Its lunchtime, and where do I go? Should I visit one of the several mushrooming fast food centers around my office, go to the takeaways, or should I just visit my famous Mama Ntilie place? Obviously with 500 shillings in my pocket, I am sure of one thing; I will get a fairly decent meal from the Mama Ntilie kiosk outside our building. Food vending or famously referred to as Mama Ntilie (mother serve me) and of late Mama Lishe (mother nutrition) is a booming business in Dar es Salaam and many other parts of the country.
Delicious and balanced meals is what you get from these food vendors who feed the city at affordable prices. Be it a lunch in town or in the office, an office function, a wedding party or a funeral, these women have expanded their services to capture and satisfy a variety of clients.
Delicious and balanced meals is what you get from these food vendors who feed the city at affordable prices. Be it a lunch in town or in the office, an office function, a wedding party or a funeral, these women have expanded their services to capture and satisfy a variety of clients.
TO SOME, THIS IS JUST A BUSINESS
But to hundreds of other women, it is a means of survival in this country where formal job opportunities for young women are limited. This is a typical informal sector activity, where anyone can get involved with a minimum of resources. But frequent harassment from local authorities is common, most of the Mama Ntilies conduct their business in fear of being chased away or their goods destroyed by the city officials. However, the food vendors are slowly being recognized. "There is a huge gap between the demand and supply of food in the city, so their services are important " says a city commission official. " But their activity has to follow certain rules and regulations, the business should be conducted in specified areas and basic rules of hygiene should be observed". While some are still struggling on the street corners, pavements and kiosks, some have made it big and successful. Fatma Chizenga of Princess Latifah Fast Food and Decorators of Sinza Uzuri is a good example of someone who started selling chips mayai (chips and eggs) in the streets to become a proud manager of a growing business group.
But to hundreds of other women, it is a means of survival in this country where formal job opportunities for young women are limited. This is a typical informal sector activity, where anyone can get involved with a minimum of resources. But frequent harassment from local authorities is common, most of the Mama Ntilies conduct their business in fear of being chased away or their goods destroyed by the city officials. However, the food vendors are slowly being recognized. "There is a huge gap between the demand and supply of food in the city, so their services are important " says a city commission official. " But their activity has to follow certain rules and regulations, the business should be conducted in specified areas and basic rules of hygiene should be observed". While some are still struggling on the street corners, pavements and kiosks, some have made it big and successful. Fatma Chizenga of Princess Latifah Fast Food and Decorators of Sinza Uzuri is a good example of someone who started selling chips mayai (chips and eggs) in the streets to become a proud manager of a growing business group.
FATMA STARTS HER BUSINESS
30-year old Fatma, a single mother of one daughter, quit a poorly paid administrative job to start her business in 1992. She began with Tshs 17,000 from her own savings - enough capital to buy a few liters of cooking oil, potatoes and a few dishes. Fatma started selling chips and soft drinks in the evenings at Oysterbay beach, competing with men who dominated the sales in that area. "I was doing everything myself, cooking, washing, serving customers," she says. Later, she invited other members of her family, including her mother Rukia, to form a family business group. She could now expand and started supplying lunch packs to offices and construction sites in the city during the day.
30-year old Fatma, a single mother of one daughter, quit a poorly paid administrative job to start her business in 1992. She began with Tshs 17,000 from her own savings - enough capital to buy a few liters of cooking oil, potatoes and a few dishes. Fatma started selling chips and soft drinks in the evenings at Oysterbay beach, competing with men who dominated the sales in that area. "I was doing everything myself, cooking, washing, serving customers," she says. Later, she invited other members of her family, including her mother Rukia, to form a family business group. She could now expand and started supplying lunch packs to offices and construction sites in the city during the day.
FATMA'S BUSINESS EXPANDING
In 1994/95, THE GROUP established kiosks around the Ferry and Kisutu markets where they continued satisfying their customers with delicious meals. "It was constant hell, city authorities were chasing us everyday but since we did not have any other place to sell, we had to stick around," she says. Finally, when all their kiosks were demolished, they decided to concentrate on catering and decorating for different functions including weddings, dinner parties, office receptions, etc. They also continued to supply lunch boxes to some offices in city.
In 1994/95, THE GROUP established kiosks around the Ferry and Kisutu markets where they continued satisfying their customers with delicious meals. "It was constant hell, city authorities were chasing us everyday but since we did not have any other place to sell, we had to stick around," she says. Finally, when all their kiosks were demolished, they decided to concentrate on catering and decorating for different functions including weddings, dinner parties, office receptions, etc. They also continued to supply lunch boxes to some offices in city.
"Whatever you need for your function, we can provide," says Fatma with pride. "The fact that we provide a whole range of services cuts down on costs and we end up being cheaper than others."
"We stand for quality and standards," she says. "We are particular about providing balanced meals, ensuring cleanliness, and we go out of our way to be smart." You also have to be dedicated and committed to work over time with little profit," says Fatma when discussing the groups quick growth from a meagre capital.
Today, Fatma runs her business with the capital of about Tshs 5 million and pays taxes of about 250,000 every year. Although they are doing well, they are still seeking for a loan to help them expand further by buying a truck to help them with the transportation of their goods and services. The business employs 14 full time staff (including the family members) and about 30 part time workers who come when they have extra orders. Most of these are young women and men who are unemployed or still in school. Today, Fatma's group can cater for at least five functions per day and still manage to satisfy all their clients.
HOW DO THEY GET BUSINESS?
"If you are good, people will come to you", says Fatma. However she constantly advertises in the media and wherever she serves, she talks about her business and provides business cards. Indeed it's a story of success. But it was not an easy task for Fatma and her group to reach where they are today. It was a struggle with local authorities and a lot of sacrifices. "Some times we had to go for months without salaries because we wanted to expand and buy new things. It was not easy but we were determined," says Rukia, Fatma's mother who is the chief cook in the group. "We had a vision, we wanted to create a business that could sustain us". And it has, her other six children are currently in secondary and high school. "I have managed to pay school fees for all of them and they are doing well" says Rukia.
Fatma urges other young women not to give up. "We should know what we want to achieve and never let anything get in between," she says. "This is part of women's empowerment and when we are economically empowered, our families will do better. It's our duty to help our government and families to educate our children, we can not do that if we sit at home doing nothing."
"If you are good, people will come to you", says Fatma. However she constantly advertises in the media and wherever she serves, she talks about her business and provides business cards. Indeed it's a story of success. But it was not an easy task for Fatma and her group to reach where they are today. It was a struggle with local authorities and a lot of sacrifices. "Some times we had to go for months without salaries because we wanted to expand and buy new things. It was not easy but we were determined," says Rukia, Fatma's mother who is the chief cook in the group. "We had a vision, we wanted to create a business that could sustain us". And it has, her other six children are currently in secondary and high school. "I have managed to pay school fees for all of them and they are doing well" says Rukia.
Fatma urges other young women not to give up. "We should know what we want to achieve and never let anything get in between," she says. "This is part of women's empowerment and when we are economically empowered, our families will do better. It's our duty to help our government and families to educate our children, we can not do that if we sit at home doing nothing."
