What MAOL has done to me
My name is Monica Chang’anamuno from Malawi. I am a member of Parliament for Lilongwe North Constituency in Malawi. This year (2022) in February, it pleased His Excellency the President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera to appoint me Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology. I thank God for the opportunity accorded to me by the President to serve in his cabinet.
My engagement with Africa International University dates back from 2011 when I enrolled to study Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL). Previously I had held several leadership positions but I still felt I was lacking something that needed to enhance my leadership skills. This leadership course did wonders to me that not only did I sharpen my leadership skills but my eyes were opened to the leadership gaps that exists in several spheres of life. This helped me change my way of thinking so that I can become the change agent needed in the society. I have been asking myself the questions that most leaders do ask: if not me then who? If not now, then when?
Responses to these questions have helped me to challenge the status quo and venture into areas that I never thought of in my life like politics.
After graduating from AIU in 2014, I have held several leadership positions in various sectors such as private sector, civil society, church, politics and now in government. Some of the leadership positions I have held before being appointed Deputy Minister of Education are:
Chairperson for Parliamentary Women Caucus, Vice Chairperson of Local Authorities and Rural Development Committee, Member of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Member of the Budget Committee, Member of Agriculture Committee and Vice Chairperson of the Welfare Committee of the Malawi Parliament.
Currently apart from being a Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Education, I am also Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Atsikana Pa Ulendo Girls Secondary School, President for Malawi Aquatic Union, Member of the Confederation Africaine de Natation (CANA) Zone IV Bureau (CANA Zone IV has a membership of 14 countries in the Southern part of Africa). Again I am a member of the Service Committee of my Church.
