By: Vimbai Tanyanyiwa

Most times people make so many mistakes along the way which are always overlooked as non-existent just because people end up seeing the finished product never the journey. I started doing poultry 5 years ago after I had been retrenched from work and I had to push myself to find an alternative source of income that was going to keep me alive. Most people look at poultry rearing as something just so easy yet not considering a lot of factors that need to be adhered to for you to produce the best quality of chickens when the time is due.

It’s so easy for people to just say in 6 weeks (dzinenge dzaita) they will be up for harvest – but what of the mistakes and endurance that you make as you start; the casualties you endure the first awful winters before you know how to withstand the cold so as not to have a lot of the chickens dying? Chickens just like anything dear; require a lot of care and attention as they grow. But one of my first mistakes, when I started, was never accepted that as much as it is about money- passion has to drive you so you create the determination to succeed in the intended project.

I lost a lot of chickens within batches due to negligence & mismanagement & overzealous behaviour of putting my trust in employees & not being hands-on committed to the project, which I feel is not my mistake alone. Every project requires a person who monitors whoever employed so you don’t suffer losses. In looking for workers do most ever consider if the one being employed has the necessary skill or knowledge pertaining to that project or we just employ? Well, my mistake was just employing & sadly daily I would be told one or two have died, coming from a person with no remorse who felt it was ok for chickens to just die yet you trying to generate income from that & a livelihood.

Until I had to self introspect and understand that no person will put in as much concern and care into the project except you the owner who is pumping money into it so it survives. I then pushed myself to be hands-on until I noticed that it was very possible to have over 90% survival rate, not the bigger losses I was suffering before. During terrible winters it proved that the lamps were not adequate on their own but I had to come up with another technique to warm up the chickens since most were dying from the cold. That’s when I learnt from a Good Samaritan about the use of charcoal & mbaura in foul runs to help ease the crisis. But it had to be strategic since too much heat too would then kill them as well so it had to be proportional.

I had gotten to a point where I feared buying any batches in Winter for most wouldn’t survive but after that, I wasn’t scared to endure the winters as I had now learned how to fight the winter mania.
Not buying any batches in Winter meant no income & no income meant problems & stresses of accumulating bills which would, in turn, get to be difficult to settle. Another one of the many mistakes I had to make along the journey was accumulating debts & failing to pay them having to then ruin relationships I had with friends & family when I failed to honour up. Debts in any way always come up when we are in tight situations & we wish to solve them urgently but always end up creating more problems when we fail to pay them.

So I have learnt along the way to at least be content with what is there & work with what’s available.
Or forever be one to never really see the profits as every little money you get ends up being channeled to clear the debts. I am not really well organized in this area yet but I am striving to. Pressure from societal expectations and always wanting to live in the fast lane is never good for business. At times you need to make peace with the fact that; we were all given different lives & opportunities & we run different races. It’s not your duty to then try to always be in competition with friends & colleagues & family even when your budget doesn’t warrant you to.

Running a business demands discipline & control that puts you on the right path otherwise you run the risk of tarnishing your brand if one day you wake up being named & shamed for providing poor service to your clients

By Gilbert Sikanyika

Doctor Kudzanai Vere belongs to the group of African young Turks determined to conquer the world and leave permanent foot-steps on the sands of life.

I have known Dr. Vere through social interactions over the years and I have come to know him as a pragmatic, hard-working, and purpose-driven person. He sets high goals and when he attains those goals, he sets even higher goals. He places a high premium on his aspirations. He challenges himself to challenge challenges in his life. He does not take “no” for an answer…He knocks, knocks, and keeps knocking until doors of opportunities fling open before him. He is tenacious and aggressive in his daily operations. He does not wait for opportunities; instead, he creates opportunities for himself. He is a workaholic if ever there was one.

He was compelled to stop school in form 4 due to family financial constraints but that could not deter him from pursuing his dreams. He started working as a Receiving and Costing Clerk at Redstar in Nyanga in Zimbabwe and he rose through the ranks to become Branch Manager within a spell of three years. He was arguably the youngest Branch Manager heading a Blue Chips Company when he was only 22 years old.

Doctor Vere has “A coat of many colours.” He is an entrepreneur, Author, and Speaker of international repute. He enjoys developing people in areas such as Entrepreneurship, Personal Development, Practical Business Management, Organizational Development, Financial Literacy, and Leadership Development.

Just what makes him tick

He gets inspiration from motivating himself and others. His life gets better when he impacts lives in Business related issues. He was born in a family of 10 in a remote area of Zimbabwe in Nyanga. He went to Maereka primary school, Nyatate school, and Mapako High School. He has also attended: Zimbabwe Open University, British College Of Professional Management, Coppetstone University among others. He has:

• Diploma in Accounting
• Diploma In Accounting In Business Management
• Bcom Accounting
• Certified Public Accountancy
  -Master of Arts in Leadeship and Management
  -Registered Public Accounting
  -Certified Forensic
  -Doctorate in Phylosophy in Entrepreneurship among others.

Dr. Vere is also a notable and versatile writer whose books such as Becoming A Person Of Impact and Exceed Beyond The Ordinary have blessed multitudes of people. It seems he is a “Jack of all trades and master of everything.”

His books have impacted the hordes of people from all walks of life because of the nuggets of life they carry. His presence is being felt almost everywhere and so far so good. Although he never completed formal education, he is a self-made man who has managed to school himself and has acquired a string of diplomas and degrees and was recently conferred with a Doctorial degree in recognition of his teachings and passion for entrepreneurship.

“The whole of my adult life I have been learning business at times passively and at other times actively. I have vast years of business management, ” he said. His ultimate goal in life is to become an oasis of inspiration in Business circles. He is married to a lovely lady Fortune who is the Managing Director of the family business empire. Doctor Vere is also blessed with a wife and five children.

Gilbert Sikanyika is a Writing Prophet based in Zambia

In this digital era, information sharing is now being done everyone. Information is being shared on almost any subject n be it politics, business, science among many other topics.  This includes information on motivation. Almost everyone is now a motivational speaker. Some of these people provide vague information. In times like this, if you are looking for uplifting and inspiring information, it is better to get that information from people who have experienced life, someone who has passed the test of times.  A great man once said that even someone who is still starting out in life is writing about how to make it in life. You just wonder what he or she will be talking about considering that they are still trying to make it. Therefore it’s not everything you get from social media that is credible.

As a writer, I am always studying and learning through research, I have had to follow some pages from Zimbabwe. These pages have always been consistent in publishing update to date information on entrepreneurship, business and motivation.  If you an entrepreneur or someone who is looking for some uplifting content, you need to check out these pages

STARTUPBIZ

It is the blog page for a research firm based in Harare, STARTUPBIZ. They are passionate about entrepreneurship. The information published on the website has helped many in making business decisions especially for startups that are growing their businesses. They post links to their written articles on business ideas, business tips, business news, personal finance, entrepreneur interviews, and profiles. In addition to that they have also a Whats App platform where they share the same content on daily content. I for one, I started following them in 2017 and ever since, I have never regretted following them. Their works on business and entrepreneurship have stood the test of time and also the information relevant to what’s happening around us

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MAGAZINE

This is online magazine with some hard copies of its publication around. They are a startup media firm that publishes diversified content on business such as leadership, business opportunities, business models, statutory requirements, supply chain manages as well as investment and finance. Their special focus is on SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs. they have published 2 editions so far but they are promising to be a go-to source on the content they are publishing, surely they are the first of their kind on the Zimbabwean media landscape. Daily, they share links to their site on articles that help you make a better decision in your start-up business. If you are an entrepreneur and you have not yet followed them on Facebook, do so now and thank me later.

MOTIMAGZ MAGAZINE

It is an online magazine owned and published by a young man named Tinashe Bonde who is the founder of Africa Pride Motivation. I started following this magazine last year around June.  There is one thing I have noted about them as a writer who is trying to make it; they have inspired to become a better writer by what they share and post on their Facebook page. They post motivation quotes and links to their website. Whatever you are looking for be it motivation, business tips, testimonies on the ones who have made it already, you will find the content. If you are addicted to success and you haven’t followed and liked their Facebook page, you are missing out a lot.

GEORGE BILLIONARE MUNENGWA

He is an award winning Zimbabwean businessman with a strong marketing background. Before founding ProAir, George Munengwa started off as a marketer at another air conditioning services provider in Zimbabwe from 2009 to 2012, he then established  ProAir in June 2012 with the goal to “Make the weather behave 365 days of the year indoors” at the same time bringing heating & cooling air conditioning solutions to the citizens of Zimbabwe at an affordable price. Munengwa also seats on Spidex Media board and is the organizing secretary for 2Brigade Mash East chapter E11

Today ProAir has become one of the most sought after air conditioning companies in the country and has won several awards including:

• Zimbabwe Leadership Awards: Zimbabwe Top Leadership Excellence Air Conditioning Company of the Year 2015
• Zimbabwe Business Awards: Top Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Company of the Year 2015
• Megafest Business Awards: Most Consistent Organisation of the Year 2017 Winner

On his Facebook page, he regularly posts motivational quotes, insights on business, marketing and habits that should be developed by an entrepreneur. If you an aspiring entrepreneur, this is a must follow Facebook page. You will learn a lot from the tried and tested practitioners in the business world.

ENTREPRENEURSZW

Entrepreneurszw is a group of female consultants who work together for the empowerment of women and girls ages 8-40. They offer training, funding, and networking opportunities in addition to promoting a savings and investment culture in women and girls.

The Key areas they focus on are

• Entrepreneurial Training
• Financial Empowerment
• Investments
• Associate
• Personal Development

In addition they have a magazine that encourages women to venture into entrepreneurship. They discovered that entrepreneurship has been dominated by men, fewer women are into entrepreneurship. This has been attributed to lack of information. Hence on their Facebook page they post inspiring and uplifting messages encouraging women to start businesses. They also celebrate women who are already into entrepreneurship. This is a must follow Facebook page especially for young women. However there is no harm if men follow the page too; there is a lot to learn.

DR FAITH NYAMUKAPA

Dr Faith Nyamukapa is a dedicated Christian, young multi- award-winning female entrepreneur, a goal-oriented businesswoman who runs KinderCare Zimbabwe and Transplex Investments, and a Philanthropist. She is also a qualified accountant by profession. Her passion is to work with children, developing strategies for Organisations, and empowering women who run preschool businesses in Zimbabwe.

Executive Appointments

Trustee for Econet Wireless Group Pension Fund Board-Employee representative from February (2012- July 2015)

Trustee for Education Support Systems Trust (ESST) Zimbabwe – March 2016 to date

It is a Trust that helps to advance education in Zimbabwe and information documentation of all communities in Zimbabwe for use by NGOs.

Awards

1. 2nd Runner Up Women in Accounting & Investment Sector 2016 – Megafest Business Awards

Megafest is a passionate advocate of women in business, celebrating their achievements, now in its 8th year, the Women’s Awards are about more than simply recognising and rewarding the courage, leadership and creativity of Zimbabwe’s most brilliant business women-they play a critical role in raising the profile of women in business.

2. Executive Director of the Year Award- Women’s Heritage Society World Organisation – Award ceremony in November 2016

3. Organisation of the Year Award- KinderCare Zimbabwe Women’s Heritage Society World Organisation (Early Childhood Development Category). Award ceremony in November 2016

4. Brand of the Year Award – KinderCare Zimbabwe. Women’s Heritage Society World Organisation. Award ceremony in November 2016

5. Top Female Academic Philanthropist of the Year Award- Philanthropy Institute of Zimbabwe. November 2016.

6. Early Childhood Development Philanthropist of the Year Award – Philanthropy Institute of Zimbabwe. Award ceremony in November 2016

7. Pan African Humanitarian Award on Enterprise and Community Development 2016 –Anantara The Palm, Dubai

Honorary Non-Academic awards- 2016

1. Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from the International Institute of Philanthropy (IIP) 13 July 2016

2. Honorary Doctorate in Business Leadership, DBL –International Women’s University-Mauritius ( 2016)

3. Honorary Master’s Degree in Business Leadership ,MBL- International Women’s University-Mauritius ( 2016)

You can tell from the above that she is a go to person for inspiration. Indeed she is a role model to many. Why not follow her on her Facebook page where she shares her experiences in the corporate world. She regularly posts update content on what’s happening around in the business and corporate world. One of the great scientists, Sir Isaac Newton once said, “In order to see to further, I stand on the shoulders of the giants’’. What he meant is that you need someone who has been there to show you the direction to be there too. I personally believe she is one of the giants in the business world.  There is a lot to learn if you follow her especially if you are looking forward to being in the business world.

By Rodreck Matsveru (Sir Rody)

Tutor/ Exam Coach / Writer / Columnist

0775701788

rodreck16@gmail.com