adminCargo and current chairman of the Shipping and Forward Agents’ Association of Zimbabwe is an epitome of an individual who makes the most of whatever opportunities that come their way.
A trained political scientist, Phanuel Gukwe has emerged as a major player in the country’s transport and freight industry.
With no knowledge of the freight industry but armed with a lot of determination, Mr Gukwe joined Manica Freight Services, soon after college, a giant freight company and worked for one and half years as a graduate management trainee.
Asked on how he grasped freight industry logistics management when he had a political science background, Mr Gukwe answered with a smile that determination and a strong passion to learn new things was his driving force.
“My road to success was not an easy one especially to penetrate in an industry that I had no knowledge about, but it took me hard work, determination, passion and eagerness to learn to be where I am right now,” he says.
Mr Gukwe described himself as a go-getter who takes advantage of any opportunity that comes his way. “Once an opportunity comes my way I take full advantage of it. I do not want to live my life the way I grew up,” said Mr Gukwe.
He began his career in the freight industry as a services credit controller for Manica Travel and his main duties were to supervise the data processing department as well as solving all computer queries ranging from
misposting of documents, duplications, write offs, reallocations, and journals among other tasks.
“I developed a passion for shipping when I started working at Manica Freight services,”
“As part of my training I also went through an intensive on-the-job training on computers hence computerised travel and touring accounts with the assistance of the company’s finance executive then.
“Working at Manica Freight Services exposed me to the various travel operations as well as accounting procedures through handling of both operational and accounting queries,” he said.
His passion for the industry is apparent in his views of its present state:
“The local freight industry has lack of formal training institutions and/or related colleges hence, there are a few well-trained people in the sector. Very few colleges have taken the initiative of training students.
“To this extent, as SFAAZ we have decided to partner with some players and train the upcoming generation in terms of the freight industry. As a matter of fact, next month we will be implementing the training project in Beitbridge,” he said.
He also worked at the company’s airfreight division at Harare International Airport as an assistant manager.
He left Manica Freight Services after 18 months over what he described as the company’s failure to fulfil his contract that stated that after training for 12 months he was to be promoted to a substantial post.
In 1990 he joined Combine Cargo as an airfreight manager responsible for imports and exports of goods.
After a six-year stint he rose from the position of airfreight manager to regional manager, a position that involved managing seven branches in different towns including Harare, Mutare, Nyamapanda, Chirundu and one in South Africa.
In 1997 Mr Gukwe teamed up with four other management staff members and acquired Combine Cargo from TA Holdings.
He became the operations director before taking over as the managing director of the company.
At the same time, Mr Gukwe was elected to SFAAZ as a board member and vice-chairman before being elected to the helm of the association, which has around 400 members, as national chairman.
He feels that high peak of achievement is when his company was elected by the government among several competitors to bring in 146 new ZUPCO buses.
His company also struck a deal with Mimosa handling exports of 300 trucks of mineral ore to South Africa every month.
The SFAAZ chairman holds a Bachelor of Science in Politics and Adminstration honours degree from the University of Zimbabwe. He also holds a diploma in sales and marketing management as well as various Air
Zimbabwe Cargo handling courses freight management that are in-house training and various training in Information Technology.
Currently Mr Gukwe is involved in a number of projects in partnership with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and several colleges to train individuals who are interested in the freight industry so as to reduce corruption at border posts and enhance professionalism.
Mr Gukwe attributes his success to his poor background whereby his father died when he was in grade three and he had to help his mother to raise a family of nine in which he is the only son
“My background has played an important role in my success. Being the only son in the family made me mature so early as I had to be a father and at the same time a brother to my sisters.
“I grew up working so hard that I do not feel comfortable when I’m not working,” he said.
He also likes reading financial books, and is into farming. He is a commercial farmer, who is involved in cattle ranching, piggery and horticulture.
He enjoys travelling a lot, which is also a basic requirement of his job anyhow.
Mr Gukwe is married to Adelaide and they have four children.
Online Reporter