Wisely Phiri heads new ICT Association of Malawi
Blantyre based IT specialist Wisely Phiri has been elected president if ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM) following elections conducted during the body’s 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on Saturday, February 27, 2016.
Phiri, who is managing director of Sparc Systems Ltd defeated Maganizo Monawe with 28 votes against 8 in a one-sided election that saw several members declining to contest for the hot seat, opting for the Sparc Systems boss.
Monawe was eventually declared vice president as per voting rules, which stipulated the one with the second highest number of votes assumed the position of deputy president.
Daud Suleyman, vice president of the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) was elected general secretary with Tuntufye Mwamlima assuming the post of treasurer. The post of publicity secretary went to Bram Fudzulani with executive member posts entrusted to the following individuals: Chimwemwe Sumani, Precious Bondwe, Dorothy Kusani and Chancy Jere.
In his acceptance speech, Phiri thanked the delegates for entrusting him and his team with the responsibility of running the body’s affairs.
He said his first responsibility would be the establishment of the body’s secretariat to ease operations of the association, whose mission is to offer ICT leadership by catalysing policy changes and supporting related developments aimed at enabling Malawians effectively participate in the modern technology-based global economy.
The newly elected president hailed outgoing acting president Maxwell Phiri for facilitating a smooth transition following the departure of some key members in the ICTAM executive board.
The theme for the AGM, which was graced by chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Media and ICT Sam Kawale was ‘Fostering ICT Professionalism.’
Kawale, in his keynote address urged the association to work hand in hand with his committee and government to ensure the legislator enacts policies that are in line with global technological trends.
He also urged the association to be as vibrant as other professional bodies in the country.
This is a very good team . From the top (Wisely Phiri to the bottom Chancy Jere)
ICTAM – get out of the cocoon now, break the egoistic exclusive non-functional organ it has always been construed to be. Be open and accommodate all and sundry just like ICT is being embraced by almost everybody in this country especially through mobile phones. Stop posing as elites and know-it-alls.
We need activities all the year round.
ICT is vibrant, ICT is dynamic – so why are you snoring, guys and gals?
Thus one milestone in efforts to take ICT in Malawi to a right direction. In the past it was driven by egos and pride no wonder it entirely remained a non functional professional body unlike ICAM, MLS, those for procurement, insurance etc…Congratulations to those elected…