I am Thokozani Ngosi, a hardworking Malawian woman, born in 1965. I began my working life in 1995 as a primary school teacher, earning a monthly salary of MK2,000. It wasn't enough to meet my needs, since I was also responsible for supporting my daughter and two siblings. My small income had to stretch to cover food, education, clothing, and other basic household needs, and given the low pay and heavy responsibilities I carried, I eventually decided to look for a better-paying job.
In 2001, I joined the Malawi Police Service, where I worked hard and dedicated myself to serving my community. I continued until I reached the retirement age of sixty, and I retired in 2025.
After retiring, I began receiving a monthly pension of MK400,000. But honestly, it's not enough to cover my everyday needs, given the rising cost of living. The prices of food, healthcare, and other necessities keep going up, and it's made it difficult for me to live comfortably. I'm no longer able to work to supplement my income, so now I depend on my children for additional financial support to meet some of my daily needs.
Despite these challenges, I remain grateful for the life I have lived: for the opportunity to work, to serve my community, and to provide for my family, and for having been kept alive to reach this stage of my life.