adminBrighton Gumbo Business Reporter
SHE started sourcing capital for her business as a maid in 1992. After getting some dollars, she ventured into the fishing business in 1994.
Her name is Jessie Mudimba, 43, from Manjolo area in Binga under Chief Sikalenge in Ward six. Today she runs a supermarket, restaurant, bakery and butchery and employs eight people.
“I was 19 and used to buy fish from Binga, which I sold to customers in Bulawayo. I later applied for a passport and began cross border trading — selling my wares to neighbouring countries,” she said.
Born in 1971, Mudimba is a second born in a family of eight. She is single a mother of two, a son and a daughter.
“I began my primary education in 1979 at Manjolo Primary School in Binga and skipped Grade Four because of my intelligence.
“After completing Grade Seven, where I scored seven units, I enrolled for secondary education in 1985 and dropped out at Form Two due to lack of funding,” she said.
Mudimba said in her community educating girls was not a priority.
“I recall sometime when I was told I was grown up to look after myself despite being a child. After that I was compelled to become a house wife because I couldn’t manage to stay home anymore,” she said.
“I was married off in 1988 and was blessed with a baby boy who is now a driver. I got a second child in 1997 who is doing Upper Six at Gloag Boarding School.”
The humble businesswoman says her turning point was when she quit marriage to pursue business interests.
“After evaluating my married life I realised that it wasn’t paying off. I then left my husband and became a single mother. I then went fulltime into business,” she said.
Mudimba said in 2008 she started renting a supermarket building. She said four years later, she together with other business persons formed the Manjolo Savings Credit Cooperative (Sacco) which advanced loans to members.
“From the profits I generated from my shop, I applied for a business stand from Binga Rural District Council and started building my own shop, which was completed in December last year,” she said.
“However, I’m still working on securing capital to buy butchery equipment. I’m also an Eco-cash agent as well as an agent banker.”
Mudimba said her services were useful to locals and most non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that come to Binga to carry out projects.
“There is no need for people to bring cash with them as they can use these banking facilities to withdraw or carry out any transactions,” she said.
Mudimba said she was working on supplementing her Ordinary Levels and has registered to sit for Maths and History examinations in November this year.
“My future plans are to venture into tourism since Binga is close to Victoria-Falls.
“I also want to build chalets and lodges to accommodate tourists,” she said.
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