For Zambia to develop, its greatest assets are its people who need to venture into business, develop products and brands, grab a share of the local market and eventually start exporting. With the youths making up the majority of the adult population, youth entrepreneurship is therefore cardinal to leveraging this demographic dividend.
One such example is a 31 year old Lusaka based youthful entrepreneur has developed his own shoe brand with the Zambian touch label called “Yama Mfumu Che” which is currently creating waves and selling in Lusaka.
Raphael Phiri, an Environmental Engineering graduate from the Copperbelt University – CBU who started his university education in 2011 and completed in 2017 told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that he started his business while at CBU, adding that everything running now was birthed from his government meal allowances (commonly called BC) and other little funds he could raise from his family that were meant for sustainability.
He said the dream and goal behind the shoe brand was to create something that has the Zambian culture in it from the brand name and quality identity. The youthful entrepreneur stated that he has managed to create employment of up to ten (10) people with both the clothing store and the shoe store.
Thr “Yama Mfumu Che” shoe brand has been able to to sale up to 30 pairs of shoes from the first 100 samples that were open for sale last week going at K980 per pair. This is a competitive price when one looks at the quality of the show and how it compares with its imported peers.
He told ZBT that he is looking forward to growing his brand. Currently, his shoe brand revenue potential is developing and he is able to post revenues of up to K20,000 per day on a good day. With more support from Zambians, he plans to grow the brand and employ more fellow youths in the business.
On the challenges encountered, Raphael said, the challenge on the Zambian market is finding accessories with regards to the sowing materials, adding that in Zambia there are no available proper needles and accessories to fix the heal and the inside part of a shoe, which brings in a challenge because most suppliers are so much into smart shoes with limited supply for smart casual shoes.
“For me, my business is build off my passion. I love what I do, it’s easy for me to work late and work up in the wee hours of the morning, it goes beyond the money. You know what they say, find what you love and you don’t have to pay for it. I am enjoying it and getting paid for it”, he added.
The Yama Mfumu Che founder has since encouraged other Zambian young entrepreneurs to continue pushing to make Zambia a great nation through investing in different crafts and passions. Zambia can only be developed by Zambians.
PS – If you are a youth nurturing a business or you know a youth entreprenuer who needs their story to be shared, ZBT has now opened a segment that it will showcase the selected youth entrepreneur at at its cost to support youth entrepreneurship as a solution to Zambia’s economic growth. Send your suggested story to editor@zambianbusinesstimes.com or info@zambianbusinesstimes.com
