—– Wanted to be Clinical Officer but twice failed to be admitted at Mzuni University

By orchestra Kamanga

Born 43 years ago in the area of Mbemba in Traditional Authority Phambala in Ntcheu district, Alex Mkumba Mbewe popular known as Mr Fridge because of his expertise in repairing and services of domestic and commercial Fridges, his dream of becoming Clinical Officer and work in hospital was shattered after failing to secure a place at Mzuzu University twice.

After completing his Secondary Education at Mzimba Secondary School  in  2007, Mr Fridge applied to MZUNI but twice he was not considered for intake and he just decided to do Community and Rural Development at Skyway University where he got a Diploma  but too he failed to get an employment.

“Because of this disappointment, I just decided to look for any job despite my qualification. That is when applied for poultry attendant and I was successful and started working at Kamponje Farm (Enterprises) in Thyolo whose headquarters is in Limbe and I was promoted to be a Supervisor.

He said being a supervisor at the Farm, he was the one keeping keys for showers (changing rooms) where fridges were being kept and when the company invites Refrigerator technicians to fix the fridges, his interest started growing.

“The question I was asking refrigeration Technicians is what makes a fridge cool and what is the work of compressor. That was in 2014 but unfortunately there was retrenchment and I was one of the employees to be retrenched,” he said.

After being jobless, he came back to Blantyre to do something where he found his friend who had refrigeration workshop where he learnt practical and learnt theory through Internet.

He was nicknamed Mr Fridge after working for white man Roy Leonard in South Africa where he was working as Refrigeration technician.

His future plans are to start big company (Big Business) or to work at PTC to fix refrigeration and to have more students with permanent Refrigeration College to train students.

His challenges are that customers are not binding by the rules that they should buy fridge guard to control the fridge from damages and buying of gas cylinder is expensive in retail.

His services are repairing of domestic and commercial fridge and Air conditioning.

He is second born in the family of 3 (2 girls and one boy) and has  five children 3 girls and two boys. He is of Jehovah witness faith and his favorite songs are love songs. His favorite dish is white Nsima with Beans.

The company is 100 metres from Zikomo stage in Mbayani, Blantyre.