admin…moves on after 20 years of marriage
Takawira Photoveteran Dapi
NORTON based farmer and multi-tasking entrepreneur, Eliwe Mandishona, has moved on after the collapse of her marriage.
Mandishona, of Glenluce Farm in Norton, has fallen in love with farming.
She is now into Boer goats rearing, fish farming and poultry at her farm, which is located 43 kilometres from Harare.
Speaking to H-Metro, weeks after the International Women’s month commemorations, Mandishona, 50, urged fellow women to work hard.
“I built this empire alone after the collapse of my 20-year marriage with Canisious Machokoto.
“After getting divorced, I trained as a mortician, ndikageza zvitunha. Later on I realised it was too late for me to remarry and decided to develop this land.
“Currently, I have been working with a number of full-time employees at this farm,” she said.
Mandishona said marriage was not an achievement if it is not working.
“Men are not everything in every woman’s life because some of them are married cheats.
“In my case, I am no longer after men but I am now married to my work and projects at this farm.
“If you decide to have a boyfriend, he will again start using our family cars and resources to drive out with new lovers.
“Mai TT was disappointed after she decided to give her heart to that man who disappointed her.
“I would like to urge Mai TT to be strong because some men bring more problems into someone’s life,” she said.
Mandishona urged people to invest in their rural areas.
She has erected two electrified boreholes, fish ponds, banana plantations, water tanks and generators.
She also boasts of tight security at the farm where she stays with employees as one family.
She now boasts of a wide range of product lines.
“I have quite a number of products like Chihera Dovi, Chihera Huchi, Chihera Huchi, Chihera Boergoats, Chihera Fish From My Ponds, Chihera Sheep, Chihera Roadrunners, Chihera Broilers and Chihera Layers.
“Soon, I am venturing in to Chihera Borehole H2o, Chihera Treated and Raw Timber, Chihera Cement, Chihera Zviyo, Chihera Mhunga, Chihera Mupunga, Chihera Industrial Ware, Chihera Original Car Parts, Chihera Wines, Chihera Bricks, Chihera Security Walls,” she said.
Mandishona said she built her empire with part of the money she got after she left her job as a mortician.
“I was given the money which was enough to buy me a home in Highlands but I decided to invest the money here at my rural home.
“Kugara mu town kutambura , hakuna high life inokupa financial stress.
“Imagine in Europe, rich persons live outside London and so on.
“I collect cash on a daily basis here so I have a peace of mind,” she said.
One of Mandishonha’s workers, Assan Wyson, saluted her as a brave women.
“This is a very creative mother, we work like a family, my life is best in her hands, we are almost like a family,” he said.
Chihera has something in store for aspiring entrepreneurs this weekend.
“On Saturday, I am expecting hundreds of people to be here as we are going to share tips of Boer goat farming.
“I started it from humble beginnings and now we are here,” she said.
Online Reporter