People Over Politics Foundation launched with K1 billion student support programme

The People Over Politics Foundation (PoPF), founded by Mzimba Central Member of Parliament Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, has officially been launched with a five-year student support programme targeting less-privileged students in public universities and colleges across Malawi.

The foundation was launched on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe under the theme “Turning Scars of Pain into Symbols of Resilience.”

At the centre of the foundation’s initial programme is a student stipend initiative intended to assist learners facing financial challenges while pursuing higher education.

According to information released ahead of the launch, the programme initially targeted 15 students from each of Malawi’s six public universities, with each beneficiary receiving K1.8 million per year as an upkeep allowance.

This translates to 90 university students receiving support annually.

The foundation also planned to support students from public colleges, with beneficiaries receiving K800,000 each per year.

The programme is designed to run for five years, with the detailed allocations putting the annual support at approximately K205.2 million and the five-year commitment at about K1.026 billion.

The initiative was subsequently expanded to include six students from Malawi College of Health Sciences (MCHS), bringing the reported number of beneficiaries to 150 students—90 from six public universities and 60 from 10 public colleges.

The participating universities include MUBAS, Mzuzu University, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the University of Malawi.

Speaking before the launch, PoPF spokesperson Blair Mhone said the student support programme forms part of the foundation’s broader vision of putting people first and helping vulnerable young people pursue education despite financial challenges.

The foundation has said the assistance is intended to help students meet day-to-day educational and personal needs that could otherwise affect their studies.

The launch also brought together student leaders and speakers from outside Malawi, including Nkosinathi Mabilane of the National Student Representative Council of the University of South Africa and Lathita Mbuzwana, immediate past president of the Nelson Mandela University Students’ Representative Council.

Mumba, who is the founder of the foundation, was expected to outline the organisation’s broader vision, programmes and plans for supporting vulnerable communities.

The launch follows Mumba’s earlier advocacy around the concept of putting people ahead of political interests. In April 2025, he delivered a public lecture at the University of Malawi titled “People Over Politics: A Bold, Righteous, and Inextinguishable Idea,” where he spoke about the need for governance and development to focus on citizens rather than partisan interests.

The foundation’s launch had also been preceded by a dispute over its registration. In September, reports indicated that PoPF had asked the Registrar General to finalise its registration or explain the delay, after the foundation said its application had remained pending for months.

The Registrar General, Chikumbutso Namelo, said the applicant was responsible for following up on its application and questioned the decision to involve the media in the matter. The foundation, however, said the delay had affected its ability to access some opportunities, including a potential donation of laptops for disadvantaged students.

Despite the registration concerns, the foundation said it would proceed with its planned launch and charitable activities.

With the student stipend programme now forming the foundation’s flagship initiative, PoPF says its focus is on providing practical assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and supporting them to remain in higher education.

The foundation’s launch therefore marks the beginning of its planned five-year student support programme, with the organisation expected to provide further details on beneficiary selection, implementation and other programmes.