The red dust rises gently as our vehicle winds up the ten-kilometre dirt track leading to the Ambassador International University campus in Rufunsa, Zambia. It’s the rainy season, and even though the country has suffered one of the worst periods of drought in decades, the recent rain have made the hills green—vivid maize fields stretch out behind the campus perched on a hillside. From here, Smart Mtonga tells us, “The sunsets are fantastic.”
Smart lives here with his wife Anna and their two children, Emmanuel (14) and Angela (3). Their small house is nestled within the university compound where he works, surrounded by blooming flowers, mango trees, and a humble garden plot. Life, though quiet, is rich with meaning, labour, and community.
Originally from Lusaka, Smart came to Rufunsa to study theology. “I came for school and stayed to help,” he reflects. He’s been a clinic outreach director, worked on a clean stove project to reduce indoor smoke, and now oversees landscaping and hygiene at the university grounds.
Family portrait of Solar Entrepreneur Smart Mtonga with his wife Anna Mtonga and daughter Angela Mtonga at their home in Chimuthu village, Rufunsa, Zambia. Photo: SolarAid/Jason J Mulikta
But Smart is a man of many more traits—social worker, pastor, solar entrepreneur, father, and farmer. Avid Liverpool fan and interested in languages, he is calm and warm, with a reflective, eloquent way of speaking. He is a person clearly held in high regard by those around him. “The work I do connects me to different people,” he tells us with a wide smile. “I’ve seen how these solar lights are able to help, and people really appreciate that.”
Life wasn’t always this quiet, leaving behind him a difficult upbringing, Smart says, “It’s because of what I went through in life that has helped me to keep on pushing and wanting to achieve great things.”
Lighting Up Lives Since 2019
Smart began working with SunnyMoney in 2019. Today, he’s not only a Solar Entrepreneur but also trained in solar light repairs—skills he proudly uses when lights need a little extra care. “I’ve repaired some lights where the battery was faulty or a cable destroyed. I was able to fix them. They started working again.”
“Now I know how to replace switches too,” he says proudly.
He assesses returned lights to see if they’re under warranty and helps coordinate replacements through SolarAid in Lusaka. “We explain how to care for them. I even charge the lights before I sell them, just to make it easier for people.”
Solar Entrepreneur Smart Mtonga with his wife Anna Mtonga receiving solar stock from Thomas Nyangulu, SolarAid Regional Communications Officer, Rufunsa, Zambia. Photo: SolarAid/Jason J Mulikita
That day, as we sit with him under a humid sky, the air is full of energy. Children pass by laughing, neighbours wave. “The area has developed,” he says. “Now we have Zesco, the road is a bit better, and a bridge was built—though it was recently swept away by the rains.”
Though his own house is connected to Zambia’s national grid – much of the surrounding area remains without power and is still in great need of solar products. He serves a wide area, villages across Rufunsa and even into Chongwe District. Transportation however, remains a challenge. “Some people live too far. I meet some at the marketplace or church, but not everyone can come. The place is huge, I cannot reach them because some stay very far away from me. So it’s difficult to reach some clients.”
Solar Entrepreneur Smart Mtonga at home reading the bible, Rufunsa, Zambia. Photo: SolarAid/Jason J Mulikita
A Pastor and a Provider
On Sundays, Smart travels to Chamlimba where he pastors a church. “I usually take solar supplies with me. After church, I sell lights to the people,” he explains. His ministry has become an unexpected extension of his solar work—a chance to spread not just faith but light.
“What I love about being an Solar Entrepreneur, the work is easy to connect me to different people. I’ve seen how these solar lights have been helping people in a huge way. They provide light to people, and they prevent houses getting burned.”
And while he has loyal customers, economic hardship weighs heavily on his work.
“People struggle financially,” he says. “They’ll choose between a light or a meal. Some still owe me. It’s hard, especially with the drought. Most people depend on farming.”
Smart Mtonga demonstrates the benefits of solar lighting to his customer Senzeni Chimunthu at her home in Chimunthu village, Rufunsa, Zambia. Through his guidance, Senzeni gains access to sustainable energy that will improve her family’s quality of life. Photo: SolarAid/Jason J Mulikita
Farming, Family, and the Future
Smart’s own household has not been spared. “Vegetables that used to cost 1 kwacha now cost 10,” he says. “Mealie-meal has doubled. It’s affected us too.”
Still, he finds peace in planting. “I enjoy it,” he says, pointing to the mango trees by his house. “I had ones from Mozambique, but the cows and sun destroyed them. I’m starting again.” He has a small plot nearby and dreams of growing enough fruit to support both his family and a small business.
Solar Agent/Entrepreneur Smart Mtonga at his garden in Rufunsa, Zambia
Anna, his wife, helps at the preschool on campus. “More like a volunteer”. For his two children, Smart has big plans, “I want my children to be educated and to learn how to be independent. To learn how to make money so that they can have a bright future” looking at his daughter, he says, “I just love her character because she’s super intelligent.”
Through his work, Smart has built trust and awareness. “Now, people understand how solar works,” he says. He’s even created a short video advertisement and shares it on WhatsApp and Facebook. “Just to encourage people.”
Through solar, Smart is helping his community grow safer, more sustainable, and more connected—one light at a time.