By Chisomo Phiri

Former National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) Chief Executive Officer(CEO ) Helen Buluma has been appointed Commission Secretary for the bi-national Lesotho Highlands Water Commission.

The commission serves both the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa in overseeing the multi-billion-dollar Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

The project supplies water to South Africa’s Gauteng Province and generates hydropower for the Kingdom of Lesotho.

The project is among the largest infrastructure initiatives in Africa, featuring several major dams, including one of the largest dams in the world called Katse Dam.

Buluma is the first woman to hold the position since the signing of the 1986 treaty between the governments of Lesotho and South Africa.

Who is Helen Buluma?

Helen Buluma is an experienced International and Social Development Specialist.

She holds a holder of a Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences obtained from the University of Malawi (UNIMA ),a Masters Degree in Development Studies obtained from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom and a PhD  in Public law with the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Buluma has a combination of over 22 years national and International work experience having served in various senior capacities for organizations such as Illovo Sugar, Save The Children Federation; Oxfam GB and UN Women amongst others.

Her international work experience has enabled her to gain extensive International relations, policy analysis and negotiations  expertise as she worked among other roles to lobby for development aid and assistance,inclusive development, participatory trade policies focusing on low income countries and their integration into the international trade and development architecture.

In addition to the above, Buluma has served on various Boards both in Malawi and abroad among them;
Board Member – Roads Authority of Malawi
Vice Chairperson – National Youth Council of Malawi
Board Member – National Herbarium and Botanical Gardens
Board Director – African Democratic Institute, Johannesburg Area, South Africa
Steering Committee Member – UK Aid Network ( UKAN), London, UK among others.

She is a self-driven and well motivated person with a strong passion towards contributing to poverty reduction through models that allow for equal and equitable distribution of resources, opportunities and empowerment of the most vulnerable groups in society,a cause she has worked towards throughout her life.