Mwai Kumwenda is a Malawi netball international player who plays for Melbourne Vixens in Australia. She is widely regarded as one of the best shooters in the world. She has won several accolades, including the 2015 International Player of the Year, the 2017 Liz Ellis Diamond, and the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final MVP.
Kumwenda’s netball career has not been without challenges, however. She has faced poverty, discrimination, and injury and has overcome them with determination, resilience, and passion. She has also been a trailblazer for women’s empowerment and social change, both in Malawi and Australia.
Recently, Mwai Kumwenda announced her pregnancy and her marriage to Wanangwa Chrispine Mbwana, a Malawian businessman. In this article, we will share the details of Kumwenda’s personal life and how she balances her netball and family commitments.
Kumwenda’s Pregnancy Announcement
Mwai Kumwenda revealed her pregnancy news on social media and the Vixens website and received congratulatory messages from her fans, teammates, and coaches. She posted a photo of herself holding a sonogram with the caption, “Wanangwa and I are very excited to be growing our family. Baby Mbwana coming soon.”
Kumwenda is expecting her first child in 2024 and will take a period of leave from netball to focus on her health and well-being. She said she was grateful for the support and understanding of the Vixens and Netball Australia and that she was looking forward to becoming a mother.
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Her husband, Wanangwa Chrispine Mbwana, also expressed his joy and excitement on social media, saying, “I am so happy and blessed to be married to the most amazing woman I have ever met and to be expecting our first child together. Mwai, you are my everything, and I can’t wait to see you as a mom.”
Kumwenda’s coach, Simone McKinnis, said the entire Vixens family was thrilled for MJ and Wanangwa and that they couldn’t wait to welcome their little one into the fold when the time comes. She also said that Kumwenda would remain involved in the Vixens environment in an off-court capacity and that the club was working on finding a replacement player for the 2024 season.
Mwai Kumwenda’s Husband and Wedding
Mwai Kumwenda met her husband, Wanangwa Chrispine Mbwana, who is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Blantyre, Malawi, through a mutual friend. They hit it off instantly and started a long-distance relationship, with Kumwenda living in Melbourne and Mbwana living in Blantyre.
Mwai Kumwenda and Mbwana have a strong and supportive relationship and share common values and goals. They both love netball, and Mbwana often attends Kumwenda’s games and cheers her on. They also share a passion for giving back to their community and have been involved in various charitable projects, such as building schools, clinics, and wells in rural areas of Malawi.
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Kumwenda and Mbwana often compliment each other and express their love on social media with sweet messages and photos. Kumwenda once wrote, “He is my best friend, my soulmate, and my partner in everything. He makes me laugh, he makes me smile, he makes me happy. He supports me. He encourages me, and he challenges me. He is my rock, my anchor, my everything.” Mbwana once wrote, “She is the most amazing woman I have ever met, and I am so proud of her achievements. She is beautiful, smart, talented, and kind. She inspires me, she motivates me, she uplifts me. She is my queen, my angel, my everything.”
Mwai Kumwenda and Mbwana tied the knot in a lavish ceremony held in Blantyre on 25 September 2022. They invited several high-profile guests and celebrities, including some of Kumwenda’s teammates and friends from Australia, such as Liz Watson, Jo Weston, and Caitlin Thwaites. The wedding was a fusion of Malawian and Australian cultures with traditional and modern elements.
Mwai Kumwenda wore a stunning white gown and a traditional Malawian dress, and Mbwana wore a matching suit and a Malawian shirt. They exchanged vows, rings, and kisses and declared their love and commitment to each other. They also cut a huge cake, made speeches, and danced to their favorite songs. The wedding was a surprise performance by musician Saint, who sang his hit song “Mwai Kumwenda,” which he wrote in honor of Kumwenda’s netball achievements.