TRADITIONAL ALUMINIUM HAND MADE POTS

BY MERCY NAMFUKWE

Traditional Aluminium handmade pots are used for cooking. These pots are a blend of timeless and modern functionality, designed for those who appreciate the experience of outdoor cooking over an open fire.

Smile Chifwanda from Misisi Compound, said that he has been in the business of making aluminium pots for over 16 years, he usesaluminium which he buys from the scrap metal dealers to make the aluminium pots.

“Through this business I am able to source some money which l use to sustain my family and my livelihood, business is going on well despite having challenges of customers as a result of the dry spells business has gone down due to climate change,’’ he stated.

He explained that he has a target market where he is selling the pots, most of the people who come through to buy from him are the Tonga, the Lozi people and others travel from Botswana to buy from him.

He added that these types of pots are made of aluminium materials which makes them very strong compared to the pots which are made of small iron roofing sheet.  The uniqueness of buying the aluminium pots is that after buying, they can last for more than 5 years and the future generation can also use them.

Mr Chifwanda explained that the aluminium pots are in 2 different types, one is a source pan which can be used when cooking using a brazier or a stove, the other one stands on 3 legs and is used when cooking using firewood especially for people who are in rural areas can use it for cooking different types of meals.

He said these types of pots are unique because they have thick layers that makes them last longer and can be used for a long period of time compared to the other types of pots which have small layers and can not be used for a long time.

Mr Chifwanda said the pots are in different sizes and they are sold at a different prices, the smallest is sold at K 80 ,size 1 is sold at K 120, size 2 is K 150 , size 3 is K 180, size 4 is sold at K250, size 6 is sold at K 300 , size 8 is K 400, size 10 is K 450, size 12 is K800, size 14 is K 900 , size 16 is K 1,200, size 20 is sold at K 1,800 , size25 is sold at K 2,000 and size 30 which is the biggest is sold at K 3,000.

He advised people to buy these types of pots which they can use for easy preparation of different types of meals during their outdoor cooking, adding that the pots are portable, easy to clean and they enable a person to cook at a faster rate because they're light.

“The process for making the pots from the raw material to the finished products is that we first buy the aluminium from the scrap metal dealers, we buy charcoal and we melt, second step is that we mold the sand and when the aluminium has melted, we add it to the molder to make the pots, “he said.

Mr. Chifwanda further said that he plans to expand his business and he is calling out for the well wishers to help him get connected to customers from other countries to come through and buy the pots to expand the business.

He said that he does not have any difficulties of where to buy the raw materials as he is able to buy them locally, this gives him the confidence that having more customers can help him buy more aluminium to enhance his business venture.

But Mr Chifwanda notes that one of the challenges that has emerged is that people are now buying aluminium which they are exporting to China and this has made it difficult to find the raw material from the scrap metal dealers.

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