Halima’s journey: From running CD library to becoming the first Tanzanian to design phone charger

At her graduation, Halima received a modest gift of Sh300,000 from relatives and friends.

While many might have splurged on celebrations or personal indulgences, Halima saw an opportunity in her hands.

With a mind set on entrepreneurship, she invested the money in a small business—a local library that doubled as a multimedia rental outlet, offering CDs and movies alongside phone chargers and earphones.

“I knew I wanted to start a business, and the money I received was my seed capital. I saw an opportunity to serve the community, especially students, by providing entertainment options,” she explains.

Running the library, however, came with immediate challenges.

With no funds to pay for commercial rent, she convinced a relative to lend her a room in their home.

It was there, in this modest space, that Halima began learning the fundamentals of business: customer service, inventory management, and resilience.

“I couldn’t afford to hire anyone, so I ran the library myself. It taught me the basics of business,” she reflects.

After several months, however, her path took a turn.

She enrolled at Moshi Co-operative University (MoCU) for higher education, forcing her to let go of the library she had worked so hard to build.

“I couldn’t afford to hire someone to manage the library while I was in school, so I had to leave it behind,” she says, with a hint of regret.

Yet, Halima’s entrepreneurial spirit remained undeterred.

While pursuing her studies, she pivoted to selling t-shirts and jeans, gradually expanding her retail operation by traveling to Dar es Salaam to procure stock.

By the time she completed her studies, she had established herself as a small-scale retailer in the bustling Kariakoo market.

“Selling clothes taught me the ropes of business. I realized I could make a profit by buying what I needed and selling the rest,” she shares.

In 2020, encouraged by her partner, Halima began exploring the electronics market, specifically phone chargers—a field she thought aligned naturally with her experience in phone accessories.

But this venture was anything but simple.

“The biggest challenge was the constant complaints from customers,” she admits.

“I kept hearing that the chargers were damaging phone batteries.”

With a background as a mobile engineer, Halima dug deeper, only to discover that most imported chargers were incompatible with Tanzania’s electrical system, leading to malfunctions and customer frustration.

Driven to resolve this issue, she embarked on a mission to design a charger specifically suited for Tanzanian needs.

“I wanted to create something durable and compatible with our power system. It wasn’t just about design; it was about quality,” she explains.

In 2023, during a business trip to China, her vision gained momentum.

Halima met with the owner of Wing Lin Electronics Manufacturing Company, who understood her ambition and the challenges facing Tanzanian consumers.

Together, they developed ‘Mima’—a charger robust enough to withstand Tanzania’s power fluctuations and crafted to endure the demands of the local market.

“When I was in China, I explained the issues with the chargers sold in Tanzania, and he was willing to work with me to create a better product,” Halima recalls.

The collaboration led to the production of her first batch of 10,000 ‘Mima’ chargers, each reflecting her commitment to quality and innovation.

Holding her first batch in hand was a moment of pride and realization.

“The first production was a major milestone for me. I was thrilled to see my vision come to life,” she says, her face lighting up with excitement.

But Halima’s dreams extend beyond imports.

She envisions a day when Tanzanians can purchase locally manufactured phone chargers, crafted in a plant established on home soil.

“I’m working towards opening a factory here in Tanzania. By producing locally, we can create products better suited to our market and generate opportunities for our people,” she says with unwavering resolve.