Jacqueline Msiska Bokosi’s name may not immediately stand out to some, but her work through CTS Courier Service has reached every corner of Malawi.
In just four years, this once small courier company has grown into one of the most reliable and widely used services for transporting goods across the country, changing the face of local logistics.
Bokosi is the co-founder of the now famous CTS Courier Service, which she launched in 2021 alongside her late husband.
What began as a shared dream soon became her sole mission when just two months after the company was established, she was faced with the sudden loss of her husband.
Left to raise three young children, Bokosi faced not only the weight of personal tragedy, but the challenge of building a business from the ground up all on her own.
With a brand new company, three young children, no customers, and frozen bank accounts, Bokosi found herself on the verge of giving up.
“I went into depression. I wanted to kill myself. Life became useless. I had no hope or strength to go on,” she said.
It was the support of her sisters, Agnes and Beatrice that pulled her through.
Yet, through unwavering determination and a fierce entrepreneurial spirit, she has transformed CTS Courier into a household name.
Today, CTS boasts over 30 branches spread across Malawi’s districts and urban centres, bringing services closer to customers and creating employment opportunities for many.
Bokosi’s model is one of accessibility have won her trust and loyalty from clients nationwide.
Her remarkable journey has not gone unnoticed. This year, Bokosi was honoured with the Global Recognition Award for her exceptional leadership and innovation in the transport and courier industry.
She received the Honouring Remarkable Women: Celebrating Achievement, Influence and Inspiration Award.
It was presented to her by Miss Heritage Malawi under Golden Vision to celebrate her outstanding impact as a woman in business.
She has also been nominated for the 2025 Consumer Choice Awards as the Most Promising Business Icon of the Year, a nod to her meteoric rise and consistent impact.
Her company has been nominated for the Tanzania Consumer Awards and the NPM Sadc Awards.
“Being recognised internationally is not a small thing. It means people see the work we do at CTS Courier,” she said.
Her inspiration for CTS Courier came from her own experiences in online business.
“I was taking orders online, sourcing the goods and sending them to customers using courier companies. That’s when we thought about starting our own courier business,” she explained.
She and her husband were also operating a passenger transport service with minibuses ferrying staff for various companies and schools.
“We saw a chance to diversify. The strategy was to venture into business related to what we wre already doing,” she added.
Bokosi shared that in addition to their personal vision, a prophecy by a Pastor Chris confirmed opening a courier business.
Her husband immediately began working on the paperwork.
By July 2021, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) approved the license and CTS Courier opened its doors on October 2021.
The award winner revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic further revealed a gap in the market.
She said: “With people afraid to travel, courier services became essential. We saw that as an opportunity as people complained about high prices and delayed deliveries. We knew we could do better.”
Determined, she hit the streets of Malawi, distributing CTS flyers from Blantyre to Zomba, Lilongwe to Mzuzu.
“We have applied for a national licence from Macra. CTS Courier is now a household name, thanks to a range of innovative services we have introduced such as
Bwezi la Akasi Initiative, Akasi Friday, Gululu Happy Hour, 24-Hour Service, Door-to-Door Service
“We have also expanded to new locations such as Ndirande, Matawale, 3 Miles, Greenbrier, Ginnery Corner, Chitipi, Bunda, Lunzu and more.
“We opened these branches because of the high demand. Our main offices were congested. We wanted customers to save time and money,” she said.
Despite the success, the journey has not been without challenges.
“For two years, we used third-party transport when our vans broke down. Parcels were delayed and some drivers even opened customers’ parcels. People called us thieves.
“But I told my staff to go through this challenge and we will not borrow money from banks. Now, we have more vans and cars, by the grace of God, without any loans,” she said.
Fraud has also been a challenge as scammers were using fake receipts that looked just like theirs.
Bokosi disclosed that they have lost a lot of money and customers and that’s why they are going digital.
She also confessed that there have been also emotional pain from unexpected places.
“The jealousy among women hurts. Instead of supporting me, they go on social media and talk bad about me and CTS. But I’m a listening person.
“I take advice and we move forward. I urge women to stop hating each other because we can’t move forward with that behavior, ”she added.
Still, Bokosi remains committed to empowering others as CTS Courier has employed over 200 people, mostly youth and women.
“We are working in line with the government’s goal of creating one million jobs. And soon, we are launching CTS Funeral Services—a new baby of CTS Courier,” she said.
Bokosi said as a woman, she is passionate about empowerment and that’s why she has employed more women than men to empower them.
She’s learned many lessons on the journey to respect her customers and listen to feedback and challenges which are not meant to destroy, but to mold.
“When people talk bad about you, don’t feel bad. Just make lemonade from the lemons,” she said.
To young women, she offers this advice: “Never look down on yourselves. Have a vision and stick to your mission. When things get tough, remember your goals.
“Start small, gain experience, and grow big. If you start big, the storms will blow you away,” she said.
Looking ahead, her dream is to go international as she wants CTS Courier to be the first local courier company to go international.
She added that this will help Malawi with foreign currency. And she believe, by the grace of God, it will happen.
Bokosi was born under a tree on March 3 1986 when her mother couldn’t reach the hospital during labour.
He journey has been nothing short of miraculous.
“I’m the third born in a family of seven. I love music and dancing is therapy for me,” she narrated.
