In the remote village of Kalonjere, within Traditional Authority Sitola in Machinga District, where Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) power lines are absent, Benedict Kankhulungo spotted a unique opportunity.
With firewood being the only reliable energy source, Kankhulungo was inspired to develop the Unified Electrical Power Amplifier.
This system converts and amplifies solar energy, transforming it into a dependable power source for his community.
“The only reliable energy source in our village is firewood. Alternatives like gas, petroleum and candle wax are too expensive for many,” he shares.
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Kankhulungo recognised that innovation alone was not sufficient; protecting his invention was equally important.
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Determined to safeguard his work, he embarked on the process of registering his invention with the Office of the Registrar General under the Ministry of Justice, despite the lengthy six-month process.
“Even though the registration took about six months to complete, it was worthwhile. I would do it again to ensure my invention was protected,” he says.
For Kankhulungo, registration was not just about legal protection but also about gaining the trust of funders and ensuring that his work could be commercialised without fear of intellectual theft.
He encourages other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and innovators to do the same, emphasising that legal protection through registration is essential for thriving in today’s economy.
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“It is crucial to register innovations to protect against copyright infringement. Most funders prefer to invest in something that is legally protected,” he advises
Deputy Registrar General responsible for the commercial section in the Ministry of Justice, Joseph Chintolo, says registering a business is not merely a formality but a necessity for those with an annual turnover exceeding K2 million.
“Under our laws, the Business Registration Act requires businesses meeting this turnover threshold to register. For such businesses, registration is mandatory,” Chintolo explains.
He points out that the benefits of business registration extend well beyond mere legal compliance.
“One of the foremost benefits is legal recognition. Businesses operating without registration are in the informal sector.
“The first step to transitioning to the formal sector is registering the business, which grants it legal recognition,” he said.
This legal recognition ensures that the business name is protected, preventing others from using it, which is vital for brand identity and customer trust.
“Unregistered businesses often struggle to secure financing. Operating in the informal sector makes accessing finance very difficult,” Chintolo adds.
Registered and formalised businesses, on the other hand, have better access to finance through banks and micro-lending institutions, which prefer working with entities that have a legal standing.
Chintolo also notes that business registration enhances credibility and that customer and partner confidence in a business is influenced by its registration status.
“When dealing with a registered business, people’s attitude is different. Confidence in a registered business positively impacts its operations,” he explains.
However, for Kankhulungo, registering his innovation involved travelling from Machinga District to Blantyre, incurring transport costs and other expenses—a challenge faced by many entrepreneurs and innovators.
Fortunately, this is now a thing of the past.
The Office of the Registrar General has simplified the registration process with the introduction of the Malawi Business Registration Services online portal.
This platform makes it easier than ever for business owners to formalise their operations.
“There is no need to visit our offices or file paperwork in person; the entire application can be completed online.
“The process is straightforward: business owners create an account, log in and register their business using a national identification number, an email account, a phone number and a fee of K10,000.
“This system is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to all, eliminating traditional barriers to business registration,” Kankhulungo says.
The need for robust intellectual property (IP) protection and awareness extends beyond individual innovators like Kankhulungo.
Vice Chancellor of the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Address Malata, urges researchers and innovators across the country to trademark their work and ensure it is legally protected.
“There are certain things we cannot achieve if the registration process is not robust enough to create opportunities for all, including young and old people, women and men,” Malata said in an interview.
She added that a lack of IP awareness is hindering economic growth in Malawi.
“In other words, if you have an innovation, don’t just share it on social media. People could steal your ideas, replicate them and sell them,” she cautioned.
As the stories of Kankhulungo and insights from industry leaders like Malata illustrate, protecting intellectual property is not only about securing legal rights but also about paving the way for future success and innovation.
With the introduction of the Malawi Business Registration Services online portal, registration has never been easier.
For SMEs and innovators in Malawi, the message is clear: registration is key to unlocking opportunities and ensuring long-term growth and sustainability, as demonstrated by Kankhulungo’s experience.
