The world is varying every minute. It is hard to understand how the technology is growing in Africa principally Malawi.

There is this other shock (dropping off of price from Mwk3 500 ($25) to just Mwk1 500 ($11)) that has made Malawians have phones. Followed the harvesting period, many bought them up to the moment that the mobile phone number codes was disturb. The network providers changed the codes from +265 9 to +265 99, this is for Zain Malawi www.zain.com. Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM) has changed its numbers codes from +265 8 to +265 88.

In Malawi majority earns from farming, but there was a problem of farm imports for local farmers. Fertilizer was expensive costing Mwk9 000 ($64) per 50 kg bag. This was impossible for the local farmers to buy. The Government introduced the fertilizer subsiding program. It was targeting for those who are living under low income level. Since the program, it is now costing Mwk900 that was due 2004 and this year the president promised to change to Mwk500 per 50 kg bag. These lead to high crop yield for in the just passed years. The farmers were able to have access for selling. This increase the demand for technology (phones) to the extent above.

To the government, “ndakudyadirani” (I am proud of you) for loving us in such a way.

It was hard to buy a cellular phone in late 1990s. Example Nokia 5200 was at Mwk12 000 ($86). Being in developing country, only numbered managed to buy.

 Now, in fact everywhere phone, phone and phone.

Telephones bureau was better business, many used to phone at a fixed rate of 50 kwacha a minute. Now that many do have these portable telephones the business has been replaced by the selling of top up units.

I had chance of doing the business to my fellow students at school. I visit the Zain Malawi where they registered my Sim card..  She puts the code in phone number so authorized to buy stock and sell electronically with receipts. I buy 10 dollar units at 1 330 selling them at a mark-up of Mwk80. The Mwk80 was enough for lunch at school. I was able to sell twenty dollars a day, though it had a little negative effect on my studies.

Not all handset a lone but there is this other out of basic needs like radios and television. The problems associating with these are the lack of energy supply. Some do use solar panel like the one below bought at a price of Mwk6 000 ($43).  

Below are the scanned images of the phone at Mwk1500 and solar panel.