John Nyirenda - a micro solar entrepreneur with vision

You do not judge a book by its cover. This English saying was proved right in John Nyirenda, a member of the Kavuzi Micro Solar Business Group in Nkhata Bay. He declined to disclose his age but he is undoubtedly in his late sixties.

When Solar Aid organised a micro solar training in assembling and marketing last year, it was surprising to see a man of his age among the group of youthful trainees. Everybody questioned his decision considering the fact that he was regarded as too old for this type of entrepreneurship. But it did not take long for John to silence his critics

“I knew that some people did not want me to be part of this micro solar business group. They were wrong to judge me by my age in the first place. I am strong enough to manage this business like the rest in the group.” Said Nyirenda.

He took part in the sales training and he impressed the Solar Aid trainers. As a group, they were given micro solar products by Solar Aid as a starter pack to start up their own micro solar business. They sold them and shared the profits equally. John was not impressed with how the group operated. They were so slow that he saw it as underutilising the opportunity accorded to them. He asked Solar Aid for an order of sixty micro solar products which he wanted to market on his own.

“I just felt that as a group we were not moving at the pace that I desired. Business needs fast thinking and one has to utilize the available opportunities without hesitation. Being a large group, it meant that each one had to play a part and sometimes proper coordination became difficult. This is what made me to try something on my own.” He explained.

He was just given thirty of the requested number. He sold all of them within a short time while those of his group which were ordered earlier had not been sold.

“I am very grateful to Solar Aid for considering me. I should honestly say it here that I made a decent profit out of the micro solar sales. Before I started the micro solar business I built a house but had no money to buy iron sheets to finish it. I therefore used the profits I made to finish my house and my family is very happy now.”  A relieved John said while pointing at his house as his family members who were shelling maize outside nodded in agreement.

I went inside his house and found micro solar light bulbs hanging on the wall. Surprisingly, it was the very first Muuni light bulb design which was fitted with six LEDs that he is still using. This means he is among the first people to acquire Solar Aid’s micro solar products.

“I like this design of the Muuni light bulb because it gives enough light. It is very bright. I have never bought paraffin in this house since I started using it. It’s very reliable and has helped me save a lot of money on paraffin.” He said.

Asked on what he plans for the future regarding his micro solar business, he sounded very optimistic.

“For your own information, I have just sold one of my cows so that I should boost my capital levels. I want to set an example to these youngsters that there is a future in what I am doing. I want to use my success to motivate others. The journey has just begun and there is no looking back.” He said and further explained that he looks after a large extended family. “By helping me set up this micro solar business, Solar Aid has indirectly assisted many people who look up to me for financial and material support.”

As we were chatting, there came an old woman looking for John. I later learned that she came to buy extra micro solar light bulbs from him. She bought a Kadzuwa panel sometime ago and needed more bulbs to light up other bedrooms of her house. This just confirmed to me that John is really serious about his micro solar business and is on his way up the ladder of success. No wonder all the doubting Thomases have disappeared into thin air.

TRAID will keep you updated with progress of this ground breaking project. To find out more visit SolarAid's website or check out the lighting Malawi homes blog.

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