Diana Kachingwe, a Lilongwe-based entrepreneur and founder of Zoyellah Investments, has turned her passion into a thriving business with her locally made cleaning products.
Kachingwe, a holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance, ventured into the soap making business in 2019 after identifying a gap in the market for affordable and healthy cleaning products, especially for low and middle income earners.
“I decided to close the gap by providing soap at fair and affordable prices to low earners,I also train women and youths on how to make soap, empowering them with skills and knowledge,” explained Kachingwe.
Zoyellah Investments produces a wide range of cleaning products, including dish wash liquid, pine gel, washing powder, washing tablets, hair shampoo, car shampoo, tile cleaner, toilet wash, glycerine, and body petroleum jelly.
The company’s market target includes hospitals, schools, lodges, restaurants, hotels, households, vendors, and shops, catering to both wholesale and retail customers.
Kachingwe’s vision is to establish Zoyellah Investments as a reliable and well established manufacturing company in Malawi and beyond.
She aims to provide job opportunities to women and youths, expand her production and storage facilities and acquire machines to increase production.
Currently, the company has eight sales agents and is available at her shop in the Lilongwe flea market.
Small Scale Business Operators Association of Malawi General Secretary Tennyson Mulimbula praised Kachingwe’s products, saying they can compete on the market.
“Manufacturing products such as these has the potential to boost the country’s foreign currency reserves,” said Mulimbula.
Kachingwe’s success is an inspiration to other women and youths, demonstrating the potential for entrepreneurship and innovation in Malawi.
