UNIMA’s Winning Streak Continues as Daniel Kawonga Claims SADC Essay Prize

For the second year in a row, a student from the University of Malawi has achieved the first prize in the SADC essay writing competition. On 17th August, 2024, at the official opening ceremony of the 44th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government, Mr. Daniel Kawonga, a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Education in Social Studies at UNIMA, was named the first-prize winner of the 2024 SADC Tertiary Institutions Essay Competition.

The competition was open to all institutions of higher learning in the SADC region, and invited students to write on SADC’s achievement of the vision of its founders. Kawonga’s winning essay provided a comprehensive and well-researched analysis of SADC’s achievements since its formation, evaluating how these accomplishments measure up against the vision set by the organization’s founders. The essay highlighted notable progress in regional integration, economic development, peace, security, and climate change mitigation. However, Kawonga also pointed out ongoing challenges such as poverty and inequality, demonstrating a balanced and insightful perspective.

For a long time, students of the University of Malawi have made winning international competitions look easy, clinching awards in various disciplines. Many students from the university have been recognized in various competitions for their outstanding performance, both local and international. The university takes immense pride in such achievements, particularly when the hard work and dedication of the students earn regional recognition.

Kawonga’s participation in the essay competition was driven by his profound interest in the history and development of SADC. His motivation reflects UNIMA’s commitment to understanding and addressing the challenges and opportunities within the region.

For UNIMA, Kawonga’s success in the competition is a proud moment that underscores the quality of education and support provided. Being recognized at a regional level is not just an individual achievement but also a reflection of the university’s commitment to nurturing academic excellence and regional engagement.

“It feels incredibly rewarding and humbling to be recognized at a regional level for my academic work,” Kawonga said. “This recognition motivates me to continue researching and writing about important issues affecting our beloved region.”

As the winner, Kawonga has been awarded $2000 by the regional body. He credits the support from his peers and the mentorship from his lecturers as crucial to his success. At UNIMA, building strong support networks is considered fundamental to student achievement. Students are encouraged to seek out and utilize these networks, including peer support and faculty mentorship, to maximize their potential and achieve their academic goals.

In 2023, the SADC Tertiary Institutions Essay Competition was won by Viveck Chimwaza, another student from the University of Malawi (https://www.unima.ac.mw/news/single-post/chimwaza-pens-winning-sadc-essay-21-08-2023)