Running cellphone clinic with passion

The two young men operate in one room and have done this since 2006.

They are inseparable and following up their story, one concludes that the two have a common denominator.

Mabvuto Lalli and Henry Odezio or Bvuto and Henz, respectively, as they are fondly called by fellow youths, operate a popular cellphone and computer accessories joint venture in Area 25 in Lilongwe.

The duo has a registered business in the name of Sharks General Traders which has fast become a household name in Area 25 and the surrounding area.

Their business specialises in cellphone repairs, phone flashing and unlocking, selling up-to-date cellphones and their accessories, dealing with both computer software and hardware, importing various materials on order and doing general trading as their business name suggests.

Lalli and Odezio have grown in area 25 and have both done their primary school at Kabwabwa LEA School.

Their dream to succeed in their endeavour was hatched 2006 when they jointly set up a now defunct Biz Plus.com which specialised in cellphone repairs.

“Under Biz Plus.com we struggled to make ends meet because we were new in the industry. We were faced with rising rentals in Old Town which forced us to break for a year in 2007,” Odezio said.

But Odezio and Lalli re-united in 2008 to form the present enterprise which has made significant strides in the industry.

Lalli testifies that apart from serving their customers with phone and computer accessories, they are also at a peak of importing other materials such as shoes and motor vehicles.

They attribute their success to honesty and God’s grace.

“We started from a scratch and as a very small-scale business, but over the years, we have seen our business expanding with people from other districts seeking our services. We don’t take this for granted and it’s because we are open to one another and over and above, we don’t disappoint our customers,” said the ever-smiling Lalli.

He explained that they do not fear competitors because they know they are doing the best in serving their customers.

Added Odezio: “Even those doing the same business come to us for assistance.”

The two bemoaned the floatation of the kwacha, saying it results in their paying a lot in importing materials.

Odezio and Lalli dream of owning a giant or a ‘superpower’ computer and cellphone repair company in the country. They were optimistic that with determination such a dream will materialise.