Thom Mpinganjira, one of Malawi’s most successful yet controversial businessmen and the founder of FDH Bank Plc, has announced that he is constructing a multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art cancer center in Blantyre, Malawi, during the celebration of FDH Bank’s 15th anniversary.
Mpinganjira, recognized as one of the wealthiest individuals in Malawi, shared the personal motivation behind this ambitious healthcare initiative.
He recounted the emotional and financial toll of his late wife Barbara Mpinganjira’s battle with cancer, during which he spent three months in a South African hotel—an experience he described as something he wouldn’t wish upon anyone. This fueled his commitment to establish a world-class cancer center within Malawi.
Thom Mpinganjira’s cancer center set to transform Malawi’s healthcare access
The initiative aims to address a pressing need in the country by reducing reliance on foreign healthcare services, ensuring that cancer patients in Malawi have access to world-class treatment within the nation’s borders.
Malawi has historically sent cancer patients abroad, primarily to countries like India and Tanzania, for treatment due to the lack of comprehensive facilities at home.
The Ministry of Health revealed that Malawi allocates over MWK2 billion (approx. $1.8 million) annually to fund overseas cancer treatments. Notably, in 2017, the Malawian government initiated the construction of the National Cancer Center, which remains unfinished.
Mpinganjira’s remarkable journey to becoming one of Malawi’s wealthiest individuals is closely tied to his extensive investment portfolio, including a substantial indirect stake of 40.7 percent in FDH Bank.
FDH Bank operates as a leading financial institution in Malawi
Established in April 2002, FDH Bank, under the aegis of FDH Financial Holdings, operates as a leading financial institution in Malawi, with 53 branches and 91 automated teller machines distributed across all 27 districts of the country. It has become a reliable player in the nation’s financial landscape.
Mpinganjira’s 40.7-percent indirect stake, held through his sole shareholding in M Development, which owns a 55-percent stake in FDH Financial Holdings, underlines his position not only as one of Malawi’s wealthiest individuals but also as one of the most influential figures in the broader Southern African region.
As the country anticipates the opening of the cancer center next month, this development represents a significant step toward improving healthcare access in Malawi and adds another noteworthy chapter to Mpinganjira’s legacy as a businessman and philanthropist.
