In a significant step towards bolstering disability inclusion in Malawi, the Chairperson of the Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA), Professor Allister Munthali, and Director General Elias Hausi paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Honourable Navicha Mary Navicha, MP. The meeting focused on innovative strategies for transforming disability inclusion programmes and enhancing service delivery for persons with disabilities nationwide.
During the visit, the Honourable Minister expressed her appreciation for MACODA’s dedication to promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in Malawi. She acknowledged the importance of promoting innovation and implementing collaborative policies that guarantee equal access to opportunities. Central to the discussion was the urgent need to revitalize the Bangwe Factory. While the Minister commended the quality of the factory’s current products, she emphasized the need for modernizing operations to improve efficiency and sustainability. She noted that the factory holds potential for import substitution particularly regarding souvenirs and could serve as a valuable source of foreign exchange through sales to tourists.
To support this growth, the Minister called upon MACODA management to develop robust fund mobilisation strategies. She further urged the Council to ensure that as they pursue innovation, persons with disabilities are never left behind in the process.
Responding to these calls, Professor Munthali shared the Council’s new strategic direction. He noted that with the Board and Director General now in place, MACODA is on the right footing to discharge its legal mandate, a move expected to restore the confidence of development partners who prioritize governance as a key factor for project success.
On the other hand, the Director General briefed the Honourable Minister on several priority operational matters. These include the development of a new strategic plan, a functional review of the Council, and the drafting of regulations to fully operationalize the Persons with Disabilities Act. Furthermore, the Director General announced the replacement of the outdated SAGE Accounting System with the GoM360 system to ensure full compliance with government standards and improve the Council’s overall financial transparency.
In his remarks, Director of Disability and Elderly Affairs, Dr. David Njaidi, commended the leadership for their clear roadmap. However, he offered a critical observation regarding representation, noting the absence of persons with disabilities in MACODA’s top management. He further pledged that the Disability Trust Fund would provide support for the Council’s planned rehabilitation services and training programmes