The University of Malawi (UNIMA) secured a place in the finals after defeating the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in the first semifinal round of the 2021 Students’ Debates on the topic, “Is informal sector taxation good for the country?”. The Blantyre International University (BIU) team were also named the winners against Malawi Assemblies of God University (MAGU) in the second semifinal round after debating on the topic, “Can fiscal decentralization promote prudent Public Finance Management (PFM) system in Malawi?”. The debate was held at the LUANAR campus on Thursday 14th October, 2021.

Each team was made up of four members, namely: Anthony Kamphatengo, Joana Kasungwi, Nathan Sendeza and Chrispin Chiotha from LUANAR; Jennifer Mwenebanda, Fatso Makuluni, Precious Bengo and Samuel Mphande from UNIMA; Akuzike Mkombezi, Tadala Chirwa, Nelson Bonongwe and Alepha Kasiya who represented MAGU and Anthony Botha, Pempho Kelvin Mwanza, Mashud Msipa, and Ruthmary Golowa who represented BIU. Following the coin tosses, UNIMA were named the proposers and LUANAR the opposers for the first round and for the second round, BIU were named the proposers and MAGU the opposers.

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The opening remarks were given by the Secretary General of the Economics Association of Malawi (ECAMA), Mr. Andrew Kumbatira, who welcomed the students, all people present, and called the Guest of Honor, Mrs. Monaosyile Mhango, Director of Public Finance Management System in the Ministry of Finance, to the stage. Following this, the moderator, Mr. Mathews Malata, introduced the judging panel which was made up of Mr. Leslie Mkandawire- the Corporate Development Executive and Director at Mlomboji and Partners Consulting, Mr. Goodluck Chaphulika - Principal Budget Officer from the Ministry of Finance and Mr. Innocent Kadammanja- Development Specialist at Pro-consult.

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The 2021 University Students’ Debates, the debates are being organized by ECAMA and its partners Oxfam in Malawi and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) with financial support from the European Union (EU).

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