adminThose who try hard enough and manage to discover the elusive matrix required for success in life eventually realise their goals.
These assertions ring true of budding entrepreneur Mohammed Omar, who has set out to scale dizzy heights in the cut-throat world of business.
Born 28 years ago in Kwekwe, Omar attended Goldridge Primary School. There, Omar learnt at a tender age that success comes from hard work, which helped him excel both in the classroom and on the sports field.
He proceeded to Midlands Christian College in Zimbabwe’s third biggest city — Gweru — for his secondary education. But he had to cut short his studies in Gweru after he was transferred to Eaglesvale High School when his family relocated to Harare while he was in Form Two.
He excelled in his studies and passed his A-Levels.
After that Omar enrolled for a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting with a South African university, which he passed.
“Mohammed Omar is a young aspiring business mogul who has his sights firmly on reaching the pinnacle of entrepreneurship success,” he says when describing himself.
“Doing part-time jobs while still studying in South Africa opened my eyes to the world of entrepreneurship. This also created the thirst to achieve bigger and better things,” he said.
The desire to do good at all times almost cost him his life as he helped apprehend armed robbers who attempted to rob the firm he worked for.
After university he moved to Johannesburg where he got a job at Africa Heritage Investments in the firm’s group accounts department. After gaining valuable work experience, he opened his own courier firm called Mzansi Movers in South Africa, the first real manifestation of his entrepreneurial instincts.
But Omar would not countenance the idea of finding employment elsewhere, he decided to explore his passion and founded his own businesses again on
returning to Zimbabwe about two years ago.
Using the knowledge he gained at Africa Heritage Investments he set about seeking funding to finance his businesses. Omar said drawing up convincing business
plans was not kindergarten staff, neither is the process to access the funding. He had to go through a long, tedious and stringent loan application process for
funding under facilities organised by the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment.
“The loan application had a two-tier system and applicants had to first pass the Ministry of Youth requirements in addition to the CBZ Bank requirements. I was ecstatic when I passed the ministry’s requirements because I took into consideration that I was coming from a minority race,” said Omar.
He, however, pointed out that Government needed to give youths letters of guarantee as banks tasked with disbursement of youths’ funds demand collateral, which most do not have.
“Greenfield projects have huge potential but because they are still new entrants in business they do not have the collateral to access finance,” he said
An insurance amount also has to be paid into the account before the loan is advanced.
“As a youth venturing into business, he said, this was “all far too costly”. One also has to spend approximately US$240 before they received the loan.
He said while the loans provided by Government have helped the youths to start their own businesses the loan thresholds remain very low to cater for their requirements.
For instance, under the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment facilities he benefited from, the youths only accessed a maximum of US$1 000 per application.
But as someone who believes that no success comes without breaking sweat, Omar toiled as he sought credit facilities to stock up his businesses — Mo’s Hardware and Granary Park Hardware.
“This proved to be a very difficult obstacle to overcome but a breakthrough came when a paint company — Atrak — stood by me. This helped me get more deals
from other suppliers,” said the young entrepreneur.
His unflinching passion for empowerment of youths earned him a seat on the board of the Zimbabwe Youth Council, a quasi-Government institution established by an Act of Parliament. He is also a member of the arts and crafts association.
Omar’s advice to youths is to be thorough when preparing business proposals to convince banks. He also implores the Government to establish more funding windows to assist youth entrepreneurs whom he said represent the future of the country’s economic progress.
A keen sportsman, Omar is a member of the Zimbabwe kickboxing team and doubles as its marketing manager.
The second youngest child and only male in a family of five, Omar is a staunch Muslim who, believes in co-operation among Zimbabweans regardless of race, colour or religion.
leeroy