Before he was the CEO of Everstrong Manufacturing and Mwetufena Investment, Lukas Mweshipooli was a mobile vendor, moving from place to place selling fish and butchery products just to survive.
“I would travel around buying and selling just to survive,” he said.
Over time, that relentless hustle grew into retail shops. It was during this retail phase that Mweshipooli noticed a massive gap in the market and decided to pivot from simple trading to local manufacturing.
Through travel and experience, he began to see opportunities beyond trading.
Last year, he made a decision to move into agriculture and manufacturing.
Without bank loans or outside funding, he started a poultry project with 7 000-layer chickens. Today, the farm produces thousands of eggs, with about 98% of them collected every day. Demand remains high and eggs are often sold out quickly.
At the same time, he invested in a toilet paper manufacturing business under Everstrong Manufacturing. The machine was imported and production began earlier this year after the setup was completed.
Across his businesses, he employs about 30 people. Ten workers are based at the poultry farm, while others work in manufacturing, transport and operations.
The journey has not been without challenges.
He said one of the biggest challenges has been the high cost of chicken feed, which takes up most of the expenses in the poultry business. Starting without funding also meant covering all costs himself, including buying chicks and paying workers, before the businesses became stable.
“You pay workers even when there is no income yet. Everything goes out before anything comes in,” he said.
Mweshipooli, who is also a man of faith, said planning ahead and saving during better months has helped him survive difficult times. He believes that good months must be followed by tough ones.
A major part of his drive comes from his personal background. Having lost his parents at a young age and experienced hardship, he said this shaped his outlook on life.
“I know what it means to have nothing. That is why I try to support others where I can,” he said. Beyond business, he also supports people in his community through small acts of charity.