Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu , [email protected]
MAGINESS Ndlovu, the owner of Maggie’s Unique Designs, a company that specialises in beadwork and other crafts, recently took part in the Malawi International Trade Fair where she displayed her most recent creation, a beaded national flag of Zimbabwe.
Ndlovu, a teacher by trade, claimed that creativity is an innate gift and that teaching offered her the chance to discover and hone it. She held a teaching position from 1998 till 2011. She was a teacher in Kezi, Lupane, and Gwanda schools.
She transferred to the Matabeleland South provincial offices of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in 2012 to work as a human resources officer.
After work or during the week, she works on her items.
Ndlovu claimed that attending the Malawi International Trade Fair, which took place in Lilongwe from August 25 to 31, was enlightening. She added that it was an excellent venue for networking.
Exhibitors from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, and Uganda were present at the trade show.
“I was invited by the SMEs sector to participate at the Malawi International trade Fair which was organised by the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises Trust (NASME). I exhibited my latest invention which is a beaded Zimbabwe national flag.
“It grabbed the attention of many people including Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Malawi Dr Nancy Saungweme. She placed an order for the flag which I have to send to her and I hope that the beaded flag will become popular in the country and even in other countries. I’m glad to have been given the recognition I got and an opportunity to attend such a big event. It’s always my desire to the lift the Zimbabwean flag high when it comes to beadwork and craft,” she said.
Ndlovu claimed that she made the national flag out of beadwork as a way to honor the nation’s artists.
Like the Proverbs 31 woman, Ndlovu makes sure to put in a lot of effort to finish her items. She claimed that because she must attend to her official job during the day, she only works on her items at night and on the weekends.
When Ndlovu encountered a woman carrying a handbag made of paper beads in 2017, she decided to try her hand at beadwork. She claimed that her aunt, who resides in Bulawayo, had taught her how to make expert beading.
Ndlovu wants to teach beading to more women so that they can become economically independent.
“From the time I started up to now my work has advanced in terms of neatness and uniqueness. This is as a result of trainings that I have attended courtesy of various organisations. Attending exhibitions and fairs has also given me the push and drive to keep on improving my products and to come up with more innovations,” she said.
From 1994 to 1998, Ndlovu pursued a Diploma in Education at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic College, formerly the Gwanda Zintec office.
Ndlovu also teaches weaving and beading to women. She markets her goods, which range from table mats to bangles to key chains and beaded handbags.
“During my teaching days I used to assist the Grade 7 learners with pottery, broom weaving, peanut butter making and sewing. At church I identified vulnerable girls and I trained them in beadwork so that they could find ways of getting income. The youngsters managed have managed to attend some festival and trade fairs in the country.
“In 2018 I formed the Beadwork Generation Club which comprises of vulnerable girls. They have been identified by a number of institutions and non-governmental organisations. They were assisted with machinery to sew bags. What we need now is working space for the girls. Some of them are creating products and selling them in order to make a living,” she said.
Last year she enrolled under the Zimtrade Next She Exporter Programme where she received training and expertise on how to register a company and how to export products. She managed to register her company under Maggie’s Unique Designs. Ndlovu also assisted to register the Rainbow Cultural Artefacts Association which is an organisation of women who do beadwork.
She has showcased at a number of exhibitions such as the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in 2020. In July she received the best ward in art and craft during the Gwanda SMEs summit which was held in Gwanda. She also attended the We Effect exhibition in 2021 where she received an award for Gwanda entrepreneur of the year first runner up.
This year she attended the National Disability Expo in Gwanda and the International Day of Families in Gwanda.
Online Reporter