US to continue funding Malawian entrepreneurs

Tradeline Corporation chief executive officer Calvin Kamchacha says the United States African Development Foundation (Usadf) will continue providing grants to various African communities and businesses as one way of ending poverty and bringing a positive impact in the communities.

Tradeline Corporation has partnered with Usadf to provide technical assistance to all recipients of Usadf grants in Malawi.

Speaking during the opening of an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre constructed by Ndatani Investments Company one of the recipients of the grant from Usadf, Kamchacha said with adequate capital, Africans would be able to develop their societies.

Said Kamchacha: “It is a grant from Usadf which has made Ndatani a viable business of producing animal feed. This grant has made Ndatani to become a viable business and allowed it to expand its operations. It is from these expanded business operations that Ndatani is able to generate profits part of which have been used to build a beautiful early childhood development centre. As Tradeline we say this is a miracle and we will continue helping more Malawians”

He said one of the unique features of Usadf is that it encourages the recipients of its grant to re invest in the community part of the income generated from their businesses.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Child and Community Development Mary Shawa who was guest of honour at the event commended Usadf and Trade Line for providing expertise and assistance to Malawian entrepreneurs a thing she said will help the country meet its development objectives.

“Government on its own cannot meet its development objectives and we are happy that organisations such as Usadf and Tradeline can come in to help improve businesses. With this child development centre then many children in this area will be able to access education easily,” said Shawa.

Managing director for Ndatani Investments Isaac Kazanga said they received a grant from Usaf when 2009 and 2014 which has enabled the company to grow and have some resources to re invest in Linthipe as a corporate and social responsibility.

“We decided to build an ECD centre in Dedza because literacy levels in Dedza are very low. We hope that this ECD will change a lot of people’s lives because education is the key for any society to develop,” said Kazanga.

Ndatani Investments is a small company that specialises in the manufacturing of animal feed of all types using mostly locally produced raw materials such as soy beans, maize and sunflower.

Currently, the company has 13 outlets and employs over 40 people.