Online Reporter
Ronald Takudzwa Sambona
Youth Interactive Correspondent
IN a land of over 15 million people, 150 000 souls make up the Lemba-Jewish community, but one lady in particular mesmerises me with not only her commitment to God, but also her ever-burning fire for professional growth as a model and businesswoman.
The Lemba people, also known as Balemba, are descendants of Yemenite Jews, originally from Israel under the tribe of Levi.
Her name is Lael Tinotenda Gondo, and she’s proving that with God, your gifts will make you great amongst your people.
Lael’s journey began three years back, pursuing commercial modelling. She has been personally involved with Zimbabwe’s top musicians and brands, but that glory and past is a closed chapter in her story.
Flip onto chapter two, and you bump into a woman whose fruit has ripened, bearing an immense love for nature and children.
She confesses to having a plant in her bedroom which she nurtures like a baby.
Out of that love affair with nature were born two twins named “Wildlife Management” and “Farming”, and ever since she’s been nurturing them both like the mother she is.
Lael’s harsh background helped build the strong woman she is today.
“I grew up with my parents divorced. So I grew up with my grandmother and with my father. And at an early age, I started to be a hustler. I started hustling just to earn a living, selling “mazepe” at school. And this shaped me even now,” said Lael.
Fast forward to today, instead of selling “mazepe”, she sells her own products in two companies in which she’s a major shareholder and owner. The first company, Vakambu Organics, speaks for itself, and Zundari Investments specialises in farming and contracting for people who love farming but lack the skills or time to do so for themselves.
So her company does the farming for them.
Ms Lael’s story really mirrors the polyptoton “nothing succeeds like success”.
From humble beginnings to building a business empire in her early 20s, she has proven that she comes from the chosen tribe.
Who shall confess to doubt when she has shown us the signs of a true faith?
Faith or none, you too can be great.
Great or not great, we can all learn from her.
Her hard work, belief, and commitment are working, as shown in the work she’s doing.
Doing, at the end of the day, is all you can do.
Nothing works like work, and nothing believes like belief.
Lael’s vision is to be a globally recognised entrepreneur by 2030, before reaching 30, and to start a real family with a real man.
“My biggest struggle is being in love with a man that I think is in love with me, but I don’t know why he’s not asking me to marry him and stuff like that,” she remarked.
Well, on that note, Lael, most young ladies are with you…I think. You’re not alone, and thank you for the honesty and for validating that young women can build big businesses too, as the big boys do.
