Small loan unearths hidden talents
Green Kaunda Chisale, 44, of Makenzi Village, T/A Msamala, in Balaka District stopped going to school as he couldn’t afford the school fees. Struggling to find work with no qualifications, Green Kaunda Chisale embarked on a search for an alternative way to earn a living. With no technical skills training, he one day purchased an iron pipe which he cut into four pieces, borrowed a welding machine and joined them together. To his amazement, Green Kaunda Chisale had made a bicycle frame. With this discovery, Green started making bicycle frames but lacked the capital to finance other parts and accessories to produce finished bicycles.
In 2006, CUMO Microfinance Limited (CUMO) came to his village offering financial services including small enterprise loans. CUMO offers such services in rural areas with the view to reducing rural poverty. Green joined CUMO’s program, received training on how to run a business and applied for a K5,000 (US$33) loan with which he purchased various bicycle parts. He used some of the parts to complete assembling his bicycles. His hardware business grew into a bicycle parts hardware store.
With the profits from the business, Green Kaunda Chisale has built a self contained house, purchased a motor vehicle and employs a driver. He later discovered how to make battery acid. With this discovery, Green diversified his business to include the production, bottling and trading of battery acid which is also in high demand in Balaka and surrounding districts. He plans to purchase a three tone pick-up truck his business and is looking forward to the time CUMO will introduce an individual loan facility.
Currently, Green Kaunda Chisale’s hardware shop is one of
the most famous, well stocked and well patronized shops at Balaka
Township.“Cumo has helped me to become innovative and I
follow the valuable advice that we get from CUMO’s
officers” explains Green as the secret behind his success. He
advises others to be stable in mind and conscious of the good and
bad seasons that businesses pass through.
