By Valentine Zoza
Mwangala Maunga, at age 12, she invented a solar water purifier to provide clean water to both rural and urban areas.
Inspired by the prevalence of waterborne diseases that exist in most African countries, Mwangala uses an innovative combination of wooden or metal sheet enclosures, black paint for insulation, heat absorbent black trays, reflective materials, sheets of glass, glue and catch troughs to create her purifiers.
This multi award-winning young scientist, innovator and child rights advocate is from Lusaka, Zambia. She is currently a learner at Roma Girls Secondary School.
In 2018, Mwangala won the best Inventor in the Science and Tech category at the DStv Africa Multi Choice – Cartoon Network Powerpuff Girls’ Awards.
In 2019, she became the youngest recipient of the Brenda Muntemba Award as an (Emerging Young African Leader) at the PUSH WOMEN AWARDS.
In August 2020, she was the youngest and only Zambian speaker at the virtual International Youth Day which featured the Youngest Deputy Minister of Information and Technology in Namibia Hon. Emma Theofelus.
In 2021, she registered an organisation called Girl Power Platform.
In December 2021, she won the Youngest STEM Change Maker Award at the Genius Education Zambia Awards.
Mwangala Maunga is a testament that young age is an advantage and not a limiting factor. She is passionate about Science and Technology and has found ways to integrate it in practical ways that foster sustainable development and empower young girls.
