We are so deeply thrilled to introduce to you Ms. Chimango Manduwi as the Operations Lead of Kwathu Kollective, marking a powerful convergence of legacy, leadership, and future-focused innovation in Malawi.
This is a story of vision passed on: from mother to daughters. From Captain Lonnie Constance Kalua-Manduwi, to her two daughters: Nthanda and Chimango. And how, together, they are building something that will shape the future of education and innovation on the African continent.
A Legacy Rooted in the Lakeshore
This story begins with Captain Lonnie Manduwi—Malawi’s first female marine captain. But she was more than a pioneer on water—she was a pioneer on land. She founded Excel Primary School and Hillside Secondary School in Mangochi to offer excellence in education to the children of the lakeshore, long before the world used buzzwords like “access” or “inclusion.”
She didn’t just hope for change. She built it.
When she passed away in 2022, her daughters took up the mantle—each in their own way.
Nthanda’s Vision: Bridging Legacy and Innovation
While Chimango stepped in to stabilize and lead Excel Schools as Managing Director, her sister, Nthanda Manduwi, had already begun forging a parallel path—building Kwathu Kollective from the ground up.
As the founder of Kwathu Kollective and a lifelong advocate for digital transformation, Nthanda saw the potential for Excel to evolve—not just as a school, but as a model for the future of education in Africa.
She understood that true innovation isn’t about abandoning the past. It’s about bringing tradition and technology into dialogue.
And so, together with Chimango, they began to imagine:
What if we brought Kwathu home?
What if Excel became the prototype for digitally integrated learning?
What if we used our mother’s legacy as the blueprint for Africa’s next education revolution?
That vision has now become reality.
Kwathu Kollective Moves Home: Hosted at Excel Primary School
Under Chimango’s leadership, Kwathu Kollective’s new headquarters is now based at Excel Schools. This is not merely a matter of space; it’s a matter of alignment.
The dream is simple:
- That innovation and early education should not be separate conversations.
- That digital readiness must begin in childhood—not after graduation.
- That a child in Mangochi should have the same exposure to future-forward skills as one in New York, Nairobi, or Tokyo.
Together, Nthanda and Chimango are merging ecosystems:
- One rooted in grassroots education, legacy, and foundational learning;
- The other driven by digital innovation, creativity, and future systems design.
The Woman Now Leading Operations
Chimango Manduwi is uniquely equipped for this new role.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), and is presently pursuing her MBA at the University of Malawi (UNIMA).
Having spent the past two years stabilizing Excel following their mother’s passing, she has also immersed herself in the Digital Malawi Project—understanding how government, community, and tech intersect.
Now, as Operations Lead at Kwathu Kollective, she is ready to integrate those learnings into a school model that will serve as a prototype for the entire continent.
A Model for the Future: From Mangochi to Africa
This partnership will serve as the first full-scale implementation of a digitally integrated primary school, with Kwathu Kollective embedded in the classroom ecosystem from Standard 1 to Standard 8.
Together, we will:
- Roll out Digital Skills for Africa to learners and teachers;
- Build early exposure to AI, coding, robotics, and media production;
- Train teachers in digital pedagogy;
- Introduce parents to digital literacy tools;
- Use real-time data to inform education policy and scale.
Excel becomes the lab. Kwathu Kollective becomes the engine. And Mangochi becomes the launchpad.
What We Hope to Achieve (2025–2055)
With Nthanda as the architect of the innovation model, and Chimango as the leader of operational execution, we envision:
✅ A generation of digitally fluent learners starting in Mangochi
✅ An exportable Kwathu–Excel model that transforms schools across Africa
✅ Policy change driven by proven community results
✅ A connected network of educators, technologists, and creatives
✅ A living legacy that honors Captain Lonnie Manduwi not only in name—but in impact
Legacy. Leadership. Launch.
This is a family story—but more than that, it’s a national vision.
Captain Lonnie Manduwi believed in excellence on the water and in the classroom. Chimango carries that excellence every day at Excel. Nthanda translates it into platforms, systems, and scalable models.
Together, they are building the future from home—and from that home, taking it to the world.
Work With Us
Want to partner on or fund one of our programmes / initiatives? We are always open to collaborations and partnerships. Contact our Business Development Associate; Ms. Abigail Zingani via contact@kwathucentre.org, or give us a call(direct or WhatsApp) on +265991850749.
To keep up with the work of the Kwathu Kollective, our initiatives and our projects, follow us on socia media:
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