A Mulanje-based man Patrick Matope has seen his humble beginnings from a razor blade vendor to become hardware store proprietor.
He told ProjectM he attributed his success to patience and perseverance.
Matope, based in Kadewere Village in Traditional Authority Chikumbu started his entrepreneurship as a vendor, mostly selling razor blades at Thabwa Market.
“I am a living example of a person who started from the bottom and is now getting to the top,” Matope said.
In 2023, he decided to take a risk and venture into a hardware business using capital he raised from his vending business.
“I then applied for a loan from the National Economic Empowerment Fund of which I was given K2.5 million,” said Matope.
Using the additional funds from NEEF, Matope boosted his business, becoming one of the best hardware stores at Thabwa Market.
Through profits made from his enterprise, he has managed to build a house, buy a car and pay school fees for his children.
His vision is to own a bigger hardware shop.
“I want to leave this one in the hands of my wife and own another shop,” he added.
Meanwhile, NEEF through its spokesperson, Elizabeth Hara has hailed Matope for investing properly money obtained from the organisation.
