A 23-year-old entrepreneur Rabecca Mkwezalamba from Chikadya Village T/A Ganya in Ntcheu is championing zero waste management.
Mkwezalamba, the Fourth Year student University of Malawi (UNIMA) Bachelor’s of Education Biological Sciences student, said her plastic recycling venture started in Blantyre in 2021 alongside fellow colleagues.
After moving to Zomba where she established her own firm known as Essie Cleaners.
Mkwezalamba, who is also the sales Manager for the company added they collect bottles, plastic papers and metals from homes.
“Our company specialises in professional cleaning, collection and disposal of waste and recyclable materials with a focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility,” he said.
The university student told ProjectM that the initiative is the company’s quest supporting the country to realise her vision 2063 on environmental sustainability which says: Malawi shall have a safe, clean and sustainable environment.
She cited Zomba’s 87% of the population had no access to proper waste management services.
Said Mkwezalamba: “Our main goal is to make our company become a leading local waste service provider as well as the supplier of recyclable waste materials by having more branches across Malawi.
“This is a youth-led company working with local community members where we provide free recycling training to reduce the growing trash problem in our communities, towns, offices just to mention a few.’’
She said lack of funding is one of the challenges that is hampering the company’s effort in implementing its projects.
According to the sales manager, the company which has employed 20 people, is planning to buy an automated waste segregation machine for easy sorting so that those that can be reused should be separated with those that need recycling.
“We are one of pioneers in recycling to address the growing waste pollution in the country. By recycling, we are reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfill and helping to decrease pollution,” she said.
Rebeca Mkwezalamba can be contacted on: +265 998 223 208
