From Innovation to Impact: Mzinda at the Women in GIS Malawi Conference 2026
At SmartDev Systems, we believe technology should do more than solve technical problems. It should help people, communities and institutions respond to real challenges.
This belief was at the heart of our participation in the Women in GIS Malawi Conference 2026, where our Head of Innovation, Tamandani Kandodo, presented Mzinda - The Smart City App.
The conference brought together women and professionals working in GIS, technology and innovation, creating an important space to share ideas, projects and experiences.
Sharing the Mzinda Journey
Mzinda is one of the innovations we have been developing at SmartDev Systems, with a focus on supporting smarter and more connected urban development in Malawi.
During the presentation, Tamandani shared the journey behind Mzinda and how technology and geospatial thinking can come together to address urban challenges.
The presentation highlighted the importance of connecting people, information and location.
From urban mapping and waste reporting to property information, city announcements, citizen council communication and access to city services, Mzinda explores how digital technology can make urban information more accessible and useful.
A key part of the presentation was also understanding that a city is not just information, it is information connected to location. This is where geospatial technology becomes particularly valuable.
Bringing Technology and GIS Together
Mzinda is a collaborative effort that brings different areas of expertise together. Tamandani Kandodo, as Head of Innovations and Project Lead Developer, led the technical development and helped translate the concept into a digital solution.
We also recognise Ephless Mkandawire, who led the geospatial side of Mzinda, contributing the GIS and spatial perspective that helped connect urban information with location.
This collaboration reflects an important part of innovation: different skills coming together to solve one problem.
Looking Beyond the Technology
The goal of Mzinda is not simply to build another application.
We are exploring how digital and geospatial technology can support:
- Better access to urban information
- Improved communication between citizens and authorities
- Location-based reporting
- Smarter urban planning
- More connected communities
- Greater access to information about city services
Mzinda is still an evolving innovation. Our next steps include further stakeholder engagement, real-world pilot testing, data partnerships and continued development.
Women Building the Future of Technology
The opportunity to present Mzinda at the Women in GIS Malawi Conference was also a reminder of the importance of creating spaces where women can participate in technology not only as users, but as developers, GIS specialists, innovators and leaders.
At SmartDev Systems, we are proud to support work that encourages more women and young people to participate in the digital and innovation ecosystem.
We are grateful to Women in GIS Malawi for creating a platform where women can share their work, learn from one another and contribute to conversations around GIS and technology in Malawi.
Mzinda is one step in our journey of building technology for real-world challenges.
We are still learning. Still building. Still innovating. And still creating for Malawi.
Mzinda - Connecting People, Places and Possibilities.