From 2004 to 2009, the Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa implemented 11 out of 12 planned research projects based on its Strategic Plan for 2002 – 2007.
Personnel
Director - Dr. A.G. Changanya
Finance and Administration Manager - M.W.P. Munthali
Personal Assistant to the Director - Ms. S. Chiligo
Administrative Assistant - Ms. Maria Kamwana
Accounts Assistant - Emmanuel Mwale
Accounts Assistant - Henry Mangazi
Store Clerk -Yohane jossam
Works Supervisor - Mr.J.Matias
Health Surveillance - Assistant - Mrs F Mabvimba
Electricain - Tiyanjane Kalonga
Cleaner - Mr Wandale
Driver - Mr L.B Thomu
Driver - Mr J Pophiwa
Tractor Driver - Mr W Limbwe
Tractor Driver - Mr L Petro
Chief Reserach Scientist - Dr. H.E.N. Nyirenda
Research & Extension Office - Goodwill M. Madamombe
Plant Breeder - Nicholas I.K. Mphangwe
Horticulturalist - Ms. Chikondi Katungwe
Technical Officer - Ms. J. Likhupa
Technical Assistant - Robert Thomas Khumbanyiwa
Technical Assistant - Shadreck Ndawala
Technical Assitant - Stephen Bickton Khaniwa
Technical Assistant - Ms. Grace Chamanika
Technical Assistant - Mr. Maxwell H. Mabvimba
Technical Assistant - Walter
Field Supervisor - Bernard Zembani
Field Supervisor - Mr B Nguluwe
Field< Supervisor Mr F Jailosi
Nursery Supervisor - Malizani Sumaina
Dr. A.G. Changaya joined Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa on 1st October 2011. He graduated from Bunda College of Agriculture (University of Malawi) in 1992, with Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture, with specialization in Crop Science. He worked briefly as a Trainee Tobacco Leaf Buyer with Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company Limited for one and half years in Lilongwe. He went back to Bunda College to pursue Master of Science in Agronomy (Plant Pathology) under the sponsorship of Rockefeller Foundation (Forum Programme) and graduated in 1998.
Dr Changaya worked as Agribusiness Centre Coordinator based at Thondwe - Zomba under Smallholder Agribusiness Development Project (SADP) for two years and served as Business Development Manager of SADP in Lilongwe for about a year. While in Zomba, Dr Changaya facilitated the formation of Dzaone and Thondwe Smallholder Farmers Associations. SADP led to the birth of National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM).
In August 1998, Dr Changaya joined ARET as a Flue Agronomist based at Mwimba Research Station in Kasungu where he also served as Officer-In-Charge. While with ARET, Dr Changaya has served in other various positions as Plant Pathologist, Senior Plant Pathologist and Principal Plant Pathologist, Chief Estate Extension Officer responsible for Central Region Acting Entomologist, Chief Plant Breeder-Flue and Head of Research and Technical Services. He enrolled for PhD under University of KwaZulu Natal in 2003 and graduated in April 2008.
Dr Changaya has vast experience of research in Plant Breeding, Plant Protection (Pathology and Entomology) Agronomy,small and large-scale farmer extension, Farmer empowerment (collective approach) and Administration.
Finance and Administration Manager
Mr.Mutepuka Munthali. He is working as Finance and Administration Manager. He joined TRFCA on 10 June 2011 and he manages both administration and finance departments of the Foundation. Mr Munthali has BCom (Honours), (Charleton University – Canada), Accounting and Finance; Dip Business Studies, (University of Malawi – The Polytechnic); ACCA (Chartered Association of Certified Accountants), UK. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA – Malawi); FCCA (Fellow Chartered Association of Certified Accountants), and Member of the Society of Accountants in Malawi (SOCAM). He has vast experience in accounting, finance and administration and has worked for many renown companies.
Accounting and Finance
- Short, medium and long term strategic corporate plans
- Prepare, co-ordinate and monitor annual and quarterly budgets
- Develop, manage and maintain accounting systems
- Financial Statements, statutory reports, and other compliance reports
- Monthly management accounts, operational reports, cash flows
- Financial appraisals for investment projects
- Treasury management functions
Administration
- Administrative support to Department Managers (resources/utilising etc)
- Administrative matters (Corporate Governance Legal Company secretary
- Board/Annual General Meetings, minutes
- Wages and Labour issues liaising with Ministry of Labour and other bodies
- Training and mentoring in the Finance department
- Policies and procedures (Financial, Operations, and Human Resources)
Previous Experience
1996 – July 2010_Unitrans Mw Ltd_ Finance and Administration Manager/Company Secretary
1992 - 1996_Macsteel Ltd _ Financial Controller/Company Secretary
1987-1992_Sable Faming Company Ltd _ Chief Accountant Earlier_Central Eastern Africa Railways (CEAR) x Malawi Railways Ltd
Personal Assitant to the Director
Ms. Chiligo joined the Foundation in 2009 after working for three years as a Secretary for Dorvic Hotel in Blantyre, Malawi. She has a Malawi School Certificate of Education obtained in 1996 and a Pitman Advanced Certificate in Typewriting obtained in 1997.
Administrative Assistant
Ms. Kamwana has been with the Foundation since 2005. She has a Malawi School Certificate of Education obtained in 1993 and a Pitman Elementary Certificate in Typewriting obtained in 1996 and Pitman Shorthand Certificate obtained in 2001.
Mr Emmanuel Mwale He works as Accounts Assistant for the Foundation and joined TRF on 11 February 2010. He has Diploma in Marketing, Diploma in Accounting and Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).
Mr Henry Mangazi He works as Accounts Assistant for the Foundation and joined TRF on 9 April 2010. He has Diploma in Accounting and Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).
Mr Yohane Jossam He works as a Stores Clerk and joined the foundation on 24 December 2007 . He has Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE)
Research Department
Dr.H.E.N. Nyirenda joined TRFCA at a young age of 25 years in 1974 after obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences at Chancellor College of the University of Malawi. He obtained a Masters' degree and PhD in plant breeding at the University of Wales in 1982 and 1987, respectively. He is one of the few scientists that have served the Foundation the longest period.
During his employment with the Foundation, he has significantly contributed to the success of the tea industries of the central African countries by directly or indirectly developing all the current commercial tea cultivars grown by growers in Malawi and Zimbabwe, and the region in general. He also developed improved method of vegetative propagation of tea using pluckable shoots and of nursery saddle grafting without tying. He is now responsible for the overall coordination of research activities in the Foundation while actively involved in new cultivar development.
It was in 2003 that Mr. Madamombe joined the Foundation as a Research and Extension Officer after working for the Coffee Research Unit in Chipinge, Zimbabwe for a number of years. He joined the Foundation having a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science obtained at the University of Zimbabwe in 1992 and a Master of Science degree in Crop Protection at the same University in 2002.
At the Foundation, he is the principal investigator of the Mechanical Harvesting Project, a component of which will be implemented for his PhD degree at the University of Pretoria with experiments conducted in Zimbabwe. Mr Madamombe is the officer-in-charge of all TRFCA's activities in Zimbabwe doubling research and extension.
Mr. Nicholas I.K. Mphangwe joined the Foundation in 1993 after obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture at Bunda College of Agriculture of the University of Malawi. Nine years later in 2002 he obtained his Master of Science degree in Plant Breeding at the University of East Anglia in England.
Since he joined the Foundation, he has been actively involved in the development of tea cultivars and developed improved method of grafting, optimum shoot age at plucking, methods of bringing the cultivars into bearing and planting at younger than 18 months plants, all such technologies aimed at exploiting production potential of cultivars. He is currently doing his PhD studies in molecular marker assisted selection of tea at the University of Pretoria in the Republic of South Africa.
Ms.Chikondi Katungwe joined the Foundation as a Trainee Horticulturalist in 2005. She has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with specialisation in Forestry obtained from Bunda College of Agriculture of the University of Malawi in 2003. She previously worked with the Ministry of Agriculture as Land Resources Conservation Officer for two years.
At the Foundation, she has been a co-investigator in the mechanical harvesting experiments for four years. Currently, she is studying for a Master of Science degree in Agronomy with the University of Pretoria with specialisation on the effect of micronutrients on the yield and quality of tea.
Mrs. Likupha holds a Diploma in Agriculture from Bunda College of Agriculture of the University of Malawi obtained in 1996. She joined the Foundation in 2006 as Technical Officer with the responsibilities of assisting plant breeders in laying out and managing field trials, supervising Technical Assistants and laoburers and managing data.
Robert Thomas Khumbanyiwa works in the Plant breeding Department. He has a Malawi Certificate of Education obtained in 1982, assists plant breeders in laying out field experiments, data collection and management.
In addition, he runs the Environmentally Controlled Miniature unit, the Tea craft, and manufactures made tea samples for tea quality analysis.
Shadreck Ndawala Working under the Plant Breeding department Mr Ndawala holds a Junior Certificate obtained in 1993 and joined the Foundation in 1996 as a mini processing unit supervisor until 2001 when he was transferred to his current department.
He assists plant breeders in laying out field experiments, recording and management of data from filed experiments and reporting to the responsible scientists. Like his fellow Technical Assistants, he directly supervises the labour force working on experiments.
Stephen Bickton Khaniwa Mr. Khaniwa works under the Plant Breeding Department and holds a General Certificate of Education in Malawi obtained in 1982. He joined the Foundation in 1982 as a Technical Assistant.
Ms. Grace Chamanika Working under the Plant Breeding department, Ms. Chamanika has a City and Guilds Certificate in Agriculture obtained at Mikolongwe in 2004.
Mr. Maxwell H. Mabvimba Mr. Mabvimba works in the Agronomy Department. He has a Malawi School Certificate of Education obtained in 1977 and a Certificate in Laboratory Management in 1997 from University of Reading in United Kingdom. He previously worked in the Analytical Laboratory Services as a Laboratory Supervisor. He has vast experience in analytical work.
Bernard Zembani Working hand in hand with the Technical Assistants, Mr. Zembani has a Malawi School Certificate of Education obtained in 1997.
He is responsible for general duties in the research Department, particularly responsible for the management of experiments in the plant breeding department.
Malizani Sumaina. works under the Plant Breeding department. He propagates and supervises planting and management of propagated plants at the Mimosa Research Station nursery. He assists the Agronomist in the management of the nursery sheds.
Mr B Nguluwe works as Field Supervisor. He joined the Foundation on 8 January 2010. He possesses Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).
Mr J Matias He is the Works Supervisor and joined the foundation on 14 June 2006. He manages the foundation’s maintenance works. Mr Matias has Junior Certificate of Education (JCE).
Mrs F Mabvimba She working as a Health Surveillance Assistant at the foundation and she joined the foundation on 3 November 1997. She is got Junior Certificate of Education JCE and Certificate in Health Surveillance.
Tiyanjane Kalonga Working as an Electrician for the Foundation.
Mr Wandale Working as a Cleaner at the Foundation.He joined the Foundation on 31 July 2006.
Mr L B Thomu Working as a Driver for the Foundation. He joined the Foundation on 13 January 1997.
Mr W Limbwe Working as a Tractor Driver for the Foundation. He joined the Foundation on 26 June 2004.
