While most people view retirement as a time to rest, 60-year-old Petro Malila from Mbeya has a different plan. Instead of slowing down, Malila is embarking on a new journey — building a large honey processing factory in the Mbeya region.
Having reached the mandatory retirement age outlined by Tanzania’s Public Service Social Security Fund Act No. 2 of 2018, Malila views this phase of his life not as an end but as a fresh beginning.
The law stipulates that public servants retire compulsorily at 60, with the option for voluntary retirement at 55. However, Malila’s passion for entrepreneurship is only growing.
"I want to build a major honey processing factory in Mbeya, and nothing will stop me from achieving this dream," he says with determination.
A Dream Sparked by Opportunity
After learning about Tanzania’s recent deal to export high-quality honey to China, Malila's passion for honey production was ignited.
On August 15, 2024, Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dastan Kitandula, signed an export protocol with Chinese official You Jianhua, opening a significant trade route for Tanzanian honey to China.
This agreement encouraged Malila to take his passion seriously. In 2017, he enrolled in beekeeping training provided by the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) in Mbeya.
He began his journey with a small number of beehives across Njombe, Mufindi, Rungwe, and Mbeya districts.
Support from SIDO
SIDO played a crucial role in shaping Malila’s entrepreneurial path. The organization not only offered him technical training but also provided loans on favorable terms, allowing him to expand his beekeeping activities.
"SIDO connected us with experts who trained us and gave us loans to boost our capital. I was initially involved in other agricultural activities, but after the training, I saw the potential in beekeeping and decided to focus on it fully," Malila explains.
With loans from SIDO, he has been able to steadily grow his business. He now has access to loans of up to TZS 5 million and is confident that his vision of owning a honey factory will soon become a reality.
Malila encourages other Tanzanians to take advantage of the opportunities available through SIDO. "Our government supports us by providing training and loans through SIDO. I urge my fellow citizens to embrace these opportunities to grow their ventures," he says.
Empowering Entrepreneurs Across Sectors
SIDO’s reach extends beyond beekeeping. The organization provides business and processing training to various groups, including women and youth, helping them improve product quality and marketability.
One beneficiary, Tumaini Mtuvile from Luanda Ward in Mbeya, credits SIDO’s training for transforming her vegetable and fruit processing business.
"I started my business a while back, but my products lacked the quality needed to succeed in the market. After attending SIDO’s training, the quality of my products improved, and now I’ve even been able to hire additional staff," she explains.
Sustained Support for Entrepreneurs
SIDO’s Acting Manager for the Mbeya Region, Salma Galasi, explains that the organization offers continuous support to those who receive training and loans.
"We don’t just train people and leave them; we continue to provide guidance and supervision to ensure they achieve their goals," she says.
The government has allocated TZS 6.8 billion through SIDO to support entrepreneurship, including offering loans with affordable interest rates.
Loan amounts range from TZS 1 million to TZS 5 million, with an interest rate of 9% for manufacturers and 12% for traders. Priority is given to producers to encourage the development of local industries.
Alphonse Bilishanga, Director of Financial Supervision at the Bank of Tanzania (BOT), also advises entrepreneurs to seek loans from institutions with favorable terms, such as SIDO.
"The benefit of working with institutions like SIDO is that, in addition to loans, entrepreneurs also receive valuable training," Bilishanga emphasizes.
With the continued support from SIDO and a clear trade path to China, Petro Malila is optimistic that his dream of opening a honey processing factory will soon be realized, proving that retirement is not the end but a new beginning.