Zambia immigrant lives the American dream as an accountant in Derby

DERBY Edward Mwelwa, a Derby resident who immigrated to the United States from Zambia in 2001, said this week he knew attaining the American Dream would not be a simple journey.

The father of two is an accountant who for the past several years has offered tax preparation help and tax planning for individuals and small businesses with his home-based company, EDM Accounting and Taxes.

He decided he wanted to become a bookkeeper so he could expand his services.

Mwelwa said he came to the United States as a refugee from Zambia after being in what he called “a difficult situation.” He said the country was “in political transition” and speaking about it brings back difficult memories.

Mwelwa said he has had to overcome the stigma he felt coming from a Third World country. “Despite rough times, I’m very forward-looking.”

He said he works hard in order to set a good example for his children.

Mwelwa said he has “a passion” for accounting and bookkeeping. He recently graduated from Universal Accounting Center’s Professional Bookkeeper Program.

“Bookkeeping should be looked at as an investment, not as an expense,” he said.

In addition to working with numbers, Mwelwa held a lot of other jobs as he worked toward his goals.

“I came here in 2001, and my family joined me in 2005,” Mwelwa said. He worked in landscaping and a variety of temporary jobs until he landed a position 10 years ago with Latex International in Shelton.

“It has been a lot of work, it takes time (to grow a business),” he said. His goal is to have “10-20 bookkeeping clients” by the end of this year.

“Accounting is a business of trust,” Mwelwa said.

Orange resident James Murphy, a tax client who knew Mwelwa because he also works at Latex International, called Mwelwa a “great guy.”

Murphy said he is a conscientious worker and he’s glad he has used Mwelwa’s tax preparation services for the past two years. “I wish him the best with his business.”

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