My parents abandoned me at three – charcoal seller

By
Melony Chisanga
-
20
614
26 YEAR old Obvious Muzimo of Misisi compound in Lusaka has, for three years, survived through selling charcoal.
Muzimo was raised by a stranger because both his parents abandoned him when he was just three years old in 2000.
He was left at the home of his mother’s cousins, who, according to him, did not keep him well.
 
Muzimo explains to Kalemba that when he reached Grade two, he ran away from his auntie’s home and ended up in a home of people who he neither knew nor related to.
 
This was all in Kapiri Mposhi district in Central Province.
 
Nonetheless, they kept him until he grew up to be called a man.
 
But Muzimo would later drop out of school in Grade five.
 
Be as it may, he had already acquired good home training in farming.
On top of being a farmer, Muzimo had learnt, from his guardians, the ‘trade’ of charcoal burning.
 
It is not usual to see a man selling, let alone charcoal, at a market.
 
In most instances, markets are populated by women.
 
But Muzimo has nothing of that; he starts his day as early as 05:00 hours, and goes beyond 20:00 hours, selling rationed charcoal at Misisi market.
 
The rationed charcoal is packed in plastic bags and Muzimo pegs the price from K5 to K20.
 
All this ingenuity on the part of Muzimo is meant to fend for his family.
“I came in Lusaka in 2016 when I decided to come and look for my parents, as I was told that they came here,” Muzimo says.
He shares that while charcoal business keeps him going, it is not short of hardships, like any other business.
“As a man, I’m expected to do more than I am now, because my profit is only a K150 every day which is not enough….
Muzimo, however, indicates that the rainy season presents a good market for charcoal, for people buy it more.
“Charcoal business is only a good business for people who have other sources of income, otherwise depending on it alone, survival is hard because sometimes when I don’t have enough transport to go in the bush to burn charcoal, it means I won’t have business for that month,” he explains.
As a strategy to increase his income, Muzimo leaves some packaged charcoal at home, for his wife to sell and raise money to buy relish.
“Once I get the needed profit, I want to start bringing enough bags so that my wife can start selling on her own,” says Muzimo.
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba March 3, 2023.
Advert

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

20 COMMENTS

  1. It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.

    I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or tips.
    Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article.
    I desire to read even more things about it!

  2. That is very interesting, You’re a very professional blogger.
    I have joined your rss feed and look forward to in the hunt for extra of your
    magnificent post. Also, I have shared your site in my social
    networks

  3. Good day! This is my first visit to your blog!
    We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a
    community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have
    done a marvellous job!

  6. I’m not sure why but this web site is loading extremely slow for me.
    Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end?
    I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.

  8. Hello, I do believe your website might be having browser compatibility
    issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in Internet Explorer,
    it has some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to give
    you a quick heads up! Apart from that, great blog!

  10. I like the helpful info you provide to your articles.
    I will bookmark your weblog and take a look at again here frequently.
    I am quite certain I’ll be told a lot of new stuff right right here!
    Good luck for the next!

  13. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.

    In any case I will be subscribing to your feed
    and I hope you write again soon!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here