CRAFS Fit-Hub Zam’munda App scoops RUFORUM exhibition award
The Centre for Resilient Agri-Food Systems’ (CRAFS) Food Innovation and Technology (Fit) -Hub participated in the 21st RUFORUM Annual General Meeting Exhibition, where it showcased innovations and products developed by FiT-Hub incubatees in food innovation, technology, and agribusiness.
FiT-Hub was awarded a certificate of recognition for attaining second place in the best exhibitor category with the Zam’munda Online Market App, innovated by three individuals led by a FiT-Hub incubatee, Austin Munthali, and two other individuals Namariya Mulewa and Wedson Chilenga.
The annual general meeting, held from 1st to 5th December 2025 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) in Botswana, brought together centres from various universities, which showcased a range of innovations.
Zam’munda Online Market App is a digital marketplace designed to connect agricultural producers and buyers through a technology-enabled platform and an integrated logistics network.
The app supports farmers, traders, and consumers by reducing barriers across the agricultural value chainapp. by ensuring fair pricing, improved market access, and reliable delivery of both agricultural and processed products across Malawi.
In his explanation on how the app works, Munthali stated that certified sellers register on the platform and list their products with full details such as price, quantity, and location.
“Buyers from across Malawi can browse products, place orders, make purchases, and track the movement of their goods in real time,” he said.
The system integrates a managed delivery network through designated agents, ensuring that products are safely collected from sellers and delivered to buyers efficiently and transparently.
The innovation was motivated by the widespread use of paper-based systems in Malawi’s courier sector, which results in poor record-keeping, difficulty in tracking parcels, higher risks of errors and fraud, and limited customer transparency.
The Zam’munda Online Market App addresses these gaps by digitising courier and marketplace operations, improving traceability, accountability, and efficiency, while supporting Malawi’s digital transformation.
Munthali emphasised that “for Malawi, the platform strengthens agricultural value chains by improving market access for producers, promoting fair pricing, enhancing transparency, and enabling efficient distribution of agricultural and processed goods.”
Zam’munda Online Market App reflects the mission of the FiT-Hub by transforming academic research and student innovation into practical, scalable solutions for real-world challenges.
By integrating digital marketplaces with logistics, Zam’munda contributes to food security, economic empowerment, and the country’s broader digital transformation agenda.
