Zainabu John Mutahiwa  is among the 24 outstanding entrepreneurs shortlisted for the 4th Citi Micro-entrepreneurship Awards(CMA) in Tanzania.

Business: Food Nutrition and Food Supply

Financier: Sido- Mwanza

Location: Sido Mwanza

Zainabu’s company was registered in 2006. She credits her success to being innovative in tea and food products. Hard work also pays, she says. Sido gave her the required education to scale business before giving her the first loan. Sido also provided a place for production activities and connected her to other organisations, enabling her to buy a stamping machine. Her main markets are wholesale sellers and supermarkets.

Vision: To buy better equipment to increase production.

Challenge: Increased competition handled by inventing new products. High taxes. 

Expensive packaging materials.

Impact: Cater for her family and offer employment.

Opinion: Zainab appreciates the need to acquire the required skills before immersing in a business. She had previously started her business in Dares salaam, which did not  fair well before relocating to Mwanza, where Sido built her capacity and training, which led to her success.