Something important is happening in Malawi. The country is not being led by big companies or wealthy businessmen from other countries. It’s being led by young people. Many of them have just a phone, a laptop, or access to the internet, but they also have strong ideas and a deep desire to make life better.

Across towns, cities, and even small villages, young Malawians are using technology in creative ways. They are solving problems that they and their communities face every day. They are not waiting for someone else to bring them jobs or build a better future. Instead, they are learning new skills, working together, and creating tools that help others.

Some are building mobile apps. Some are designing websites. Others are teaching themselves how to code and helping their friends learn too. They are finding ways to make life easier, more connected, and more hopeful for the people around them. Slowly but surely, they are changing the country from the ground up.

Many people in Malawi face hard times every day. In some areas, electricity is not always available, and internet access is either too expensive or too slow. Many young people find it hard to get jobs, and farmers often don’t know the right price to sell their crops. Students in some schools don’t have enough learning materials, and it’s not always easy to find good information about health or education.

Technology is starting to help with these problems. Young people are creating tools that make a difference in everyday life. For example, farmers can now use their phones to find out how much their crops are worth and who wants to buy them. People looking for work can go online and see job opportunities. 

Students can study through online lessons, even if they don’t have a teacher nearby. Small business owners are using simple apps to manage their sales or keep track of their money. Others are using phones to learn about important health topics.

These changes are not coming from outside experts. They are being made by young Malawians who know exactly what their communities need. They understand the problems because they live with them every day. That’s why their ideas work—they are practical, honest, and built to help real people.

How young Malawians are using tech to tackle local challenges.

The rise of coding clubs and innovation hubs across the country.

Success stories of young entrepreneurs making an impact.

The Challenges in their lives, and how they work past them.

Why Malawi’s tech future looks bright.

Malawi has always had young people with bright ideas. But today, something is different. More and more people are using mobile phones, and access to the internet is growing. Schools are starting to teach digital skills. And young people are beginning to see how technology can help them start businesses, learn new things, and connect with the rest of the world.

The exciting thing is, they’re not just dreaming about these possibilities—they’re making them happen.

Photo: Going Digital: Five Young People Leading Malawi’s Tech Transformation

Meet Wangiwe, Sithembile, Kelvin, Daniel, and Bright, five young Malawians who are helping shape their country’s technology future. Growing up with the internet and mobile phones, they’re using technology to create better opportunities—not just for themselves, but for thousands of others across the country.

A recent report by the IFC highlights how Africa’s tech startup scene is still young but growing fast. From 2015 to 2022, the money put into these businesses grew seven times more than before. Most tech companies in Africa are less than 10 years old, and these newer firms are often the ones bringing fresh ideas. 

The report suggests that to encourage innovation, governments and organizations should support young tech entrepreneurs in developing solutions that fit local needs.

As small businesses across Africa begin to embrace digital tools, these five Malawians are stepping up to help—using their skills in tech, business, and innovation to guide the next generation.

Back in 2016, Wangiwe Kambuzi was 33 when she took a big chance – she left her steady bank job to start her own company that organizes events. But she quickly realized how hard it was for young entrepreneurs in Malawi to find support.

That struggle inspired her to open Mzuzu E-Hub in 2017—a space in northern Malawi where young entrepreneurs can get training and support. So far, the hub has helped over 430 new businesses get off the ground.

The Mzuzu E-Hub helps people learn important tech skills. So far, they’ve helped around 5,000 local people. Wangiwe believes Malawi’s best solutions come from Malawians themselves. She’s especially focused on helping women start and grow their own businesses.

Sithembile Banda, who’s 24, never thought she’d end up working in technology in Malawi. After finishing her studies, she started working at Nxtgen Labs in Lilongwe, where people learn coding and work with robots.

Kelvin Mateyu, a 27-year-old writer who also works at Nxtgen, explains: 

‘Right now, Malawi doesn’t have companies that make video games. But these classes might help start that.’

At Nxtgen Labs, their Zantchito program supports 88 young Malawians developing technology to tackle real challenges. These aren’t just ideas – students are already creating working solutions. One high schooler designed a system that warns communities about coming floods, while another built software to help blind students keep up with their lessons.

Daniel Mvalo helps other young Malawians use tech to build better futures.

At mHub, Malawi’s first tech innovation hub, he develops software for elections, human rights, and e-commerce. But his biggest passion is teaching kids. Every week, mHub holds classes where kids can learn coding and work with robots. So far, they’ve trained over 4,000 kids, half of them girls.

He remembers tweaking games as a child to make them run better. Now, he uses that same problem-solving mindset to empower others.

Bright Chidzumeni (31) believes the best way to solve problems is to let young people lead.

At Save the Children, he organizes hackathons where Malawians create tech solutions for issues like mental health and climate change. Save the Children also teaches digital skills in rural areas, where many kids have never used a computer.

Even though young tech innovators in Malawi are doing amazing work, it is not always easy for them. There are many challenges they have to face every day.

1. Lack of Internet Access: Getting on the internet is hard for many people. In many parts of the country, the internet is either too expensive or too slow to be very useful. This makes it hard for young people to access the information they need to learn and grow their ideas.

2. Lack of Reliable Electricity: Another problem is the lack of reliable electricity. In rural areas, especially, power is not always available. Sometimes the electricity goes out for hours, which makes it hard to work, especially if you’re using computers or other devices that need power.

3. Device Issues: Devices like laptops and smartphones can also be hard to come by. Many young people have to share these devices with their family or friends. Even if they do have their own devices, they are often old or not in the best condition. This can make it harder to keep up with the demands of learning new skills or building new projects.

4. Limited Support: Support is also limited. There are not many investors or mentors in Malawi who can guide young innovators or help fund their ideas. Without this kind of support, it can be hard to take an idea from a simple thought to a real, working project.

But despite these challenges, young people in Malawi keep pushing forward. They find ways around these problems. Many help each other by sharing tips, tools, and words of encouragement.

One of the reasons that Malawi’s tech movement is growing is because of spaces where young people can come together. These places are more than just buildings with computers—they are communities. They give young innovators a place to meet, learn, and work on their ideas with others.

For example, mHub is Malawi’s first tech hub. It offers training, internet access, and mentorship to young people who are interested in technology. 

Another organization, the Ntha Foundation, runs programs that focus on digital media and entrepreneurship, helping young people learn how to turn their ideas into businesses. 

There are also other places like Dzuka Africa and Tech Hub Malawi that help young people take their ideas and turn them into real products.

These tech hubs are important because they give young innovators a space where they can be creative, learn new things, and get support from people who understand the challenges they are facing.

The work of these young innovators isn’t just staying inside classrooms or tech labs. It is reaching people in their everyday lives, and it’s making a difference.

1. Farmers are using mobile tools to track weather and market prices, which helps them make better decisions about when to sell their crops. 
2. Shop owners are using mobile money and apps to keep track of their sales and inventory.
3. Students are using online lessons and e-books to learn new subjects. 
4. Health workers are using simple systems to manage patient records, which makes healthcare more efficient and organized.

Little by little, these tech solutions are making life better for people in Malawi. Technology is becoming part of daily life—not as something foreign or complicated, but as something that is useful and made for the local community. These simple, practical tech solutions are helping people in real, meaningful ways.

The most exciting and powerful thing about the tech changes happening in Malawi is that they are coming from the people who understand the local needs the best—young Malawians themselves. Unlike big companies from other countries that often build products without understanding the local context, young people in Malawi are creating tech solutions that are made for the problems they experience every day.

What makes this movement special is that it’s not driven by the desire to make money or get rich. The young innovators in Malawi are building tools and apps because they want to make their country better. They are using the resources they have, from their mobile phones to community tech hubs, to make their ideas a reality.

As more young people get the chance to learn new skills, access better tools, and receive more support, this movement will only grow. The more young innovators there are, the more ideas will be shared, tested, and developed. And because these solutions are coming from people who understand their own communities, they are stronger and more sustainable. Local people are leading the way, and their solutions are meaningful because they are made by and for people just like them.

The future of technology in Malawi isn’t in the hands of large foreign companies or experts who are far away. The future belongs to the young people who are already taking charge and building it. They are the ones creating the changes, and they are doing it in a way that reflects the needs and hopes of their country.

People like Wangiwe, Sithembile, Kelvin, Thokozire, and Bright are showing what’s possible. They aren’t just building apps or websites. They are building a future where technology isn’t something that separates people or makes life harder—it’s something that helps people live better lives, solves problems, and opens up new opportunities.

Through their work, they are not only changing lives—they are changing the story of what can be done in Malawi. They are proving that with determination, creativity, and the right tools, young people in Malawi can lead the way toward a brighter future for everyone.