We aim to raise a generation of young people who are emotionally intelligent and have the skill-set to earn a living.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is the heartbeat of The Makazi Foundation; an inspiring group of visionary leaders who guide, support, and champion our mission at every turn.
More than advisors, our Board Members are catalysts for change. They bring a dynamic blend of expertise in education, business, nonprofit leadership, and community development, united by a shared commitment to empowering Malawi’s most vulnerable children and youth.
Their collective insight, strategic direction, and deep compassion ensure that every decision we make is rooted in integrity, impact, and a bold vision for a better future.
Diana Kalitera
Founder and Chairperson
Diana Kalitera is the visionary Founder and Chairwoman of The Makazi Foundation, bringing together a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, an Advanced Diploma in Marketing, over eight years of international teaching experience, and five years as an entrepreneur. Her leadership blends strategic insight with a deep passion for youth empowerment, driving the Foundation’s mission to tackle poverty through psychosocial support, holistic education, and vocational training. Under her guidance, Makazi has impacted thousands of young people across Malawi, with a growing focus on mental health. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Diana’s dynamic, purpose-driven approach continues to spark lasting change in underserved communities.
Henderson Mhango
Vice Chair
Henderson Mhango is a Human Rights Lawyer with a Bachelor's Degree of Law (Honors) and Advance Diploma in Business Administration and Management Studies. Henderson is a well-seasoned Human Rights and Governance Activist a Founder and Executive Director of Youth Coordinating Agency in Development (YOCADE) a non-governmental organization working in four thematic areas of Human Rights, Good Governance, Health and Education targeting key population, youth and women’s. Henderson Mhango holds a leadership position of National Coordinator of Forum for Democracy and Rights Defenders (FDRD), Chairperson of Blantyre District Education Network(BT-DEN), Board Chairperson of Lifeline ANPPCAN Malawi also a Vice Chairperson of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) Southern Region Chapter-Malawi.
Allan Nasoro
Secretary
Allan is a seasoned and inspiring leader with 13 years of experience in retail and corporate banking. He leverages his talent, skills, knowledge, and expertise to drive innovations that positively impact individuals, businesses, and communities. Recognized for his ability to deliver results, inspire high-performing teams, and demonstrate a deep understanding of banking and sales leadership, Allan excels in diverse environments. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is an entrepreneur and he is also passionate about his community. He serves on the board of Rotary Club of Lilongwe and holds the role of Competition Secretary at Lilongwe Golf Club.
Tamanda Zembere
Treasurer
Tamanda Zembere is a results-driven finance and grants management specialist with over 10 years of experience leading high-impact, donor-funded projects across Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree from the University of Malawi, is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), an ACCA-qualified professional, and is currently pursuing an MBA in Strategy. Tamanda has a strong track record in managing complex budgets and donor funds, preparing Financial reports-compliant with IFRS, leading audits, and building robust financial systems for organizations funded by USAID, EU, World Bank,Global fund etc. Passionate about financial integrity and development impact, she brings a powerful blend of strategic thinking, compliance expertise, and on-the-ground leadership.
Vitumbiko Ngwira
Vocational Skills Specialist
Vitumbiko Andrew Ngwira is a passionate development practitioner with several years of experience in nonprofit organization leadership, both in local and international organizations. Vitumbiko has expertise in grants management and compliance, proposal development, program management, youth empowerment, organizational leadership, and safeguarding. He holds a Ph.D. in Business & Management from the University of Zambia. He currently serves the Makazi Foundation as a board member (Vocational Skills Specialist).
Kelvin Kamphambale
Community Development Specialist
Kelvin is a result-oriented self-starter with over 16 years’ work experience built in NGO management and public service. He is a highly experienced project management professional. He is a tough and hardworking individual with high levels of integrity. He is a dynamic, performance-driven individual with deep knowledge of Finance, Operations, Human Resources, Grants and Compliance Management. He has a proven record of implementing welfare programs, engaging with stakeholders, and driving social change. He is passionate about youth and women's empowerment. Kelvin holds 4 academic qualifications; 3 degrees from accredited universities and a Malawi School Certificate of Education. Kelvin is a member of Association of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Internal Auditors and Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi. Kelvin is currently serving as a Head of Finance at Malawi Catering Services Limited at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe.
Chrispine Nthezemu Kamanga
Psychosocial Support Specialist
A Malawian citizen with PhD in Pastoral Care and Counselling obtained from Stellenbosch University. Currently, I work with St. John of God Hospitaller Services, a mental health institution in Mzuzu since 2011. Chrispine works as a coordinator for Umoza project that works as a preventive mental health care program. The project rehabilitates and educates vulnerable children especially those connected to the streets. While in this role, he is also involved in teaching at St. John of God University. Furthermore, he consults with Compassion International on issues of mental health and going back to school. Passionate in psychother, his research interest interrogates how faith healing and cultural practices can be involved in western medical practices in the healing of people suffering from mental illness.
Humphrey Panyanja
Humphrey Panyanja is a seasoned human rights lawyer with 7 years of specialized experience in strategic litigation, advocacy, negotiation, and law reform. Currently, he holds the position of Chief Legal Aid Advocate at the Legal Aid Bureau (Southern Region) in Malawi, where he provides legal representation to economically disadvantaged individuals across various legal forums nationwide. His practice focuses extensively on children's rights, including cases involving child custody, juvenile offenders, adoption, and guardianship. Additionally, he oversees administrative operations for the Legal Aid Bureau's Southern Region.
Humphrey holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Degree from the University of Malawi. He is now pursuing advanced studies toward a Master of Laws Degree in Human Rights Law, Public International Law, and Law and Development at the University of London, supported by the prestigious Canon Collins Scholarship for postgraduate studies.
Beyond his academic pursuits, he actively engages in community service initiatives, supporting the professional growth of African lawyers through Justice Advocacy Africa and participating in global social service projects with the Community of Sant'Egidio.
Legal Advisor
Duwa Mutharika
Duwa Mutharika is an experienced executive and leadership coach, corporate wellness trainer, curriculum developer, and facilitator with over 20 years of cross-sector experience in communications, coaching, and capacity building across Africa and the United States. A member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and COMENSA, she has held professional coaching credentials in good standing for over a decade.
Duwa is skilled in designing and implementing socioemotional learning programs for children and adults. One of her afterschool programs is currently in use in schools across the Washington, DC area. For the past decade, she has taught essential life skills to adults in Johannesburg, using evidence-based instructional design and curriculum development methods. Her work includes financial literacy training tailored for individuals with institutional financial trauma, and she currently leads a Train-the-Trainer program for financial institutions to better serve unbanked and underserved communities.-
A former Trade and Tourism Attaché for the Republic of Malawi, Duwa brings a strong background in international relations, stakeholder engagement, and regional development. She is also the Founder and Country Lead of Girls 4 Girls Malawi and serves as a DEI consultant and facilitator, supporting organizations in building inclusive and sustainable systems for growth and transformation.
Socioemotional Learning Advisor
Our Values
Equity
We believe in impartial treatment of all peoples, particularly in regards to their social, physical, mental and psychological well-being.
Diversity
We value diverse life experiences and heritages and acknowledge differences as necessary for driving innovation and fostering creativity.
Collaboration
We value both internal and external partnerships, as a means of combining our strengths, in order to reach a common goal.
Accountability
We believe in taking ownership of our actions and that we should be answerable for these actions and the actions of our teams.
Continuous Learning
We believe that continuously expanding our skillsets will enable us to increasingly grow our efficiency to make change.
Empower Young People with Us
Have a question, partnership idea, or want to learn more about our work? We’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
