…From selling tomatoes with a baby on her back to building Lusaka’s new food sensation
By TROY MUKUPA
LUSAKA – In the world of food entrepreneurship, Merit Malambo Malilwe is the living proof of “I came, I saw, I conquered.”
Whatever she touches turns to gold because it speaks to people.
First it was cakes. Now it is Malies Food Hut, the new spot around Lusaka Civic Center, Raphael Kombe Road, that has taken the city by storm.
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Merit is the founder of Meritorious Cakes and Bakes, Zambia’s well-known “all sweet things” bakery. With the same heart for customers, she launched Malies Food Hut. In a few months, it has become one of Lusaka’s most frequented food destinations.
Her story is one of humble beginnings, resilience, and faith.
Merit did not start with huge capital or connections. She started with a baby on her back and a hustle.
“I recall walking long distances with my baby on my back to order tomatoes for resale, only to be mocked and told I would fail,” Malilwe recalls.
“I also remember sleeping on the floor at Intercity Bus Terminal and traveling to Itezhi-Tezhi to buy fish on an open truck while pregnant. I arrived with cracked and bleeding lips from the cold.”
She kept going. “I persevered and kept my eyes on God,” she says.
As the business grew, so did the criticism.
“People who doubted us started saying our success was from satanic practices,” she says.
“They even claimed we owned buses called Basankwa Bus Services. But I stayed focused on God, because He is always in control.”
With the support of her husband, the business grew and the rumors faded.
What makes Merit different is her people-first approach.
“I don’t just sell food. I serve people,” she says.
“When someone walks into Malies Food Hut, I want them to feel at home.”
Located around Lusaka Civic Center, Malies Food Hut offers affordable, quality meals. Office workers, students, and families now line up for lunch.
From cakes that sold out by noon to plates that keep the kitchen busy, Merit has shown she understands what Zambians want.
With no signs of slowing down, Merit recently announced on her Facebook page that another Malies Food Hut branch will be opened in Kaoma, Western Province.
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The expansion is expected to create employment opportunities for locals in the area.
Today, Merit uses her story to encourage others.
“Stay focused on your goals and ignore negative talk,” she advises.
“Jeremiah 29:11 says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
“Those who once doubted us now come to us for help,” she adds. “That is the power of faith and perseverance.”
Through vision and hard work, Merit is redefining what it means to be a woman in business in Zambia. She is breaking barriers and creating space for the next generation.
Her journey reminds other women that with dedication, resilience, and faith, passion can truly become profit.
