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Entrepreneurship

Sylvia then went back into sewing and with a
loan, bought industrial machines. She would
get materials from Mukuba Weaving as well
as Ndola Weaving. Sylvia found workers by
poaching them from others. She experienced
a season where she said God began to deal
with her character.She continually had dead
ends in business.Sylvia and her husband
faced troubled times for close to 10 months.
It was then that she realized that she needed
to go back to what she knew best; catering.
She retrieved the items she had used for that
business from her sister whom she had given
to keep. Most of the items had been sold
with only a stove left to spare, which Sylvia
had to fight for in a police case. She managed
to open her business again. However there
were no customers.
Strategy kicked in once again. Sylvia went
to a nearby motor store and informed the
workers of her establishment. She offered
the food on credit, for workers to pay by the
month end. Also, lunch boxes were bought
for them so that they would just collect the
food. Using this method, Sylvia got contracts
from many other companies and this was the
turning point in her business. The business
moved from Simoson building, to Cha Cha
Cha road where a college for catering was
established.Sylva catering had 16 outlets; 15
in Lusaka and 1 in Livingstone.

The building of a University, as well as
training of small farmers in drying of
vegetables was all part of the vision. This
is where exports emerged as over twenty
two thousand farmers have been trained
to support the factory in local and export
markets.Operations in contract packaging
were added to the business in which those
not owning factories could package their
raw materials and products;that they sell to
Chain Stores.Sylvia identified what prompted
her to diversify in business; Ecclesiastes 11:1-
6. This portion of scripture describes how
one needs several streams of income, incase from the business and gave herself a salary. This worked so well for
calamity befalls them and destroys all they the business. Her husband and all members of the family involved in
have. the business took this approach. These principles, though not easy
have really sustained the business cycle and the Sylva legacy.
Sylvia has always incorporated her four
sons into the business, giving them the Having diversification has helped the business withstand the Covid
awareness that truly it belongs to them as 19 pandemic which has hit hard on food businesses. In all that
an inheritance. She however does not inhibit Sylvia put her time, money and effort into, her goal has been to go
them to pursue their personal interests. One back to and respect the traditional foods which are rich in nutrition
of her sons, an engineer is also a company and medicinal. She strives to be remembered for promoting the
owner but uses his skills to be of service to neglected and underutilized crops. Through her endeavors of
the Sylvia legacy. Each son has a position training women in the same, she did not realize that she was being
to fill with responsibilities and is always watched. Sylvia received an honor from the president of the Republic
monitoring the business. She is grateful for of Zambia called the presidential insignia honor on 25th May, 2020,
how their father raised them. Having such a an award only given to one person a year.
notable position in society will always attract
the attention of family members looking for Sylva has been consistent in her dealings, and has never given up.
financial solutions. Sylvia described how she She has learned to use her ears to hear only what is beneficial to her
had been too generous to others, helping progress and use her eyes to see only what does not discourage her.
them financially and forgetting that she had She is a mother of both local and international innovation and has
a business to run. She separated herself learned to evolve around what she knows best; FOOD.

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