By Mc Donald Chapalapata, a Contributor

Malawi’s pioneer mobile tech company, TNM plc, has handed over laptops to four University students the company has been sponsoring from their secondary education since 2013.

Presenting the laptops in Blantyre, TNM Brand and Communications Manager, Limbani Nsapato said the story of donation of the laptops to the four university students dates back to 2013.

“In 2013, former State President Dr.Joyce Banda mobilized support for the promotion of girls’ education and a request was sent to TNM plc to support the initiatives to which TNM plc responded positively by adopting to offer scholarships to 20 girls from various secondary school across the country to pursue their secondary education for a period of four years from Form 1 to Form 4.”

“The sponsorship of the 20 girls elapsed in 2017 when the beneficiaries completed their secondary school education. However, four students were selected to continue their tertiary education at different public universities in Malawi. These are Elizabeth Kaungama at Chancellor College, Tadala Jeremiah of College of Medicine, Jeany Safari and Violet Tiyamike Phiri of Kamuzu College of Nursing who are all in second year now,” explained Nsapato.

He said the students were in need of laptops to help them in their academic journey hence the donation by TNM plc. The laptops are worth K1.6 million.

“We felt that the provision of laptops is going to help the students in the studies especially in this age digital age where students are required to submit assignments electronically and also in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need of laptops for students is paramount as some classes are conducted virtually,” said Nsapato.

One of the students Tadala Jeremiah thanked TNM plc for the gesture saying the laptop provision could not have come at any better time.

“For a university student a laptop or personal computer is a must have especially now that most of the teaching and research is being done online because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This laptop will help me in my studies and I am motivated to do more so that when I finish I should also help others. I thank TNM plc for supporting me since my secondary school days,” said Jeremiah.

By Mc Donald Chapalapata, a Contributor

Conglomerate Press Corporation plc has invested in a new insurance holding company called LifeCo Holdings Limited which will essentially trade in life insurance, pension services and asset management.

Press Corporation plc Group Chief Executive George Partridge who is also Chairman of LifeCo Holdings Limited confirmed the investment in an interview yesterday saying PCL controls 49.5% shares in the new company. The other shareholders are Equity Investments with 25.5% and Fidelity Limited with 25.5%.

He said LifeCo Holdings comprises three operating subsidiaries namely LifeCo Life Insurance Limited, LifeCo Pension Services Limited and LifeCo Asset Managers Limited and all the three operating subsidiaries have been granted a license to operate in their respective sectors by the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM).

“A project was initiated in 2018 to explore the gap in the life insurance and pensions market and propose the solutions that customers were expecting.  The research revealed a significant gap in the market to better serve customers, which culminated in three of Malawi’s leading institutions combining their expertise, financial strength, customer trust, governance and championship to form a joint venture company to respond to customer needs.”

“We thought that the life insurance and pension industry could accommodate a new significant player due to the exponential growth of the sector occasioned by the enactment of the Pensions Act. In addition, the very low penetration of insurance products in general points to the potential for the substantial growth of the industry.”

“PCL wants to be part of that growth story in addition to being part of the financial inclusion movement to advance the deepening of the financial sector in general. The company will also help the economy in managing the concentration risk in the country due to the duopolistic nature prevailing currently, hence the motivation to invest in this business,” explained Partridge.

He said the joint venture company LIFECO Holdings Limited has been established to bring alternative services to customers that are looking for wider choice, competitive pricing, improved service delivery, innovative solutions and empathy.

“LIFECO Holdings’ mission, vision and values clearly articulate the research solutions and creates the promise LIFECO makes to its members. LIFECO clearly understands the customers’ expectations and commits to delivering that promise,” said Partridge.

LifeCo Holdings Limited Chief Executive Officer is Ravi Savjani while well-known experienced Insurer Osman Karim is the Chief Executive Officer for LifeCo Life and LifeCo Pensions and Lilian Yamikani Macheso is the Chief Executive Officer for LifeCO Life Asset Management.

“We want to assure Malawians that LifeCo is a Malawian company which will offer solutions for our customers and this new kid on the block is here to stay,” said Partridge.

President of Life Insurance and Pension Association of Malawi (LIPAM) Stain Singo welcomed the new company saying it will bring competition on the market which in the end will benefit customers.

“We welcome them because they will bring competition on the market which will in the end benefit customers. We have noted that they will be offering the similar products that are already on the market but maybe the difference will be on service delivery and the rates which they will charge and this will increase competition which will benefit the customer at the end of the day. We hope they will be applying to join LIPAM so that we should serve our customers better,” said Singo.

NBS Bank plc has donated 20 computers worth K14 million to the Ministry of Health to support its Covid-19 Response Call Centre.

Presenting the computers in Lilongwe on Monday, NBS Bank Head of Corporate and Investment Banking Alfred Nhlema said the bank, as a good corporate citizen, believes it is its responsibility to join hands in the initiatives against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This is why we did not hesitate to respond when the Ministry called upon us to support the Covid-19 Response Call Centre. We do appreciate that the Call Centre set up by the Ministry of Health will assist with the dissemination of correct information and guide the public on how they can access medical assistance. At a time when the Nation is at war for the safety and livelihood of its people, having a source of authentic information is critical for winning this battle,” said Nhlema.

He said despite the turmoil that Covid-19 has placed on economies, the financial industry in Malawi remains steadfast and NBS Bank’s financial performance has remained equally unwavering.

“This is why the Bank cannot remain silent when it is called upon to assist. Through this same sound financial performance, we, as the caring Bank, are giving back to the people who have helped us get to where we are today. Our customers have trusted and supported us from a time when our financial performance was in red till date, when we are now declaring profits,” said Nhlema.

He further said NBS Bank will continue to serve the communities through various financial inclusion initiatives, as well as provide tailor-made financial solutions, such as Banki Pafupi agency banking platform which allows customers to transact in their localities, and also allows SME business owners to have an extra line of income.

Receiving the donation, Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo-Chiponda, flanked by her deputy Chrissie Kalamula Kanyasho, hailed NBS Bank for the support saying the computers will go a long way in managing data during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The noble consideration and act of NBS Bank to donate twenty (20) desktop computers for our Call Centre makes data collection and analysis on Covid-19 pandemic in Malawi very possible and doable. This also greatly benefits the decision-making at all levels of care to be timely and efficient. In the same vein the Ministry of Health will be able to disseminate the correct information and guide the public on how they can access relevant health care and also prevent contracting the disease,” said Kandodo-Chiponda.

She said government is aware that for firms like NBS Bank to make donations of this kind is not easy especially during the Covid-19 pandemic as the pandemic has placed a lot of economic hardships on many companies with some closed and others struggling to survive.

“But your Bank has not remained silent when it was called upon to assist because it is indeed ‘a caring bank’. NBS Bank juggles around to give back to the people who help it to stay in business at the most desperate time of need.  Government appreciates the Bank’s value for its customers who supported and uplifted the financial performance of NBS Bank when it was in the red not long ago and today regardless of the Covid-19 pandemic is declaring some profits,” said the Minister.

She also said the donation of the computers is timely as it will help in data management of the current vaccination campaign of Covid-19.

NBS Bank is part of the Nico Group and since the start of the pandemic, the Nico Group has made a contribution of almost K200 million towards the fight against Covid-19.

FDH Bank plc has contributed K3 million to the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) ‘buy a gadget for a needy student’ campaign to enable underprivileged students access quality education through e-learning.

FDH Bank plc Managing Director Dr Ellias Ngalande said during the handover of the cheque on Monday in Blantyre that the bank, through its Corporate Social Responsibility flagship ‘FDH Cares’ is dedicated to creating a sustainable society by supporting various causes in education and health and other important areas.

 “We are making this contribution of MK3million to Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) towards the Buy a Gadget for a MUST Needy Student campaign to enable MUST underprivileged students access quality education under the Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) platforms. As a bank, we are proud to support the growth of these students because they are our future leaders,” said Dr. Ngalande.

He said the partnership between FDH Bank plc and MUST is not a new one as the bank already supports 10 underprivileged students enrolled in various courses at MUST on 5 year scholarships valued at K62.5 million.

“We look forward to seeing this partnership grow and are committed to supporting MUST to grow the next generation of leaders and scientists in Malawi,” said Ngalande. 

The Vice Chancellor of MUST, Professor Address Malata hailed FDH Bank plc for the donation saying it will go a long way to support the University.

“We noted that most of our students did not have gadgets to access what is called Emergency Teaching and Learning but also E- Learning overall.  We realized that even if we embarked on teaching students through online platforms, we could not make any progress because the majority of the students could not afford to buy a gadget in order to access education through online platforms.”

“We therefore don’t take it for granted that FDH Bank plc who are our partners responded positively to our call for resource mobilization towards the campaign. The need for the gadgets is grave since the Covid-19 pandemic because without the gadgets, no progress would have been made in the provision and access of quality education for all. With the Covid-19 pandemic still in our midst, most students in Malawi especially in the Universities need gadgets to access quality education because they cannot attend face to face classes because of the big numbers,” explained Malata.

Eastern Produce Malawi (EPM) a tea, macadamia and forestry business has supported three women Community Based Organizations (CBSs) that focus on ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Mulanje and Chiradzulu with funding amounting to Mk750,000.00.

Presenting the donation at Nkando in Mulanje on Saturday, Dumisani Ngulube of Warthogs Inc. Limited, an Advisory Firm contracted by EPM said the financial support from EPM is among many initiatives that will help the CBOs to intensify outreach awareness programs in the community to ensure the end of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

“EPM believes in a society that upholds gender balance and opportunities for all and that is why we were compelled to support these CBOs. Going forward, EPM will soon be rolling out a number of value-adding CSR projects in Mulanje and Thyolo. We therefore look forward to a functional and value adding relationship with CBOs as we strive to continuously better the lives of our communities together,” said Ngulube.

Ngulube also said the year 2020 has been a very unique year that has disrupted businesses and communities globally with Covid-19 as the focal disrupter.

“Despite the challenges faced in the year, EPM jealously guarded its stand on uplifting communities through various CSR programs. To date EPM invested over K14.5 million in in the health sector in response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Ngulube.

Speaking on behalf of Namulenga Scheme, Minister of Gender and Community Services Patricia Kaliati thanked EPM for the support towards GBV fight in the two districts.

“What you have done is very commendable because the CBOs will reach out to many people with messages against GBV. We ask other companies and individual to emulate the example set by Eastern Produce,” said Kaliati.

EPM which operates Thyolo and Mulanje districts employs around 15,000 workers at peak and supports approximately 8,500 smallholder farmers, supporting a significant proportion of the population in the two districts through employment and various corporate social responsibility projects.