Mponela is a town in Dowa District in the Central Region of Malawi. It lies in the country's central highlands region, north of the capital city, Lilongwe.
The town serves as an administrative and commercial centre for the surrounding rural area of Dowa District, where agriculture forms the mainstay of the local economy. It is located along Malawi's main north–south road corridor, which links Lilongwe with the northern part of the country.