosystem, with a significant surge in tech firms and a focus on nurturing entrepreneurship.

This trend is mirrored in Malawi, where these young innovators are utilising the power of technology to address local challenges and drive economic growth.

Wangiwe Kambuzi, Founder and Managing Director, Mzuzu E-Hub

Wangiwe Kambuzi, the founder and managing director of Mzuzu E-Hub, is dedicated to providing a platform for young entrepreneurs to thrive.

Recognizing the lack of resources and mentorship for aspiring business owners, Kambuzi established Mzuzu E-Hub, a dynamic business development support service that has already assisted over 430 emerging entrepreneurs, making a tangible impact on the local community.

Kambuzi emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to the local context and supporting women entrepreneurs in Malawi.

“This new Malawian business ecosystem is more intentional about supporting women entrepreneurs,” she says. “This is the time to start doing things.”

Sithembile Banda, Head of Programs and Kelvin Mateyu, Business Development Officer, Nxtgen Labs

Sithembile Banda, 24, serves as the programme manager at Nxtgen Labs, a coding and robotics lab in Lilongwe, Malawi.

She leads educational programmes for primary and secondary school students, supported by Save the Children, to teach digital art, coding, and game development.

Kelvin Mateyu, 27, the business development officer at Nxtgen Labs, incorporates creative writing into the digital art programmeme and oversees the ‘Zantchito’ incubation programmeme, which has produced 88 tech innovations addressing Malawi’s development challenges.

“I think that the rate of tech growth in Malawi over the next five years will be huge, thanks to the innovations and resources that young people here are now exposed to.”

The Future-M-Project, in partnership with Save the Children, has empowered high school students to develop impactful technologies, such as an early warning flood system and software for visually impaired children.

Banda and Mateyu believe these innovations have the potential to significantly impact Malawi’s economy and foresee substantial tech growth in the country over the next five years.

Daniel Mvalo, Technical and Development Manager, mHub

Daniel Mvalo, 30, serves as the technical and development manager at mHub, Malawi’s first technology and innovation hub.

Under his leadership, mHub has developed software applications for various purposes, including election monitoring, citizen engagement, archiving, e-commerce, and human rights.

Mvalo is passionate about using technology to address Malawi’s challenges, particularly in promoting mobile payments and financial tools.

He oversees vibrant tech communities in both urban and rural areas, organising events like ‘Robotic Thursdays’ and ‘Geek Quest’ to engage young software developers and offer robotics, AI, and coding classes for children aged 8 to 16.

“So far, we have trained over 4,000 kids in coding skills, 2,000 of whom are females. We have also provided digital literacy skills to more than 4,000 underprivileged youth.”

Bright Chidzumeni, Innovations Manager, Save the Children

Bright Chidzumeni, the Innovations Manager for Save the Children in Lilongwe, believes that allowing young people to take the lead is crucial for successful youth engagement.

To encourage this, he and his colleagues organised a ‘Hackathon’ to inspire young Malawians to use programming and software development to address issues like climate change and mental health.

“We realized that the best way that we can help the children and youth of Malawi is to engage them in developing their own solutions.”

One notable outcome is a mental health ‘chatbot’ created by a young woman in Malawi to provide support for those experiencing depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ‘Chatbot’ allows individuals to connect via WhatsApp and receive social support from a pool of therapists. Save the Children is also working to enhance digital literacy skills in rural areas, where 80 percent of the population resides.

Chidzumeni is confident that these initiatives are making a positive impact on the lives of young people across Malawi.

Malawi Embraces the Digital Age Through Reliable and Affordable Internet

The impact of these young innovators is not confined to Malawi alone. Their work is part of a larger narrative of African businesses embracing digital transformation, as showcased in the IFC Insights Africa report.

The stories of Wangiwe, Sithembile, Kelvin, Daniel, and Bright reflect the broader trend of disruptive technologies sparking innovation and economic growth across the continent.

As Malawi moves towards a digital future, the contributions of these young leaders serve as a testament to the transformative power of technology and the potential it holds for shaping a brighter tomorrow.