…Limkokwing student eyes supermarkets, regional market
BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE– For Siphiwosethu Nyoni, entrepreneurship did not begin in a classroom or with a large bank loan. It began at home, watching her parents work hard to build businesses and learning that even a simple product can become the foundation of something much bigger.
Today, the Limkokwing University student is putting those lessons into practice through Sethu’s Homemade Cabbage Atchar, a growing venture she hopes will one day become a recognised Eswatini brand and eventually reach markets beyond the country’s borders.
Nyoni, who is pursuing an Associate Degree in Business Information Technology, grew up surrounded by entrepreneurship.
Her father operates a block yard in Lomahasha, while her mother previously sold atchar within the community. Watching them deal with customers, overcome challenges and remain committed to their businesses gave Nyoni an early understanding of what entrepreneurship demands.
“They taught me important lessons about hard work, dedication, consistency, patience and treating customers with respect,” she said.
Those lessons would later inspire her to start something of her own.
Without large capital, a shop or sophisticated production equipment, Nyoni began with what she had — an idea, a homemade product and the willingness to test whether customers would embrace it.
That modest beginning became Sethu’s Homemade Cabbage Atchar.
She started introducing the product to customers in Mbabane and other areas, carefully preparing each order while paying close attention to quality and customer satisfaction.
For Nyoni, every jar carries more than atchar. It carries her name, reputation and ambition.
She believes customers place their trust in the person behind a product each time they make a purchase, making consistency and quality important ingredients in growing the business.
Every order, positive comment and customer recommendation has strengthened her determination to continue.
But building the business has required Nyoni to balance two demanding responsibilities.
During the day, she is a university student attending lectures, completing assignments and preparing for tests. At the same time, she must attend to customers, prepare orders and think about how to grow her young enterprise.
Instead of viewing education and entrepreneurship as competing priorities, Nyoni has found ways to make the two complement each other.
Her studies in Business Information Technology are exposing her to business management, marketing, technology and information systems — knowledge she is increasingly applying to her venture.
The experience has encouraged her to think beyond simply selling jars of atchar.
She is now considering branding, customer management, business systems, marketing and the long-term structures required to transform a small operation into a sustainable enterprise.
And her ambitions stretch far beyond her current customer base.
Nyoni wants Sethu’s Homemade Cabbage Atchar to become a household name in Eswatini before eventually entering regional markets.
Her vision includes supplying restaurants, kitchens, butcheries, braai-meat businesses, grocery stores, events and catering companies.
In the longer term, she wants to see her products on supermarket shelves.
She also hopes to establish partnerships with businesses such as Barach Kitchen, where the atchar could potentially be served alongside meals.
However, transforming that vision into a larger operation will require additional resources.
Nyoni identifies access to capital as one of her major challenges, particularly funding for improved packaging, production equipment, branding, marketing, transport and stock.
But money is not the only support she believes young businesses need.
She is also looking for mentorship, professional guidance, business connections and strategic partnerships that could help her develop Sethu’s Homemade Cabbage Atchar into a properly structured and sustainable enterprise.
Ultimately, Nyoni wants the success of her business to extend beyond herself.
Her long-term ambition is to create employment and economic opportunities for other young people as the company grows.
Her experience has already convinced her that many promising business ideas never get started because aspiring entrepreneurs wait for perfect conditions.
“You do not need to have everything before you begin,” she said.
Her journey has previously attracted media attention, including a feature by the Times of Eswatini, something Nyoni says encouraged her to believe that what began on a small scale could eventually grow into something significant.
Now she is focused on building step by step.
She understands that transforming homemade cabbage atchar into a nationally recognised product will require patience, discipline, stronger business systems and continuous learning.
But her destination is already clear — a trusted Eswatini brand, strategic partnerships, employment opportunities and a sustainable business she can proudly call her own.
For now, Sethu’s Homemade Cabbage Atchar may still be a small enterprise operating far from supermarket shelves.
For Nyoni, however, every jar sold takes that dream one step closer to becoming reality.
(Courtesy Pic)
