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.

By Mc Donald Chapalapata, a Contributor

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has sponsored the Institute of Bankers (IOB) in Malawi 2nd annual Women’s Conference with K1 million in the Gold Category.

The second IOB women conference will be held virtually through Microsoft teams from 18th to 19th March 2021 under the theme ‘Women that deliver’.

NBM plc Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager Akossa Hiwa explained that the bank has partnered with IOB on the conference because it values women as drivers of development in the country.

“The Bank is keen on empowering female professionals and entrepreneurs. In 2019, the Bank unveiled Amayi Angathe, a product aimed at helping women entrepreneurs to access banking facilities which includes a collateral free credit facility repayable in 24 months, training and support. Through this and other products and initiatives, the Bank continues to provide support required for the growth and empowerment of women across the country.”

“Further to this, we believe that the conference content, which covers wealth creation and breaking barriers, among others, is crucial to the development of participants. We will therefore register staff from the Bank and a selection of our female clientele to attend and gain value from this virtual conference,” said Hiwa.

IOB Chief Executive Officer Lyness Nkungula said the Bankers Women Conference is a pivotal forum for the accelerated realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women in Malawi.

“This conference is a game changer for professional women and Business women, giving them their confidence back, teaching them how to power up to the next level in the corporate arena, empowering them to set their own entrepreneurial course and connecting them to powerful women who become part of their network and mentors.”

“The Conference will create an opportunity to learn from leaders in diverse fields, participate in important discussions, share their personal stories, ask meaningful questions, and network with a dynamic community of individuals who want to ignite and inspire the leader inside,” said Nkungula.

Some of the speakers at this conference are High Court Judge Justice Fiona Mwale, Reunion Insurance Chief Executive Officer Dr Dorothy Chapeyama, Quality Assurance Director and a Senior Lecturer in Community Health Nursing at Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) Dr Lucy Ida Kululanga, Country Director of Plan International Malawi Phoebe Kasoga, Old Mutual Senior Manager, Africa Marketing Strategy and Planning Linda Poya, Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Chief Examiner, Consumer Protection Financial Literacy Madalitso Chamba and  Vanda Cabral, Grassroots Social Entrepreneur at Vee’s Farm and Senior manager at Deloitte.

FDH Financial Holdings Limited under its Corporate Social Responsibility flagship programme ‘FDH Cares’ has handed over an extension building for offices for Ndirande Police Station worth K26 million.

FDH Bank Managing Director Dr Ellias Ngalande said through the ‘FDH Cares’ programme, which aims at creating a safe and sustainable society, FDH Financial Holdings Limited has also provided furniture to the offices worth K3.3 million.

“FDH Financial Holdings Limited has a strong working relationship with the Malawi Police Service and the Group greatly values the work the Malawi Police Service carries out in the country in maintaining law and order that allows businesses to operate.”

“FDH Group has done this to ensure that the officers have a conducive working environment as they carry out their work that protects our customers, our businesses and create a safe and better society,” said Dr Ngalande.

Commissioner of Police for the South West Region Chikondi Chingaza hailed the FDH Group for the support that has come at the right time after Ndirande Police was recently been upgraded to a full police station thus needed adequate office space.

“The structure will make a great difference with a great impact on serving the people of Nyambadwe and Ndirande. With the increased space, the standards of service will be highly improved because our response time will be increased since more officers will be on duty,” she said.

She said Ndirande Police Station as a parent station has 150 police officers but did not have adequate offices with some offers operating under trees.

“The extension of the police station means that these officers will be accommodated in the new officers therefore improving the service standards required by the community,” said Chingaza.

In February, FDH Money Bureau, a subsidiary of FDH Financial Holdings contributed Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) worth K3.5 million to Kamuzu International Airport Police to enhance the effectiveness of their work in enforcing security and in the process taking care of communities.

Pioneer of mobile and data solutions in the country TNM plc has appointed Arnold Kweyani Mbwana as its new Chief Executive Officer effective 1^st March 2021.

Mbwana was until his appointment, Chief Finance Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the company.

In a statement signed by TNM plc Board Chairman Dr George Partridge, Mbwana has more than 15 years’ experience, in both local and international organisations, in the areas of finance, governance, enterprise risk management, audit and general management.

“He joined TNM Plc in 2011, has been an executive officer for over eight years, and central to TNM’s growth over the past ten years. Prior to joining TNM Plc, Arnold worked for an international organization where he led multi-disciplinary teams on international assignments in several countries in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia,” said Partridge.

Mbwana is a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and holds a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree from the University of Malawi. He also completed the International Executive Development Programme (IEDP) under Wits Business School and London Business School, said Partridge

Mbwana chairs the Board of Directors of TNM Mpamba Limited (mobile financial services) and was a board member for First Private Equity Fund Ltd (investment Company).

“We wish him all the best as he takes on this new challenge,” said Partridge who is also Group Chief Executive Officer for Press Corporation plc, the largest shareholder of TNM plc.

Listed FDH Bank has created a revolving K0.5 billion fund dubbed ‘FDH Amayi Atakate Fund’ to support women owned Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country to realize their full growth potential.

FDH Bank plc Head of Marketing and Communications Levie Nkunika said the Bank has created the special fund with a purpose to empower and promote women to fulfill their full business potential by providing access to working capital.

“With an estimated female population of 51.5% (NSO,2020), Malawi has over 558,090  women owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) (Finscope Survey, 2019) and mostly facing difficulties to access formal credit due to collateral demands and working capital challenges to enable business expansion.  This presents a huge unserved market,” said Nkunika.

“To access the fund, the Bank will be giving out ‘FDH Amayi Atakate’ loans. An FDH Amayi Atakate loan is a special loan facility under the fund designed to address access to affordable credit and lack of working capital women owned MSMEs face in their day to day running of their businesses. The loan will be unsecured and will be up to a maximum of K5 million per applicant with a flexible repayment period of 2 years with affordable interest rates,” explained Nkunika.

He said the FDH Amayi Atakate loan will be accessible by women across the country using Malawi’s widest branch network of 51 FDH Bank service centres from Monday 8^th march, which coincidentally is the World Women’s Day.

“Together we can create a prosperous and sustainable society by supporting our women in accessing funds for their businesses,” said Nkunika.

He said international and local development instruments highlight the strategic importance of women in any society and their critical role in fostering economic growth and sustainable national development.

“Informed by the aspirations of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Africa’s Agenda 2063 and Malawi’s Vision 2063, FDH Bank plc believes that women owned MSMEs in Malawi should be empowered and promoted to nurture and grow their businesses and in turn they will significantly contribute towards the creation of a prosperous and sustainable society.”

“The private sector must complement Government efforts to contribute to job creation and sustainable economic growth in the country,” said Nkunika.