TAM president Esther Mponya said in an interview on Friday that after
going through some economic challenges, 

“The Tailors Association of Malawi was embroiled in financial challenges
in the past years where we lost all our sewing machines to a creditor.
Mr Mpinganjira paid K3.2 million for the release of the confiscated
machines and a further K280 000 for the repair of the machines that were
not working after being idle for four years,” she said.

Mponya said Mpinganjira came to the association’s rescue after learning
about the financial challenges which affected the income of the
association members and their families.

‘’Now we are on sound footing, we have offices in Blantyre and we are
running our programmes that include sewing garments for various clients
and training of widows to become tailors so that they can support their
families,” she said.

In an interview, Mpinganjira said he was moved by the association’s
struggles, but was inspired by their vision.

“I was moved by their story and inspired by their vision, especially
their emphasis on being self-sustaining and the training for widows. I
thought I could make a personal contribution,” he said.

Mponya said the association intends to take advantage of government
policies, including the Buy Malawi Strategy (BMS), to grow their
business in the next five years and become the provider of low-priced
high-quality products.

“The association will engage the Ministry of Industry, Trade and
Tourism, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Institute [Smedi] and
Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training
Authority [Teveta], among others, for opportunities and technical
support,” she said.

In the next five years, the association plans to increase the market
share to about 30 percent.

“We want to have our own infrastructure at head office and other
regional offices in Zomba, Lilongwe, Mzuzu as well as training schools
and shops within five years. We also want to open a manufacturing
factory in Blantyre and other regions within five years,” she said.

To achieve long-term goals, TAM plans on aggressive marketing, source
funds from organizations and commercial lending institutions, profit
re-investments and continue with its good supplier intimacy to maintain
the sustainable market penetration strategy.