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Phyllis Kachere
“For selflessly serving the Zimbabwean and local communities here in the US, for being willing to assist those in need and being a role model to both young and old Zimbabweans here, you are hereby honoured by that same community you have served so well. Above all, Mike Makoni you are being honoured with the Lifetime Outstanding Achievement Award for being a true ambassador of Zimbabwean Ubuntu.”
So read the citation of the Lifetime Outstanding Achievement Award awarded to US-based Zimbabwean Mr Makoni in December by the Zimbabwe Annual Appreciation Awards (USA) in Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. He beat five other nominees vying for the award.
ZAAA (USA) director is also US-based Zimbabwean, Mr Brian Mureverwi.
“The Zimbabwe Annual Appreciation Awards USA started as an idea to appreciate those of us in the community that serve selflessly. These are the people who give themselves and their resources for the good of others.
“Mike Makoni is selfless, quick to help and involved in the community as if his life depended on it. He came to Dallas in 1994. In 1997, he pioneered a tax consultancy business and generously shared the opportunity with fellow Zimbabweans whom he trained and coached. He has expanded the tax consultancy to Canada but he has pulled out,” explained Mr Mureverwi.
Mr Makoni said he has since streamlined the Canada business and consolidated his US tax consultancy where he is now concentrating his efforts.
But what is it exactly that Mr Makoni is doing for his diaspora and local communities, in raising the Zimbabwean flag to warrant such recognition in those foreign lands?
“In 2002, he was appointed the inaugural chairperson for ZimExpo, an initiative that seeks to showcase opportunities in Zimbabwe and the Diaspora. The initiative is dedicated to providing Zimbabwe entrepreneurs and businesses with opportunities to expand their market and increase their competitiveness. The net effect is positive spillovers back to our country,” said Ms Tonderai Karimazondo, assistant director of ZAAA (USA).
She said Mr Makoni also founded the ZimCrisis Helpline Organisation, an entity created especially to assist with the repatriation of the deceased back home, and along with others have helped clergymen like Pastor Jonsai Chihota start a now very big Harvest International Church in Dallas.
Ms Karimazondo said to this day, Mr Makoni still helps new Zimbabwean immigrants settle in along with provision of job opportunities and regularisation in the US.
“He is an active community member who is well known for generosity and selflessness. You never understand the need for community until you fall into difficulties. In the Diaspora everyone from home is your brother or sister.
“Every single person needs each other, troubled times are never far away yet you never run out of folk that are there to comfort you. That is where you find the likes of Mike Makoni, affectionately nicknamed Unobvunzaani by his community.”
Armed with a Business Studies bachelor’s degree from the University of Zimbabwe, the unassuming Mr Makoni said he left the country in 1994 to pursue both academic and business opportunities in the US. Once in the US, he studied for Master in Business Administration Leadership at the Walden University in Maryland.
“I do not give because I have a lot to give. It is an inherent attribute fostered on me by my grandparents who raised me. Community cohesion in our village was the order of the day. Sharing and assisting each other in times of need was the norm. All I do is pretty much effortless. To this, I thank my grandparents who were a living example of how to give to the community effortlessly,” he said in a telephone interview from his Dallas base.
Mr Makoni, who is the chairman of the Kwedu Community Trust, engaged in fundraising and resource mobilisation for the construction of a local clinic at Chisasike in Hwedza.
He said he is happy for the recognition given to him but challenged himself to do more.
“Although I am overjoyed by the award, I have a sense of guilt. I need to be doing more for the less fortunate who are in Hwedza, where I grew up. It hurts me each time I visit to see folks struggling to pay school fees. I blame people like myself for not doing enough, because we have the opportunity and resources to do so.”
Having realised the challenges experienced by his local community in areas like Makurumure, Zangama and Mombe in accessing health services, Mr Makoni said it has become imperative and a matter of urgency for him and his colleagues to mobilise funds for the construction of a clinic at Chisasike. The construction is expected to start before the end of the year.
“We are mobilising resources and hospital equipment through our contacts here and hope to start construction before the end of the year. Working with the relevant Government authorities, we also hope to source for essential drugs donations from our contacts here to benefit the Hwedza community,” Mr Makoni said.
Seeking to maintain strong links and presence in his home area of Hwedza, Mr Makoni is the diaspora representative of Hwedza Development Trust and has set up the Mofella Animal Farm at his homestead whose ground-breaking ceremony was officiated by Minister of Defence Dr Sydney Sekeramayi in 2012 with a view to create employment opportunities for the local community.
The Mofella Animal Farm project design encompasses ‘‘road runner’’ chicken rearing, piggery, fish farming, guinea fowl and rabbit rearing.
“We intend on managing the whole value addition chain to create Mofella branded products to be sold in Mofella outlets in fulfilment of President Mugabe’s challenge in value addition to our raw products. This is expected to create employment through direct and contract farming, our small contribution to ZimAsset,” he said.
As part of its social responsibility, Mofella intends to set up a local food bank for the less privileged and vulnerable community members.
Mr Makoni has also sponsored academic achievement awards at schools in his home area — St Anne’s Goto High School and St Thomas Aquinas where he has officiated and given inspirational messages to students.
“I have paid tuition fees to a number of less privileged students most of whom have graduated at local universities and are now employed. There is nothing as sweet as giving. Try it!” said the affable Mr Makoni.
Some of the categories at the ceremony included Businessperson of the Year awarded to Euphoria Event Planning and Management, Personality of the Year awarded to Wadzanai Thembani, and Community Champion – Clive Masimba Chinzou.
Online Reporter