Objective: to be a champion in mining catering!
Interview by Rodrigue Fénelon Massala
Engineer graduated in management from the University of Johannesburg, Lauretta Muinda defines herself as a multidimensional woman who aspires to be the first Congolese businesswoman leader in mining subcontracting and catering. The young entrepreneur, hotelier, sponsor of the program “The Voice Afrique Francophone” spoke with Financial Afrik.
Can you briefly tell us about your activities as a businesswoman?
I am the head of Karibu Wote (Pty) Ltd, a company legally established in South Africa and the DRC. It is an international company that covers different lines of business like catering, online liquor stores, real estate, accommodation, construction, purchasing, project finance services, investment advice, project management and charitable projects.
What is your challenge?
It is to be at the heart of several constraints such as:
-the complexity of the procedures for obtaining financing from the various donors (Banks, finance companies, investment funds, etc.),
the acquisition of contracts or certain opportunities which are sometimes obtained by word of mouth, without publication, through official channels.
the recent health crisis which slowed down economic activity and restricted our movement between different countries.
You started entrepreneurship in South Africa. For a while you have been commuting between Lubumbashi and Johannesburg. What explains this?
You should first know that Karibu Wote (Pty) Ltd started its activities in South Africa with Karibu Wote Restaurant which mainly offers South African, Congolese, Nigerian and Kenyan cuisine and specialties.
This restaurant welcomes economic and political operators from various backgrounds, tourists and locals.
As part of our expansion project, we have decided to expand our catering activities in the DRC and specifically in LUBUMBASHI and KOLWEZI, cities in which we have detected opportunities in the mining sector not only in catering but also in the cleaning.
To do this, we have started the various administrative procedures for installing our offices, building our industrial kitchens, creating our production units, etc.
You entered the mining sector. What type of activity do You develop between Kolwezi and Lubumbashi?
Restoration of mining agents, cleaning and maintenance of camps, subcontracting, creation of production units for local consumption, charities (social activities).
How do you finance your activities?
We are financing our activities with our own funds until now. However, in the vision of the company, we are open to any form of partnership or co-investment. We approached the local banks even if I do not believe it too much due to the scarcity of bank credit. But we remain hopeful that bankers established in the DRC will understand the need to reform the banking sector to reorient it towards supporting private sector development, a pledge of wealth creation and world champions of Congolese entrepreneurship.
Have you established a business relationship with the banks for support?
To date, not yet. We are still new in the DRC and the banks in this country are not prepared to support us on the basis of our experiences acquired in South Africa.
How do you analyze the business climate in the DRC?
There are still things to review, particularly on the digitization of administrative procedures, the publication of taxes and fees to be paid on behalf of the central or provincial government, support for entrepreneurs … But we must recognize that there is hope and the potential to excel.
What message do you have to send to the highest authorities in your country, in this case to the Head of State in the context of the promotion of young champions in the world of female entrepreneurship in the DRC?
The message that we are sending to the authorities of the DRC is to continue to actively promote and support female entrepreneurship in general by creating, for example, a special fund to support or serve as a pledge or guarantee for Congolese women entrepreneurs.
