By maggie msongole Malawian Women Lead 'Chalk Revolution' to Drive Local Development A group of resilient women from Mponela is spearheading a transformative initiative in local production by manufacturing high-quality, dust-free chalk that has earned certification from the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS). This locally produced chalk—now proudly bearing the label Made in Malawi—presents a vital opportunity for the country to save foreign exchange, empower local communities, and reduce dependence on imports. However, the initiative emerges amidst mounting public frustration over persistent corruption and opaque procurement deals that continue to favor foreign suppliers. The women-led enterprise has drawn widespread attention, with public figure Kondwani Kachamba Ngwira lauding their efforts in a viral social media post. He praised the product’s quality and called for urgent support in the form of machinery and capital to help scale production. Ngwira also proposed a strategi...
