Auctioneer with needy at heart

Edmore Chaipa Features Correspondent
THE man is so unassuming off the job that on meeting him on the streets, away from the buzz of auction floors and the microphone, one cannot believe that the diminutive Chitungwiza-based auctioneer can persuade an Eskimo to buy ice blocks, in winter.
Once behind the microphone, with an audience and a few items to dispose of, the man quickly turns into an enigma, a larger than life figure with his skilful use of sarcastic voice that professionally blends with persuasion. It is an art.

In the initial stages of bidding, the auctioneer does marathon mumblings until all pretenders fall by the wayside. Using his voice of persuasion, the man can take the remaining few bidders into a financial well-to-do showdown, which most gentlemen would find difficult to back off from.

Those who have been to auctions conducted by Mr Joseph Ndawana will agree that some bidders end up buying items for more than their actual value rather than back down from further bidding. This is after having their ego scratched in the process. Many do this out of the sarcasm Ndawana builds around bidders each time a bid is raised.

The man has the drive to turn lukewarm events into electrifying occasions. His voice has a Midas touch that turns into gold every item to be disposed of.

The army, through the Zimbabwe National Army charities, has had the privilege to have an enduring relationship with Mr Ndawana over the years. The man continues to render invaluable support to many fund-raising activities of the ZNA charities. His rumbling voice has become synonymous with many of the organisation’s fund-raising activities as he conducts auctions to dispose of donated goods with no immediate value to beneficiaries of the ZNA charities.

Each time he stands at ZNA Charity fund-raising events to auction items, Ndawana leaves the audience in stitches, while bidders are put at each other’s throats through his unmatched skilful use of words.

“At US$200 you can take away this bed. Who is the lucky woman to sleep on this bed tonight? Iwe mudhara une mandebvu, tengera mhamha mubhedha kuti vasafunga kuti une ‘small house’. Ticket for two at US$600 . . .  US$700 . . ., US$800, just to view Victoria Falls! Anyone? If you take one you get two . . . Yes please! Commander ZNA Sir, . . . US$650, US$700 . . . give-away price,” are some of the antics that come out of the seasoned auctioneer to stir joyous moods among the mainly elite gatherings.

This writer caught up with Mr Ndawana at the just ended 16th Edition of the Commander ZNA Charity Horse Race at Borrowdale Race Course on November 3. The reputable auctioneer said he was happy to be associated with the ZNA Charities and promised his continued support whenever required.

“My heart bleeds for the disadvantaged members of the army and as an auctioneer I decided to chip in my own small way to support this noble cause to fund-raise for needy members of the organisation and society at large,” said Ndawana.

Mr Ndawana says he was grateful to his colleagues and the Commander ZNA, Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda, for their unstinting support to the ZNA charities.

mr Ndawana, who sometimes also doubles as master of ceremonies, urged the ZNA Charities secretariat and its organising committee to arrange for even bigger events in future.

“The ZNA charities committee should organise bigger events in future to support the needy, we appreciate what the ZNA is doing, but I feel more can still be done. Widows, orphans and the disabled have got to be supported, so let’s all give it our best,” he said.

Mr Ndawana, who is a sales manager at ABC Auctioneers, said his involvement in the auction business was not a mistake at all as he has acquired the expertise for life. He cut his teeth in the profession at the age of 20 when working for Strathaven Auctioneers as a semi-skilled auctioneer. During his stint at Strathaven, the young Ndawana garnered a number of tricks as tools of the trade through the exposure he got from attending many auctions.

“My will to learn was a challenge to Strathaven Auctioneers director David Buck, who could not resist my quest to be trained as an auctioneer,” said Mr Ndawana.

Born in Harare in 1975, Mr Ndawana did primary education at Tamuka, Seke 3 in Chitungwiza and later enrolled for secondary education at Seke1 High. After working for Strathaven Auctioneers, Mr Ndawana moved to ABC Auctioneers in 2000, where he started as an auctioneer before being promoted to sales manager, a post he currently holds.

Having been touched by the plight of needy members of society, Mr Ndawana decided to chip in his own small way to assist in charity work. In addition to assisting the ZNA charities from 2004, Mr Ndawana also supports charity work at St Giles Rehabilitation Centre.
He also works with NicozDiamond and the Zimbabwe Republic Police among other organisations in their  charity work.

Mr Ndawana is married to Marian and the couple is blessed with three children.