A number of opportunities and achievements have combined to make me a successful finance professional. Today I am proud that my department meets all its targets but, looking back, a standout achievement came when I was working at a financial cooperative serving the Malawi Defence Force. I was the cooperative’s first employee and was responsible for setting up and later running the institution. I led the registration process and established operational systems, navigating the complexities of financial reporting and regulatory compliance. It was a significant accomplishment and expanded my capabilities and confidence.
My earlier career was spent mainly in the financial services sector, where I had roles in operations and business development. I’m now working in the public sector for TEVETA, a government agency responsible for technical, entrepreneurial and vocational education and training. Over the years I have grown from hands-on financial reporting to my present position supporting senior management and the board with clear, decision-useful financial information.
Ensuring AI delivers value requires strong governance, transparency and accountability
TEVETA faces challenges due to limited and uncertain funding, rising operational costs and growing demand for quality skills training. There are also increasing expectations for results, accountability and ensuring that its programmes remain aligned with labour market needs.
One of the biggest challenges facing the public sector is effective service delivery. I see AI as a valuable operational partner that can help bridge this gap through data-driven insights, predictive analysis and smarter decision-making. In public financial management, AI can also improve financial controls and support evidence-based policy development. Ensuring AI successfully delivers value requires not just technology but also strong governance, high-quality data, transparency and accountability.
What I enjoy most about my job is interacting with colleagues and stakeholders from diverse professions and backgrounds. At TEVETA, I work alongside people from various vocations, which is both personally and professionally enriching. My role also involves engaging with different sectors – the academic world, NGOs and the private sector. This dynamic environment provides a variety of perspectives and experiences, which is highly rewarding.
I am a great believer in the biblical quote ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you.’ If everyone treated others as they wish to be treated, there would be far greater peace and harmony. Unfortunately, many people do the reverse, responding to how others treat them, which often leads to resentment.
Freer mobility of skilled labour would support regional economic growth
If I had law-making powers, I would reform regional immigration and visa policies to promote freer movement of people, skills and capital within Southern Africa. While the Southern African Development Community has integration frameworks, implementation remains limited, particularly in the recognition of professional qualifications and the mobility of skilled labour. Improving this would support regional development and economic growth.
If I wasn’t an accountant, I would have been an economist, or a pilot, or perhaps an aeronautical engineer. I have a passion for economics but also for aviation. Fortunately for me, accountancy and economics are closely related, and my ACCA qualification has allowed me to develop a strong understanding of economic principles.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing chess, which challenges my strategic thinking and patience. I also love travelling and exploring places of natural beauty, and I spend time watching documentaries on a wide range of subjects, all of which helps me relax and at the same time broaden my perspective.
