Meet Simon Mwewa, (above) Livingstone entrepreneur and guest on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz, the weekly radio show we sponsor on Zambezi fm, one of Livingstone’s three local radio stations. The show has been airing every Sunday night at 20.30 hrs CAT since the end of 2007! The show is a lively mixture of chat with our guest and the latest international and Zambian music, guests are often visitors staying at the lodge but local entrepreneurs and celebrities also feature.

Simon told listeners that he was not related to late Dr Simon Mwewa, former Mayor of Lusaka, and that it was just a coincidence of names. He hails from Luapula Province in the north of Zambia but was mostly brought up on the Copperbelt. He moved around a lot as a youngster as his father was a civil servant working in local government and was frequently transferred from city to city. Following his secondary education at Kitwe Boys, Simon graduated from Copperbelt University in Forestry and spent years in the forestry sector, mostly in wood processing and product management. He had eventually moved to Namibia involved in marketing forestry products before moving back to Zambia in late 2013.

As of now Simon is co-owner of the popular Fez Bar in down town Livingstone which also sells food – steaks, pizzas and burgers – and provides entertainment three or four nights per week. Simon said business was picking up following the traditional slow start to business in Livingstone in the early months of the year. Simon also has a business selling tyres, and a start up marketing Chinese medicine.

The music on the show was good featuring tracks from Clean Bandit, Michael Calfan, David Hasselhoff, Ty Dollar Sign, Phyno, Teliq, Flo Rida and Camster ft Afunika – a lively mixture as I said!

Milli Jam wanted to know Simon’s taste in music and our guest told listeners that he liked both gospel and hip hop. He revealed he had been married to Monica for twelve years and the happy couple had three young children – two girls and a boy. He loves playing chess as well as table tennis but business means he has less time for these activities than in the past. Football wise he is a supporter of Power Dynamos and Arsenal. Milli Jam was happy with this revelation. Simon’s all time favourite Arsenal player? Thierry Henry.

Asked where he would like to be and what he would like to be doing ten years’ from now, Simon said he would like to be the owner of a very successful, much expanded Fez Bar and a wealthy entrepreneur.

We wished him the best of luck.