Mangochi-based youthful entrepreneur Mariam Stand has managed to transform her life from a rice seller to a real estate owner.
Stand, from Mtalimanja Village in Traditional Authority Mponda in the district has been selling rice in Mangochi township since 2011.
She has indicated that for over 9 years, her business has been her main source of survival.
But in 2020, Stand decided to upgrade her life and she eventually started saving some of her profits with an intention of keeping enough money to help her diversify her business.
“Of course after I started saving, my colleagues advised me to apply for a loan from the state-owned National Economic Empowerment Fund, which I did and I was given K200,000 which I invested back into my business,” said Stand.
After successfully repaying back the loan, she was offered another loan of K2.5 million which she took.
“And the fresh loan really helped me because my profits shot to the roof,” said Stand.
Using her profits, Stand bought building materials such as cement, windows, glasses and other materials which she used to construct an executive house, propelling her into the elite world of real estate owners.
“As I am speaking, I am a proud owner of a big house, an enormous achievement for a youth like me,” She added while smiling.
Her vision is to see her business enterprise expanding and diversifying into a large entity.
Meanwhile, NEEF Chief Executive Officer, Humphrey Mdyetseni has expressed delight with Stand’s story, describing it as “sweet news” for the state owned loan entity.
“These are stories that keep us going as NEEF,” he said.
