Ansah takes aim at prejudice: ‘No one should be denied a chance’

Malawi Vice-President Jane Ansah has delivered a powerful rallying cry to people with short stature and albinism — urging them to smash through prejudice, chase their dreams and refuse to be defined by other people’s perceptions.

Ansah made the impassioned call on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, as she hosted a farewell luncheon in Blantyre for beneficiaries who had completed driving lessons at Sabwera Driving School under the Jane Ansah Foundation.

The Vice-President told the beneficiaries that physical differences should never become a barrier to ambition, urging them to believe in themselves, build a vision for their lives and fight to achieve their goals.

She said supporting people with short stature and people with albinism remained one of her passions.

Ansah challenged the beneficiaries not to allow negative attitudes or societal barriers to rob them of opportunities, stressing that confidence, determination and equal access could open doors that prejudice tries to shut.

And among those who have refused to let physical challenges stand in his way is Rodwell Kamenya, popularly known as Mr Handisamu.

Kamenya celebrated a major personal milestone after completing driving lessons, fulfilling his long-held ambition of mastering a manual vehicle.

He revealed that his passion for driving dates back several years, when he had a personal gear extension fitted to make it easier for him to reach and operate the vehicle’s gears.

But Kamenya’s message went beyond his own achievement.

He urged other people with short stature to believe in their abilities, pursue their dreams and refuse to be discouraged by circumstances or society’s perceptions.

His journey, he said, showed the difference that opportunity and inclusion can make — allowing people to acquire skills, build independence and pursue ambitions that might otherwise seem out of reach.

The luncheon marked the end of the beneficiaries’ driving lessons and underscored the Jane Ansah Foundation’s drive to promote inclusion, independence, skills development and equal opportunities for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.