Dr. Chrissie Chawanje Mughogho
BACKGROUND
Dr Chrissie Chawanje Mughogho is the Malawi High Commissioner
to Zambia since March 2005. Prior to this appointment she was
the Executive Dean of Applied Sciences at the University of Malawi from 2002 to 2005. Dr. Chawanje Mughogho was the first female Vice Principal of the Malawi Polytechnic, a constituent College of the University of Malawi. She is an Associate Professor of Food Science in the department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences in the University of Malawi.
Dr Chawanje Mughogho holds a Bachelor of Science degree
from the University of Malawi, a Masters Degree from Ball State
University, Indiana, USA and as a Fulbright scholar she obtained a PhD in Food Science/nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, USA. As an academician, Dr Chawanje Mughogho has been involved in teaching and research and has published a good number of academic papers in her area of expertise - Food Science and Nutrition. Her main research area is the analysis of nutrient content of indigenous foods as they relate to people living with HIV/AIDS and any issues concerned with nutrition and HIV/AIDS.
She has held a number of positions in the University of Malawi including that of Senate representative on the University Council of Malawi. She has also held a number of positions both in local and international organisations including chairing the Audit and Finance Committee on the British American Tobacco (BAT) Board.
Dr Chawanje Mughogho is a strong advocate for the improvement of the education of the girl child, and was elected Chairperson of the Forum for African Women Educationalists - Malawi Chapter (FAWEMA) from 2004 to 2005, a position she had to relinquish in order to take up her new diplomatic position in Zambia.
Your everyday dream?
To make a difference in whatever field of endeavour I undertake or whatever responsibility I am given. However my greatest dream is tosee in my lifetime a Malawi where there is equity in Education and
job opportunities for men and women.
When did you go to Zambia?
March 2005
What are your current activities in Zambia?
My activities as an Ambassador are multifaceted, but can be
summarized in one sentence -- To represent the Head of State and
the Malawi Government in Zambia in all areas of our bilateral
relations.
What challenges do you face in your career?
Meeting new challenges everyday and being able to make fast but
intelligent decisions for the good of Mother Malawi.
How do you compare Zambia to Malawi?
There are differences in the way they sell their country to the outside
world in the areas of tourism and attracting investors to their country.
On the whole, they have more tourists visiting their country than we
have at present, and there are many lessons we could learn from
them by sending delegations to visit their relevant ministries to share
ideas. Because of the differences in our natural resources obviously
they have more investors than we have because they have more
minerals.
What are your views on Malawian politics?
Too partisan, too controversial and too personalized. I look forward
to the day when we as Malawians will learn to put country before self.
Where else have you been?
As an Ambassador this is my fi rst appointment. However as an
academician I have been to different countries both on the continent
and abroad, both for training and for research and networking with
fellow academicians in my areas of expertise from different parts of
the world. Some of the countries I have been to include the USA,
where I did my Masters and Doctorate degrees, Canada, the UK,
Sweden, Italy and many different countries in Africa.
What drives or inspires you?
The new challenges I face drive me to work harder and make
a difference. Everyday, they are varied and unique, making my
job unpredictable. Each new day brings its own challenges and
meeting these head-on is very inspiring.
What does one need to succeed in your field or generally just be
successful?
A good approachable personality which can interact with different
people from different walks of life, hard work, resilience, tolerance
and to be focused on what one wants to achieve for one’s country
by the end of tour of duty. One needs to have a goal in life and to
work towards that goal with lots of objectivity.
What factors do you think differentiate those who succeed and
those who fail?
Those who succeed have a vision and a goal and they work
towards achieving that goal no matter what the circumstances.
To what extent do you think your experience would contribute to
Malawi’s social and economic growth?
To a great extent, if I can be allowed to share the many experiences
I have gained here both from this government and from the
diplomatic community I interact with, I am sure that we could have a
different way of approach in solving some of our problems in some
sectors of our country.
The education sector, what is your take on this important sector
in Malawi?
We can do better. We need to strive more towards better standards
and this can only be achieved if we strengthen our training in the
teacher training institutions starting from primary education. Of
course this would mean allocating more to the education sector.
Those of us who went through the corridors of the University of
Malawi in the 60’s and 70’s as students, appreciate the high
standards we had then, when we come back to the same corridors
to teach. We need to do something about the standards of our
education in this country.
Who do you admire most and why?
Nelson Mandela for his magnanimity. Women leaders who
have made it in their different fi elds both here at home in
Malawi, on the African continent and Abroad. Here at home,
you know that we have many women leaders in different
fields such as heading the Malawi Electoral Commission, the
Attorney General, The Clerk of Parliament and Deputy Speaker
of Parliament as well as our able Lady Ministers including our
own Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On the African Continent we have the only female President, the President of Liberia H.E. Mrs. Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson; The new Deputy Secretary General at the UN who is from our neighbouring country Tanzania, Dr Aisha-Rose Migiro; The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mrs. Angela Merkel and others.
All these women in their own way inspire me and encourage me to try to do the best, and be the best in my own leadership roles.
Any advice to fellow women?
Any responsibility that you are given is gender neutral. Do
it to the best of your ability. People will judge you for your
capabilities.
What is the first thing you say about Malawi when you go
somewhere?
It is the Warm Heart of Africa, characterized by the warmth
and friendliness of its people. We have a beautiful country
with beautiful hills (Ku Chawe is one such beautiful place) and
valleys. We have one of the most beautiful freshwater lakes
on the continent, go and visit our Lake Malawi and its holiday
resorts, among others.
What would be your dream Malawian holiday?
Going by road from the South all the way to Karonga using
the Lakeshore road and visiting all the holiday resorts along the
way. Taking it slowly and taking a whole one month to do it.
It may not be the “garden route of South Africa”, but it has the
potential to be one of those, one of these days in the future, if
we can manage to attract the right investors to build beautiful
resorts along this route. The beauty along the Lakeshore road is breath-taking.
Do you follow any sport?
Yes. Football, tennis and golf.
Out of curiosity, what would we most likely find in your
fridge?
Different types of white meats and lots of fruits and vegetables.
Your dreams in the next couple of years?
To achieve my best in whatever responsibility I am given for the
betterment of Mother Malawi.
