PROFILE OF HONOURABLE SOSTEN ALFRED GWENGWE, PEOPLE’S PARTY PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE IN THE 2014 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Honourable Sosten Alfred Gwengwe was born on 20th May 1977. He was born to Mr. Alfred Gwengwe of TA Kaphuka in Dedza and Mrs. Alice Gwengwe of TA Mazengera in Lilongwe.



He did his primary school in Lilongwe, his secondary school at Umbwi in Dedza, where he was selected to pursue a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree at the Polytechnic, University of Malawi. He graduated in 1999.



He obtained an MBA specializing in Finance from Oxford Brookes University, UK in 2003. He is a chartered and qualified management Accountant with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).



Between 2005 and 2008, while in the UK, he taught at various colleges in London.



In 2008, he returned to Malawi and founded the Alice Gwengwe Foundation, a Girls Private Secondary School in Linthipe, Dedza and also managed the Dzuka Girls Secondary School in Nathenje Lilongwe.



He successfully campaigned for a parliamentary seat in Dedza Central, and was voted as a Member of Parliament in the 2009 General Elections. In 2009, he was appointed Shadow Finance Minister for the Malawi Congress Party. He was the Finance Spokesperson in Parliament for the MCP. He has also served in the Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament, and the International Relations Committee of Parliament and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).



In April 2012, Honorable Gwengwe was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure. In December 2012, he was appointed Minister of Industry and Trade, a position he serves to date. Honorable Gwengwe has been a guest speaker at various international fora, including the Dubai- Africa Business Forum 2013, the UK- Malawi Investment Forum in London among many others.



He is Christian of Inter Pentecostal faith, and is married to Enelesi Gwengwe of T/A Kalonga, Salima. They have two children.