By DERRICK SILIMINA
Alice Mbewe, 31, sold tomatoes and groceries in Kawama B area of Solwezi district for a number of years until 2019 when her business collapsed owing to mismanagement and expenditure on a relative’s funeral.
Mbewe, a single mother of four with two dependents, says despite the loss of financial capital to continue with the business, her fortunes revived the same year as she started attending the Business Development Training Workshops courtesy of Kansanshi Mining Plc.
“The training opened my mind and as a result, I was able to raise starting capital of K400 from a ‘Kilimba’ Group with which I was able to resume the business. I would not have been able to look after my children and dependants well if it had not been for the training which gave me knowledge and encouraged me not to look down on my abilities to establish a successful business.”
Mbewe recently explained this to the Fortune World Investments Limited visiting mentorship team comprised of Andrew Kafuta and Patrick Matanda.
She was in the process of diversifying into honey selling because of the insights she had drawn from the training.
Mbewe, who still conducts her business in Kawama B area of Solwezi town, rented a building near her home to run the grocery business. Unfortunately, the owner of the building terminated the lease, which forced her to do business in the open air.
“The training I received equipped me with enough knowledge and skills not to give up and by the way, I have already repaid the K400 that I borrowed from the fundraising group and my working capital has risen to K1, 200.”
The visiting mentorship team advised Mbewe to consider registering her business if she is to benefit from business opportunities to come with the establishment of the Ministry responsible for Small and Medium Entrepreneurs.
