Malawians Mark Phiri and Wife Agnes Katsonga
Visit Ft. Wayne, Indiana in September 2007

Posted September 21, 2007


Mark Phiri and Agnes Katsona on September 16, 2007

We had an unexpected surprise as friends of ours from Malawi came to visit in Indiana.  They are Mark Katsonga Phiri and his wife Agnes Katsonga Phiri. They live in Blantyre. Bev and I have stayed with and have had dinner at their home a couple of times on visits in 2004 and 2006.  Mark is a member of the Malawi Parliament and member of the People's Progressive Movement Party. He owns a a few different businesses ranging from poultry raising to running a scheduled coach service throughout Malawi. 

Agnes is the head of Customs and Excise in Malawi. She was formerly head of Inland Revenue for the southern half of Malawi.  She is an active Rotarian having served most recently as Assistant 9210 District Governor for two years.  This district includes the countries of Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. She has held different Rotary offices including being President of her Blantyre club.

They both are competent people who are civic-minded and desirous of helping their own people.  The Blantyre Club was instrumental in a Rotary Matching Grant that provided two ambulances for two LifeNets funded clinics in Balaka and Lilongwe.  

Mark and Agnes came to Indiana for their son's wedding in Ft. Wayne. Bev and I went up on Sunday, September 16th to spend some time with them. They are very enjoyable to be with.  When in Malawi, Agnes has provided us some valuable transportation including a very much needed drive from Lake Malawi to Blantyre last fall. 

They really wanted to drive around the countryside of Ft. Wayne and see the farmland.  We did that and then went out to eat with them.  They have become very good friends in (according to the United Nations), the third poorest country in the world. 

We look forward to seeing them again on our next visit to Malawi which will hopefully be in 2008. 

You can read my TravelPod blog about our visits with them in Malawi last fall.

Hit Counter