He focussed on a bigger picture beyond his job

Canditar Chapanduka, Chronicle Reporter

His is a story of perseverance and hope; holding onto your dreams and never giving up.

Mr Misheck Mayibongwe Ndlovu (29) quit his job as a quantity surveyor at one of Bulawayo’s biggest steel fabricating and construction companies to become an entrepreneur.

Today, he runs a construction firm, Visionary Construction, and has set his sights on expanding the reach of his business.

Mr Ndlovu started his journey in the construction industry in 2016 when he was working as an architect and graphic designer. 

He later decided to enrol for a Civil Engineering programme at the Bulawayo Polytechnic to broaden his knowledge of the construction industry, which he was so passionate about.

“I gained a lot of experience as a quantity surveyor and a project manager. However, I failed to finish my course in the final year due to lack of funds but with the knowledge I had gained, I started my company, Visionary Construction, which I registered in 2020,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said initially, he used to work alone until he got his first project at Paddonhurst suburb in Bulawayo which he worked on with the assistance of his brother. 

He said it took them four days to complete the job as they were putting up galvanised valley gutters and doing some plastering in the house.

“We would walk to Paddonhurst from the city centre because we didn’t have enough money to commute twice from where we stayed in Nkulumane. It wasn’t easy because of some of the tools we carried on a daily basis but due to the dreams and passion I had, I ignored the fatigue and focussed on the bigger picture,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said the journey was not an easy one and the job started to become more difficult for him and his brother but they had to persevere. 

They managed to complete various projects including tiling, painting, roofing and brick work. They also built a three-roomed house in Cowdray Park suburb which gave them US$20 000, that became their company savings and enabled them to employ seven professional builders.

He also employed a number of youths who were abusing drugs as a means of keeping them busy so that they stay away from substance abuse.

“As the journey continued, I employed seven professional builders, carpenters and eight youths who were drug abusers. We’ve managed to work with big companies such as Tele Communications, Farm and City, Kingdom Blue Funeral Services, Hwange Colliery and Minda High School among other institutions,” said Mr Ndlovu.

 

He continued: “I’ve managed to grow my company from building construction to repairing roof leaks and gutters, steel fabrication as well as residential and commercial plans. Before I bought a company truck, movement was a challenge especially in carrying machines such as grinding machines, ladders and rammers among other tools. Profits were compromised by hiring transport to and from the work place but now that I managed to purchase a truck, movement is now easy and we can work during the night at some projects because we have our own transport that is available at any given time.”

Mr Ndlovu said he has improved his lifestyle as a single man especially when he looks at what he has achieved at his age compared to his past life. 

He used to live on begging but now he can afford his and his family’s needs without asking anyone for money.

Mr Ndlovu said he has since acquired two personal cars which he bought after establishing a firm foundation in his company and now he’s building his own house in Cowdray Park suburb.

He said he christened his construction company, Visionary, because he has dreams beyond the construction field. He plans on venturing into plumbing and becoming a plant operator. 

Mr Ndlovu said he is working hard to expand his operations into different cities across the country as they have already taken up projects in places such as Hwange, Beitbridge and Esigodini.

“I always make it a point that my company works and finishes projects in time and perfectly wherever work is being done so that we gain loyalty and referrals for the company to grow. I thank my employees for gaining loyalty where they do projects and the clients that keep on referring my company to other people and institutions,” he                                        said.

Mr Ndlovu said for every project he does, he buys tools for the company, no matter how small the project is. 

He said for the last project, he bought 10 ladders and for the coming project, he is aiming to buy generators that will be used by big machines.

Mr Ndlovu said he looks forward to taking on students from colleges and polytechnics who do civil engineering, graphic designing and architecture for industrial attachment at his company.

“My advice to entrepreneurs that want to venture into construction is that the journey is not easy; it’s tough because of the competition in the field. You need to have goals, dreams and a vision because you’ll be exposing yourself to an industry that already has big companies but always know your goals and stay focussed on your dreams and you will make it. 

“If you know why you started the business, you’ll surely reach the destination because it’s not all about capital but a matter of changing that dream into reality. I also urge individuals not to compete with others already on the entrepreneurship journey in terms of time, environment and background but to stay focussed and trust the process,” he said. – @NomqheleC.