Asiyati Chiweza:The WomanWho RedefinedLeadership

Ten-year-old Asiyati Chiweza could never have imagined rising to the pinnacle of academia as a professor, the highest academic rank. Neither did she dream of making history as the first Malawi School of Government (MSG) director general (DG). Yet today, Chiweza stands among few women occupying top leadership positions in Malawi, a testament to what faith, resilience, discipline and unwavering commitment to excellence can achieve.

Looking back, Chiweza still wonders how she earned that PhD while raising four daughters, describing it as a humbling milestone. “My journey spanned about 28 years, progressing from lecturer, senior lecturer and associate professor,” she adds. Chiweza says she learnt success in the academic world is not determined by gender, but what you bring to the table.

“I remain grateful to God for His grace and faithfulness throughout that journey,” she adds. Chiweza was appointed DG in February 2023 at the request of MSG council at the time. She says they urgently needed someone with her expertise to be seconded to the position to set up and lead the institution’s organisational development and transformation.

[paywall]

Chiweza also says the appointment carried historic significance because MSG was established through the merger of two long-standing institutions; Malawi Institute of Management and Staff Development Institute, creating a new national institution with a critical mandate to build the capacity of the public service. “Being entrusted to lead such a transformation from its inception was both an immense privilege and a formidable challenge, given the state in which the two institutions were. “I had the privilege of serving the institution for 39 months and have now returned to my academic home at the School of Law, Economics and Government, University of Malawi, with deep gratitude and cherished memories of all that God enabled us to accomplish during that remarkable journey,” she says. Chiweza observes that despite progress made in women leadership, they continue to face structural and personal barriers.

[/paywall]