By Chisomo Phiri
A 21-year-old Chikondi Kamwendo from Bangula in Nsanje District has emerged the first winner of the Triephornia Mpinganjira’s ‘Kuthandiza Omwe Alibe Kuthekera Kupita Patsogolo initiative.
Kamwendo, whose business idea is to buy and sell farm produce, dropped out of University school, due to lack of fees.
Speaking in Lilongwe after receiving a cheque of K1 million, the young girl said she plans to open a farm store at Bangula where she will be selling maize, millet and beans at an affordable price.
“My projection is that I will make more than K2.5 million which I will invest back into the business until the second year where I will use part of the profits to return to school,” said Kamwendo.
She hailed Mpinganjira for introducing the initiative saying it will help many young entrepreneurs who have no capitals.
On her part, Triephornia Mpinganjira described Chikondi’s business idea as original, practical, sincere, a product of research and a pure understanding of the society she lives in.
“She sells Zigege to raise fees but she wants to open a farm produce shop. So, with this K1 million I hope she is drawing closer to her dreams. She is an icon to reckon with,”she said.
According to Mpinganjira, the project received over 38 000 applications and her team went through all the applications including making physical visits to potential winners.
The initiative whose total budget is K18 million, targets enterprising youths in the country between the ages of 18 and 35.
Those successful will receive K1 million.
