‘Doing the best I can with what I have’

Midlands Reporter
DISCERNING entrepreneurs see opportunity when others see a crisis. When Tinashe Manzungu looks at the difficult economic climate prevailing in Zimbabwe, he sees opportunity and will not waste time murmuring about challenges.

To him success, in line with motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, entails “doing the best we can with what we have”. The secret to this lies in doing and not getting, in trying as opposed to triumph.

Ziglar further explains that success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us and becoming all that we can be.

These attributes are embodies in Manzungu, a successful Midlands entrepreneur who is now chief executive officer of Zimbuild Properties.

Manzungu has defied the odds having grabbed the opportunity bull by its horns and has himself become an employer. He has transformed the lives of thousands of people and created employment in his quest for success.

Manzungu has created over 90 jobs in the four years that he has been in the corporate world operating in the construction industry.

Zimbuild is a property development company, which is currently servicing over 500 stands and with plans afoot to service more stands in the future.

Manzungu has become a game changer in Gweru’s property market where the council’s housing list is over 23 000.

Some of the beneficiaries of Zimbuild’s housing projects include employees of platinum miner Unki Mines, Midlands State University, Midlands Metals and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services among others.

The dynamic entrepreneur has also partnered the Gweru-based property development companies in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in refurbishing institutions such as schools, health institutions among other institutions.

The deal involves reputable finance houses such as BancABC, which is financing most of the developments in the partnership.

“We have partnered with BancABC who have extended lines of credit to us at low interest rates after the realisation that there are many customers who want to embark on construction projects but do not have enough finances. We have entered into partnerships with schools, health institutions among others where we do the construction and refurbishments of these institutions and then they pay us in instalments and we repay the bank,” he says.

“We have already built classroom blocks, hostels and refurbished many Government institutions, which include Muwunga Primary School, Mambo High School and Zororo Baptist School among others under this arrangement.”

Manzungu says the PPPs scheme is a brilliant imitative as it dovetails the ideals of Zim Asset, the country’s economic blueprint, particularly on infrastructure and utilities.

Zimbuild has promised to provide and build 4 000 stands by the end of 2018 a development that Manzungu says is being hampered by a high default rate on individuals purchasing stands due to the prevailing liquidity crunch inherent in the economy.

Manzungu has other interests in the hospitality industry where he runs a lodge and is into cattle fattening as part of a diversification strategy.

The 31-year-old businessperson is also a philanthropist of note who has assisted many organisations through his company.

Manzungu is also board member of Zimcare Mudavahu Trust, an institution for the mentally challenged children in Gweru where he has assisted in paying salaries for the staff.

He has also donated towards the purchasing of a bus at Tiny Tots Pre-School as well as making a donation towards the construction of Gweluchena Training Centre.

A devoted Christian, who is an avid member of the Apostolic Faith Mission Church, the young businessman credits his success to God whom he says has taken him thus far.

He also assisted the faith-based ministry with cash and kind. Manzungu’s hard work has not gone without recognition and he has several awards under his belt.

Among them is the 2014 Small to Medium Entrepreneur of the Year.

He is also a recipient of this year’s Megafest Business awards 2016.

“Success is simple. Do what is right, the right way, at the right time,” he says.