Triephornia Mpinganjira gives woman K1m boost

Twenty-year-old Chikondi Kamwendo from Bangula in Nsanje District is the first beneficiary of Kuthandiza Omwe Alibe Kuthekera Kupita Patsogolo Project, a brainchild of entrepreneur Triephornia Mpinganjira.

Chikondi said she sells zigege, boiled Irish potatoes coated with flour and food colouring, to raise her college fees as she faced imminent withdrawal.

She said her target was to raise capital to open a farm produce shop to finance her education.

“That is why the K1 million will make my dream come true,” said Chikondi, smiling.

Triephornia, wife to business mogul and philanthropist Thomson Mpinganjira, said her initiative has put on the table K18 million and is targeting enterprising youths in the country between the ages of 18 and 35.

She said every fortnight a successful youth will receive K1 million.

Said Triephornia: “My target is to empower the youth who have great business ideas and are dedicated to translating those ideas into successful enterprises.”

She said the initiative received over 38 000 applications, which her team assessed, including physical visits to potential winners.

Triephornia said Chikondi’s business idea was a product of research and pure understanding of the society she lives in, hatched after dropping out of college due to fees challenges.

“I am so excited with Chikondi as our first winner. She is from a poor background and stays at Bangula in Nsanje.