Peter Mwanza
Encyclopedia
Professor Peter Nelson Mwanza (b. May 1937) is a Malawi
an politician. He was appointed Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in the government of President Bingu wa Mutharika
of Malawi
on 17 June 2009.
He was reassigned to become Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in a cabinet reshuffle on 9 August 2010.
, Malawi, the youngest of a family of five.
He attended the University of London in the early 1960s, where he obtain a BSc degree in Biology.
He then held a position as a research scientist in Entomology with the Ministry of Agriculture in Malawi for one year.
He left this job after obtaining a Ford Foundation
International Fellowship to pursue advanced studies in the United States
, attending Ohio State University
and earning Masters and PhD degrees in Microbiology.
.
He was eventually promoted to become the first Malawian Principal of Chancellor College.
In this position, he integrated the Mpemba School of Administration and Law and the Soche Hill College of Education into Chancellor College, and arranged for the college to relocate from Blantyre
to Zomba.
He was instrumental on the establishment of the National Research Council of Malawi in 1974.
In 1979, Mwanza joined the United Nations
as Director of Natural Resources, Environment and Science and Technology Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Mwanza retired from the UN in 1996, and assisted in establishing Mzuzu University
.
He was Chairman of the University Council, and later Vice Chancellor.
He also became Chairman of the Malawi Environmental and Endowment Trust, which he helped establish.
In May 2009, he was selected by president Bingu wa Mutharika
to become a cabinet Minister, expected to get the Education portfolio.
However, he was given the ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
In a cabinet shuffle of 9 August 2010 he was reassigned to become Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, a job previously held by the President.
Margaret Roka Mauwa
continued in her role as Deputy Minister of the department.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
an politician. He was appointed Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in the government of President Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
of Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
on 17 June 2009.
He was reassigned to become Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in a cabinet reshuffle on 9 August 2010.
Birth and education
Peter N. Mwanza was born in May 1937 in MzimbaMzimba
Mzimba is a town in the Mzimba District of Malawi. The district comprises descendants of Tumbuka and Ngoni peoples.The district of Mzimba comprises a number of Traditional Authorities from the Ngoni people. The head of these Traditional Authorities, or Paramount Chief , is M'Mbelwa IV.-Demographics:...
, Malawi, the youngest of a family of five.
He attended the University of London in the early 1960s, where he obtain a BSc degree in Biology.
He then held a position as a research scientist in Entomology with the Ministry of Agriculture in Malawi for one year.
He left this job after obtaining a Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
International Fellowship to pursue advanced studies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, attending Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and earning Masters and PhD degrees in Microbiology.
Academic career
Returning to Malawi in 1966, Mwanza became a lecturer at the newly established University of MalawiUniversity of Malawi
The University of Malawi is an educational institution established in 1964 and composed of five constituent colleges located in Zomba, Blantyre, and Lilongwe. Of the five colleges, the largest is Chancellor College in Zomba. The name of the school is abbreviated to UNIMA. It is part of the...
.
He was eventually promoted to become the first Malawian Principal of Chancellor College.
In this position, he integrated the Mpemba School of Administration and Law and the Soche Hill College of Education into Chancellor College, and arranged for the college to relocate from Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
to Zomba.
He was instrumental on the establishment of the National Research Council of Malawi in 1974.
In 1979, Mwanza joined the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
as Director of Natural Resources, Environment and Science and Technology Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Mwanza retired from the UN in 1996, and assisted in establishing Mzuzu University
Mzuzu University
Mzuzu University is one of the principal universities of Malawi. The school is located in Mzuzu, in the northern region of Malawi. It was founded in 1997 and accepted its first students in 1999....
.
He was Chairman of the University Council, and later Vice Chancellor.
He also became Chairman of the Malawi Environmental and Endowment Trust, which he helped establish.
Political career
Mzanza was elected to parliament as representative for Mzuzu-City.In May 2009, he was selected by president Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
to become a cabinet Minister, expected to get the Education portfolio.
However, he was given the ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
In a cabinet shuffle of 9 August 2010 he was reassigned to become Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, a job previously held by the President.
Margaret Roka Mauwa
Margaret Roka Mauwa
Margaret Roka Mauwa is an expert in agriculture who, in June 2009, became Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in the cabinet of Malawi.Mauwa was born in 1959....
continued in her role as Deputy Minister of the department.