Thokozani: How I changed my future through entrepreneurship

9 minute read

I’m a go-getter and I love a challenge! When I achieve something, it really brings joy to me.

Thokozani Harrison is a professional accountant and owner of two successful grocery stores in Zomba Rural, Malawi. An active member of the CAMFED Association — the network of women leaders educated with CAMFED support — Thokozani is paving the way for other young aspiring entrepreneurs in Malawi.

In this interview with Khumbo Gondwe, Program Officer at CAMFED Malawi, she shares her journey from school to becoming a respected businesswoman, and inspiring other young women to launch their own business ventures.

Khumbo: What inspired you to set up your grocery business?

Thokozani: I first ventured into business because I didn’t want to depend on anyone financially. CAMFED supported my education through secondary school and my diploma in Financial Accounting, and after that I wanted to study for a degree and fund it myself. 

Khumbo: When did you launch your business?

Thokozani: I started my business journey in October 2019, using savings to rent a space in the market and invest in goods to sell.A year later, my small business was growing and I started looking for some additional capital to give it a boost. Learning about CAMFED’s Revolving Loan Fund,* I applied for MK 1,000,000 (around $576 USD at the time of writing) to invest in my business. I was very happy to learn my application was successful —  I could see my business dreams becoming a reality! 

Khumbo: How does your accounting background help in running the business?

Thokozani: My qualifications and experience in accountancy help a lot because in accounting you learn everything to do with managing a business, from keeping business records to assessing profits or loss. I don’t have to rely on someone else to do financial statements for me — I can track profits and losses myself.

Khumbo: It can be difficult for young women in Malawi to secure business loans, how did a Revolving Loan from CAMFED help you expand your business?

Thokozani: Access to an interest free loan has enabled me to grow and expand my business extensively. By buying in more stock and maximising my profits I was able to open a second, larger store in 2020. On top of my expanding product range, I make sure to offer essentials including sugar, cooking oil and other food items that tend to sell well. I purchased a refrigerator for my second store, which I use to keep soft drinks cold for customers and this is proving a great investment. 

The greatest impact of the loan is that it enabled me to diversify my business — to not to put all my eggs in one basket! With the additional capital I was able to respond to a challenge faced by many in my community – the lack of access to building materials, such as cement. In the past, people in my community needed to travel all the way to Zomba city to procure cement, but since I started stocking cement, they are buying it from my shop, saving them time and money traveling on public transport. 

Khumbo: Have you faced many other challenges in your entrepreneurship journey?

Thokozani: Many! Malawi has experienced several devaluations of the Kwacha, which has increased costs and reduced profits for business owners. Additionally, the impact of Cyclone Freddy in March 2023 affected the amount of disposable income people had to spend in my shops.  Both of these have contributed to a general lack of capital at points, impacting the range and quantity of products I could order and affecting sales and profits further.

However, receiving support from CAMFED helped me to overcome these challenges. I’ve received technical support by training to be a CAMFED Business Guide. In this role I mentor other young women who are aspiring entrepreneurs to launch or grow their businesses, in group or one-to-one sessions. The sessions are a mixture of theory and hands-on experience of skills I can offer like cooking and value addition. I trained as an accountant with CAMFED’s support, but running my business and working as a Business Guide is helping me to gain practical experience alongside the theory I learned from my course. 

I enjoy being a Business Guide as it gives me the opportunity to share what I enjoy doing, with a high probability of success. Not only do I have a strong business knowledge, but I also know how best to apply it in my community.

Khumbo: Great that your knowledge and experience is helping others! How is your business benefiting your wider community?

Thokozani: I’m proud to employ two young people from my community full-time, and I regularly hire temporary employees who help with purchasing when I don’t have enough free time. It feels great to give back to my community in this way, as job opportunities for young people are very limited in this rural area. Steady employment is helping their families access food, and I know that they are able to pay school fees for their siblings too. 

In addition to my philanthropic efforts, I have had the opportunity to speak at different meetings such as CAMFED Association University Students’ Summit in 2025, aiming to inspire other young women so they can reach financial freedom.

Here I am working in the shop with one of my employees. I’m very proud to be providing youth employment in this rural area. (Credit: CAMFED/Catherine Cardwell)

Khumbo: What do you most enjoy about running a business?

Thokozani: My favourite thing about running a business is the feeling of being an independent woman! In Malawi, it’s very difficult for a woman to reach financial independence. Through the profits from my shop I am able to support myself and my family. I finished my Master’s in Business Administration last year and will graduate in May. I am hoping the MBA will help me to achieve my great vision for my business, to expand to new shops. Maybe one day I will have a national business!

Khumbo: What were the biggest challenges you faced while growing up?

Thokozani: My childhood was hard, I can’t wish to have it back. I’m the eldest of 8 siblings and our life was difficult due to poverty. In Malawi, we have free primary school, and so it was okay going to primary school without the right uniform or wearing torn clothes. The big challenge began when I was selected to secondary school because I was required to have the correct uniform and fees paid on time, which my family could not afford.  

Khumbo: How did it feel when you received support from CAMFED for secondary school?

Thokozani: When CAMFED began paying for my school fees and other school essentials, I felt awesome! I knew that it was a great opportunity and my dream of finishing school would come true. My problems with fees, school uniforms, and everything to do with school were totally solved, right up until I graduated secondary school in 2013. It was very good! After school, CAMFED supported me to study for a diploma in Financial Accounting at college. 

Here I am outside my store, one of the largest in the area. I provide communities across Zomba Rural with groceries and everyday essentials. (Credit: CAMFED/Catherine Cardwell)

Khumbo: What philanthropy do you do in your community?

Thokozani: As well as volunteering as a Business Guide, I have also been a Transition Guide, helping recent secondary school graduates make the leap from school to employment or further education. I’m also giving back by supporting a girl at secondary school with school fees, clothes and school stationery, and am providing one-off support like purchasing books and pens for children in my community to enable them to attend school. 

Khumbo: How has running a business changed your life?

Thokozani: Because of my business, I’m a role model in my community. I was able to pay my own tuition fees at the University of Malawi to complete my degree in Accountancy and my Master’s in Business Administration. So I feel great because I don’t have to wait for a scholarship or for someone to come and help me. Day by day, I’m able to get what I want. Day by day, I’m expanding my knowledge and career. I also support my siblings and relatives with school supplies, exam fees, and anything else they need to get closer to achieving their dreams.

Khumbo: What are your future plans for your business?

Thokozani: As my business grows, I would like to open a wholesale shop and satellite shops in other locations and employ my CAMFED Association sisters. This way, I will be supporting them with income and business training.

Khumbo: What advice can you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Thokozani: I can advise them that business requires perseverance! In business, you cannot expect to have billions of profits from the start, you have to start small and develop. You could just have sugar or cooking oil, and go from there. So, have courage – grab opportunities that come your way and put these opportunities to good use.

*CAMFED’s Revolving Loans are interest free loans that are available to members of the CAMFED Association to support business growth and development. ‘Social interest’ on the loan is paid through community volunteering and other activities, and after the funds have been repaid they are reinvested in the loan facility to support another young woman’s business.