Mapanga Furniture was first established fifty years ago under the name Nyasaland Furniture Mart and later changed to National Furniture upto its present name. It is solely a family venture first founded by the Late Mr. D.M. Patel, who in the early fifties was the first Indian to own the first five different industries and businesses, namely Fulcream Dairy, ABC Cola Company, Chirimba Press, National Nail Factory and Steel Beds Factory. The venture is currently managed by the 2nd and 3rd generation of the Patel family. The factory complex is housed under a four-acre site, some six kms from Limbe on Zomba road and has a work force of 320 employees employed in the furniture, soft furnishings, foam and mattress manufacturing divisions. The company employs first rate carpenters and technicians with modern machinery to cater for a wide range of furniture, from school furniture, office furniture, household furniture to undertaking substantial contracts like refurbishment of hotels, banks, universities etc. Besides having a showroom outlet at the factory at Mapanga, the company in addition has showroom outlets in the cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu