Catherine Gwambie
Catherine Gwambie and her husband Hawzi Mwmami are a very entrepreneurial couple from Tanzania. They had dreams of being successful shop owners in Dar es Salaam. They farmed in their native Kigoma, growing and selling maize and beans to save enough to open a shop selling household supplies.
The shop was reasonably successful, but it did not generate as much income as they needed to support their family. Mr. Mwami decided to buy land to raise chickens and for Mrs. Mwami to start growing and selling vegetables. It was a good business but difficult because irrigation with a bucket took a lot of effort.
Early 2007 Mrs. Mwami heard an ad for the Super MoneyMaker on the radio. She excitedly told her husband about this new pump that was affordable and made irrigation easier and quicker. Mr. Mwami was not convinced. Mrs. Mwami insisted and since she was using her own money she would make the decision. Together they went to the Kariakoo market in Dar es Salaam to buy a Super MoneyMaker at the shop owned by Mama Songa (another KickStart Success Story).
The pump worked so well Mrs. Mwami increased her production. She expanded with another plot to increase her business. She employs her daughter (left in the picture above) and young sister (right). They have three young children and they plan to send them to good secondary schools now that they have money.
The Mwami’s have plans to build a nicer house for their family.
Mr. Mwami freely admits that his wife was right about the pump, and between their two businesses, they see a bright future for their family.
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