I am Owen Mudenda, born on the 25th October, 1972 in Kitwe town on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. That's where I attended my primary and secondary school. My tertiary education is diverse institutions with Cavendish University, Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) and ACCA - UK.

I hold an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration (BBA), Diploma in Banking and a Certified Accounting Technician (CAT).

I have 30 years’ experience in business development and management who is hardworking, a self-starter, problem solver and decision maker with diverse experience in various industries and all aspects of operations management procedures and reporting, marketing, entrepreneurship, banking and microfinance operations, as well as expertise in business development and management, quality control and assurance, staff training and development.

With my work experience built over the 20 years of employment at Barclays Bank Zambia Plc. (now ABSA Bank Zambia Plc.) and Bayport Financial Services respectively and this period influenced me to resign from my job at Bayport Financial Services and establish my own company Tyre Protector Zambia Limited which is a business specialized in Consolidated Tyre Services and offer enable me to offer Consultancy Services to SMEs. My work experience enshrined into my tenacity in business management.

My focus is to remain an innovative, dynamic and results focused individual committed to total quality service, ingenuity who inspires encourages and excellent team performance to achieve set goals. My vision and utmost desire is always to be as productive as possible at both my personal and business spheres to benefits as many people as possible by coming up with innovative products and ideas this philosophy has helped achieve a lot of things in my life and overcome various challenges in life.

Zambia is a country of peace loving people who are focused on work and growth. Although our population is mostly youthful, the Zambian people are fully motivated to be as industrious as possible.

I have left my children to follow their dreams in their pursuit to achieve potential and purpose in life. I have 4 children 3 girls and 1 boy. My eldest girl child is a qualified Lawyer, the only boy child is now a 3rd year Civil Engineering student at Mulungushi University, the 3rd girl child has also enrolled to pursue a Bachelor of Laws starting August 2023 at Mulungushi University and last girl child is still in primary school.

I love reading and writing as my past time, once my children are fully educated I will go back to school and pursue a Master’s Degree in Business Administration through to a DBA.

My current income is used on reinvestment in growing the business and school fees for our children and

My current sources of income are revenue from my businesses. I am the owner and founder of Tyre Protector Zambia Limited a consolidated Tyre Fitment Centre. My income is generated to through Consultancy Services I offer to SME businesses.

With the desire for people to drive and middle income being established, people are motivated to buy vehicles which drives the demand for motor vehicles spares including tyres and other accessories. Tyres are an essential part of the car, however the cost buying brand new tyres a challenge to most vehicle owners which leads to a boom in demand for second hand tyres and tyre repairing as a means to keep on the road.

My choice for this type of business is primarily on the consistent high demand for tyre products and services in Kabwe.

My current revenue is from the Tyre Services business and Consultancy Services.

The major costs are acquiring products for resale, direct costs, e.g. wages for technicians, raw materials utility bills (electrical and water), business levy, turnover tax, pension fund contributions for employees, transport, communication, printing etc.

The profits go towards paying my children's schools fees, daily home needs use and other amenities.

The most important matter I need to make mention is vision and desire to establish Maize Mill business and that is the major reason for trying to source funds to invest in acquiring the necessary equipment and tools as a means to diversify into yet another lucrative industry of agribusiness particularly adding value to agricultural products.

My initiative of venturing into agribusiness, is aimed at adding value to agriculture products. I am working on this business project of setting up a maize mill processing factory (Hammer Mill) within Kabwe. Therefore, once the milling plant is established I will be buying maize from local farmers to be proceed into maize mill (flour) for sale to customers and maize mill (flour) being nation’s staple food there’s never a never ending demand for the products but in a market that cannot be satisfied which sometimes leads to shorted of the flour on the market.

Maize is the nation’s staple food and the demand is very high to a level of shortages sometimes. The market for maize and maize products is vast, there also high demand in our neighbouring countries, being DR Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Malawi other come from as far as Kenya in search for maize. Climate change is driving a lot of changes in our ecosystem, therefore the need for maize and maize products will not be extinguished but will need concerted efforts.

The need for food is extremely important in the well-being of our people and agribusiness presents an excellent opportunity to venture into this industry. The supply of raw materials is plentiful and the customers for the maize products is readily available. The market is also available in our neighbouring countries hence the need to increase production levels.

The benefits will be immense for everyone, the business will have a wide market in the tyre industry with increased revenue and profitability over time. Our clients will have a one stop shop for tyres and other accessories thus reducing the lead time.

In the first place we will acquire 6 light trucks tyres from the funds of which we will raise a revenue of about ZMW24, 000.00. The estimated profit will increase by ZMW10, 500.00 from the sold light truck tyres in the long run.

This will enable us repay the weekly obligation to Zidisha and meet all other business obligations like salaries, taxes, health insurance and other family needs including school fees.

Therefore, we will be able to steadily expand our business to a more profitable height.

I thank you in advance.