Our purpose

Unlock the potential of small scale entrepreneurs to improve quality of life

The Right Entrepreneur

Serving over 7,000 entrepreneurs in
Zambia since its inception in 2010, RTO
has pioneered asset financing in
rural Africa and achieved exceptional
96% repayment rates over the last 3
years.

Unique solution

Combining financing, distribution and training
for a one-stop shop for rural MSME’s, Flexible payment options tailored to business
cash flows, Increasingly offering off-grid technologies

Our goal

Reach 1,000,000
customers by 2025

The Story

Mark Hemsworth

Mark Hemsworth

Co-Founder & Director of Innovation

After spending several years as a manager in the restaurant and retail industry, in 2008 Mark took a posting through Engineers Without Borders working with the company Forest Fruits Ltd, a business that buys honey from 5,000 farmers in very remote areas. While working in Zambia Mark noticed that many rural entrepreneurs couldn’t grow their businesses because they didn’t have access to the asset capital or equipment necessary to improve their output and productivity. It was then that Mark realized he could bridge the gap between these entrepreneurs and their full business potential by starting his own social business that would offer the missing equipment that they needed. Today he is the co-founder and CEO of Rent to Own

Patrun Chikolwizu

Patrun Chikolwizu

Co-Founder & Board Member

Patrun met with Mark in 2008 while employed at Forest Fruits Ltd.- a honey exporting business comprised of 5,000 beekeepers in Northwestern rural Zambia. Together they started sharing ideas and discovered that that a lot of business owners in the rural Zambia had the potential and the opportunity to grow their business but simply weren’t due to a lack of productive assets. They then sat together, made a plan and decided to act. Using his 10 years of experience in field work and business management in rural Zambia, he has played a key role in driving and guiding the company’s growth. Patrun sits on the board of directors and gives strategic input on Rent to Own’s decision-making and growth plans. His favourite part about working in RTO is helping grow businesses in Zambia and the collective enthusiasm that the RTO team shares when it comes to problem solving

Jeffrey Scheidegger

Jeffrey Scheidegger

C.E.O

" Access to the right equipment is a real solution to unlocking the great potential of entrepreneurs in rural, underserved markets, we’re excited to work with our customers, agents, investors and suppliers to reach 1,000,000 customers "

What Our Clients Say

Rent to Own’s success is directly tied to that of each client. Our goal is to provide equipment and services so that each client can realize a productive and prosperous future with the use of our equipment and services.
Edward Lutawo Phiri

Edward Lutawo Phiri

Tree Farmer- Chipata

" Rent to own has enabled me to expand my tree farming business through the provision of sustainable irrigation solutions which have lead to local and world recognition in tree growing. I have subsequently purchased 2 more products from RTO. I look forward to a long lasting relationship"

Doris Ngwenya

Doris Ngwenya

Business owner

" I would like to thank all RTO staff, my business would not have grown to the level it has , I got a Generator from RTO because of many electricity problems we experience in my area, now my shop would be the only one that has electricity. I have since paid off the gen-set and further purchased 2 fridges that I will pay off within 6 months!! I Am a very happy business lady all because of Rent To Own "

Grace Sakala

Grace Sakala

Farmer

" I had for a long time struggled with how I could earn a living after retirement . I tried a number of things until I came to Rent To Own and got a Solar Submersible Pump, a 3 meter tank stand and a 5000 Liter water tank. This helped me start an all year round gardening project producing winter maize, cabbage, Tomatoes and onions. I now have a stable income and able to support my dependents and even able to hire casual labor in the area, thereby creating employment for the youth in my community . This has all been made possible by RTO "

Blog

Get in Touch

Call Us on our toll free lines

Contact Information

Rent to Own (Z) Ltd.
Lusaka, Zambia

Toll-Free:

+260 978 665 544
+260 960 914 080

info@rtoafrica.com

www.facebook.com/rtoafrica/
www.rtoafrica.com

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