In the heart of Kupe Muanenguba Division, South West Region, Cameroon, a determined entrepreneur is making waves in the cocoa industry.
Meet 48-year-old Alonge Marion Senze, a proud resident of Tombel, who has embarked on a mission to transform cocoa beans into delicious products, contributing to the country’s import substitution policy.
With a passion for cocoa processing ignited through training with GIZ-ProCISA Cameroon and SOCTRACAO in Douala, Senze took the bold step of starting her own business, Miracle Cocoa Products.
Her product line boasts an impressive array of items, including cocoa butter, cocoa powder, chocolate bonbons, chocolate spread, Choco tea, Enrich cocoa beverage, and cocoa butter lotion.
In a chat with The Ultimate, Senze said her transformation journey starts from her cocoa farm where together with her children, they harvest the cocoa pod, break it to extract cocoa beans, dry the cocoa beans, before transformation and processing.
She said the processing chain hasn’t been without challenges.
As a new entrant in the market, she faces stiff competition from established brands. “My products are new and natural, and I have to persuade people to love them,” she explains.
Additionally, Senze said the high cost of production due to limited access to processing equipment hinders her ability to scale up production.
Despite these obstacles, Senze remains resolute. “I’m doing my best, knowing there are others in the same field,” she says.
Her determination has earned her encouragement from the Tombel community, and she’s determined to create a name for herself in the industry.
Senze’s products have potential for growth, and her humble wish is to expand production, creating jobs and contributing to the local economy.
She said with support, she could become a leading figure in Cameroon’s cocoa industry, inspiring other women to follow in her footsteps.
It should be noted that in the 9th Divisional Handicraft Exhibition for Kupe Muanenguba recently, Senze was one of the winners to represent the division at the Soth West Region, November 2025.
The Divisional Delegate of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Kupe Muanenguba, Ngwene Cecilia Mbolle disclosed that as Cameroon celebrates rural women like Senze, they recognize their invaluable contributions to the country’s economic growth and development.
She said Senze’s story serves as a testament to the power of determination and innovation in overcoming challenges and achieving success.
Mbolle called on other women to evolve from the production of food crops to plantation agriculture and transformation like Senze, in order to significantly contribute to the advancement of the nation.
Ahone Jessy
