Several women from Lunzu, in Blantyre, are getting economically empowered to support their families after venturing into small and medium-scale businesses.
Some of them are running restaurants and Enelesi Jekelesi, a family woman, shares her story.
“As a family, we were finding it difficult to support children to access basic needs, food was a problem and paying school fees was hectic.
“Out of this business, I have managed to construct a house, purchase land and provide school fees to our children, and we are living a better life than before,” she narrated.
Sitayina Kaya, who does a similar business, said she decided to support her husband as it is not easy taking care of a family of five.
“I started with K5,000 to buy materials such as flour, relish, tomatoes, onions and pots. My husband has been encouraging me since 2020,” she said.
She added that running a restaurant has its challenges as some customers fail to settle their accumulated bills, which eats into their working capital.
Credit Analysis Manager for National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF), Whyghtone Mweta, said business women can access loans to enhance their business.
“Restaurateurs get financed through what is called a General Trading Loan. This loan is available to all SMEs, regardless of the gender of the applicant/borrower. The loan is only available to individuals and not groups. The loan amount threshold is a minimum of K5 million and a maximum of K250 million,” he said.
Mweta stressed that the loan is set at a lower interest rate to enable applicants to access and pay back with ease.
