2. Thabo Mwale & Umbuso Isi Akhiwo

After years of working as a mgerezi—a scrap collector pushing his trolley through the township streets in search of recyclable materials—Thabo Mwale, a resourceful man, decided to take his knowledge and experience to the next level by starting his own recycling company. Having learned the value of scrap metal, cardboard, and plastics firsthand, he saw the potential to transform his work into a formal operation. With little capital but a wealth of determination, he set up a business. Realizing the growing need for waste management in his community, he enlisted fifteen volunteers who now help him collect plastic, glass, and other waste materials from local households. They also engage in community education by encouraging families to do waste separation and avoid pollution.

 

Though they haven’t yet established their own buy-back centre, they regularly sell the collected waste to a nearby facility, providing a steady, if modest, income for the team. What remains is invested back into the business. They have challenges with marketing, bookkeeping and writing proposal letters to lobby for more investment from the private and public sector. Their long-term vision is ambitious—they aim to acquire a recycling container that will allow them to process recyclables themselves and eventually act as a buy-back centre for other recyclers. This would not only grow their business, but also create opportunities for other local entrepreneurs while tackling the waste challenges in the township. Thabo is still recovering from the tragic loss of his mother and his sister, and running his business has kept him going.