Esther Fawole
Sivi Diawete quitted her corporate job to start an agribusiness company called MANITECH Congo with her savings to improve other Congolese lives.
Diawete was inspired to pursue her dreams because her country do not use their resources properly and people are suffering because of that. Then she decided to be an active actor of change in her country.
Sivi Diawete then founded MANITECH Congo which produces natural fresh jams, jellies, peanut butter, sauces and flour, and Diawete sources all her products locally.
The uniqueness of Diawete’s business is the fact that she offers traditional food in a modern manner. For the local market, the innovation is in terms of the packaging that her company offer, For external market, it is the content which is the innovation and at the end of the day, her customers are happy both with the content and the packaging.
Sivi Diawete had to overcome some challenges to get to where she is today. The business climate in DR Congo is very “tough”, in addition to infrastructural, electricity, importation and water challenges.
Surprisingly to her, she gained national attention and was even nominated as Entrepreneur of the year in DRC by the prestigious MAKUTANO. She was also featured in Forbes Afrique Magazine and was ranked among the 50 most influential under 40 Congolese people by the magazine KivuZik. The Tony Elumelu Foundation also named her an ambassador.
Recently, the president of DR Congo Felix Tshisekedi invited Sivi Diawete to Washington, DC where he praised her for her work and contribution that brings development to their economy and other Congolese in DR Congo.
