By Faham Banda
Today we unwrap the story of one Mcdard Banda, a student, sportsman, business person, a teacher and a leader. You may wonder how can one person be doing all such duties and responsibilities. Well, the prodigy is herein unveiled.
Banda is a teacher and third year student at Mzuzu University (MZUNI), studying towards a Bachelor of Education Degree (Languages). He is a former Director of Sanitation and Students Residencies in the Mzuni Face to Face Students Association (FAFASA) and of course a Vice Chairperson elect in the same Association.
Banda was first appointed as Sanitation Prefect by authorities during his primary school days at Nkhotakota Islamic Primary School (NIPS). From then, he went to Nkhotakota Secondary School where upon reaching form 3, he contested and won as Health and Sanitation Prefect. After completing his secondary education, he went to Kasungu Teachers’ Training College, where he also served as Director of Sanitation.
Banda says that he likes undertaking leadership roles because he is very passionate about serving people.
He says “Passion in serving people is what motivates me, I believe in taking leading roles in making sure that people are living in conducive environment”.
Currently, Banda is operating a restaurant in the MZUNI main campus, and he has been operating various businesses since he came to MZUNI in 2021. He says his business ideas were first conceived when he lost his father in 2011. The tragic loss of his beloved father prompted him learn how to survive on his own, hence started to initiate small businesses from 2013.
Banda says that he thought it very wise to continue doing businesses even after coming to Mzuni because he wanted to provide for himself with basic necessities.
“Survival at this university in terms of basic needs is not that easy, that is why when I came here, I had to continue my business life”.
Banda happens to be a sportsman as well. He is a football fanatic and enthusiast. He reveals that football is his hobby. He says from 2010 to 2015, he has played for teams like Nkhotakota Secondary team, Nkhotakota Medicals, Nkhotakota NASO Stars Youth, Matenje Secondary School team in Salima, Bwanyamulenge FC in Salima which was in Chipuku League, and Soccer Saints FC in Mzimba.
However, Banda laments that he stopped playing football in 2015 after sustaining a serious knee injury.
“I stopped playing Football after sustaining a serious knee injury which resulted into knee surgery” he says.
Nonetheless, Banda continued to engage in other areas of the game of football. He says he was mostly working with technical panels of youth teams up to the time he got his CAF D Coaching License in 2019.
After acquiring his CAF D Coaching License, Banda has tremendously showcased his intriguing abilities in the game of football. He coached Chikwawe School in Nkhotakota which managed to get gold medals at both district and regional level, and a broze medal at National level in the 2019 MESIP Trophy. He has also coached teams like Sun City FC, Nkhotakota All Stars FC and Mkaika Academy. Currently, he is coaching Mzuni FC which is playing in Northern Region SIMSO League.
The question maybe how does Banda blend all these duties and responsibilities. Well, he says so long as he considers that all the activities are important to him, he gives each activity the time it deserves.
“As long as I know that all these things are important to me, I don’t give myself free time. There is time for classes and when its not time for classes, I go for football training or business. Nothing suffers on top of the other” he says.
Finally, Banda encourages fellow students and the youth at large that regardless of having living parents or not, they should work hard in everything that brings income, and above all, they should always pray to God, seek His blessings and guidance. He adds that everyone has the potential to do great things, hence what should matter is believing in themselves.
The story of Banda is an inspirational and an echoing voice to the hopeless. That even if one encounters trials and predicaments, they can still get back on their feet and build themselves into great people.
While others doubt their abilities, Banda ultimately proves that great things can be achieved if people believe in themselves. You can imagine, Banda in his restaurant business, he recruited a number of people who help him in running it. In the end, these we being of the society. It is therefore high time the youth should embrace the spirit of hard work so as to bring a positive and desirable change to the society.
