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Langalakhe Mabena
The term Mjimba is a huge name in Nkayi, Matabeleland North. It’s a nickname for one of the successful and influential figures in Nkayi — who is Bigboy Moyo, the man whose rise to be a prosperous entrepreneur started after he left teaching at Nkayi High in 2019.
Still young and ambitious, Moyo left the profession after being a teacher for 12 years, to establish his own construction company which he would name after his nickname “Mjimba.”The vision of starting the construction company came after he noted the rise of Nkayi sons and daughters mostly based abroad, who were investing in their community by building houses and refurbishing their homesteads.
Mjimba Construction Company has played a pivotal role in developing the community of Nkayi and through its architecture and construction skills, modernisation is quickly catching up with the community which is often referred to “emaguswini” (thick forest).When B-Metro crew visited Nkayi last month, the major facelift done by Mjimba Construction was in Ward 27 in Silobela, under Chief Malisa with the headman being Desire Mangena.
In this area, you find most modern houses furnished with solar systems and boreholes which sustain them with water for their household chores, for livestock and their agricultural activities.The major highlight of the area is an eight-roomed double-storey which belongs to one Nkayi-born and bred daughter who is based in South Africa. One expects to find such a beautiful mansion in suburbs for the affluent cities of Bulawayo and Harare.
The double-storey house complements the rest of the modern homesteads in Silobela as it is the epitome of development for a rural area. All the dreams of the Nkayi-bred diasporans who modernise their homesteads were made possible by Mjimba Construction Company.In quitting his teaching job in 2019, Moyo said he had to face his fears to start a company which would have a full focus on supplying building material and building houses.
“After having been a teacher for 12 years at Nkayi High School, I decided to grow and face my fears and in doing that I had to quit my full time job in order to chase my dream. In 2019, I then formed Mjimba Construction Company. When it started I recruited three guys. With a single vehicle then, we started the company which was able to supply and build houses in rural areas. Our first client was at Manomano in Nkayi and he was based in South Africa.
“We built a two-roomed house for him and we supplied the material. He was very happy and people around his homestead fell in love with our craft. That was the beginning of a long journey,” said Mjimba whose company also constructed Tshibilika musician Skhosana Buhlungu’s homestead.
Mjimba gave thanks to the digital era as through social media, he was able to market his works and services which attracted diasporans who were born in Nkayi to develop their place of birth.“We shared our successes on social media and it attracted people in the diaspora as our message was clear; to tell them that you can build a house here at home even if you are in the diaspora. People sent us money for their projects and we would fulfil our mandate and construct buildings of their choice.
“After that we invaded the urban market. We increased the number of builders as we recruited some of the local youths who came from South Africa, who had a background in construction. In Nkayi urban, we piloted our first urban project and we coined it the Blue Roof. It belongs to our client who is based in Australia and it took us a year to complete.
With more clients coming our way, we then got a client based in South Africa, who requested us to build her a double-storey in Nkayi rural at Silobela under Chief Malisa. Even though it was our first project of that nature, it wasn’t that hard for us to construct the double-storey as we had now employed guys from Mzansi who knew how to handle and construct such buildings,” said Mjimba.
The double-storey is profound for Mjimba Construction. It is their point of reference to any client who requests for their services.“This is the first double-storey in Nkayi and we are happy that we have piloted and came up with new modern designs in rural Nkayi. It took us four months to complete the project and with the look of things, the double-storey has given us more and more clients as we are always booked for construction.
“We are happy with the development of Nkayi because most people say kuko mnyama ubambile. We have seen these new designs that we are doing here in places like Tsholotsho and Plumtree. But we encourage Nkayi-born people who are both local and in the diaspora that anything is possible to build their dream houses in their rural homes. We are here to make sure that their dreams come to reality,” said Mjimba.
To date, the company has employed 32 people and they are looking forward to expanding depending on the demand for their works and services. If he is not building houses for his clients, Bigboy Moyo will be busy farming. Last year, he acquired a piece of land in Silobela, where he produces tomatoes which he sells to different schools, clinics and people in the Nkayi community.
“If I am not building I am farming. After noticing the lifestyle of the people I was building homesteads for, I fell in love with farming. So, I then acquired land and built my homestead which I call “Mjimba mini-horticultural project. Here I produce different types of tomatoes, cucumbers and butternut. I have also invested in goat breeding as I acquired a male Boer goat which I breed with local female goats.
“I sell my products to schools, clinics and local people. Considering that this is my first harvest I have realised that I can sustain my family and provide employment through farming. Here I have permanently employed six people who help me in maintaining the plot, when it’s time for harvesting I also hire local labour from people within the plot,” said Moyo.
Moyo encouraged young people to utilise and make money through activities from land like mining and farming. He said with the money generated from land, young people can improve their lives and build beautiful up-to standard homesteads just like in other rural places like Tsholotsho and Plumtree.
“Most young people escape and go to neighbouring countries where life is tough. There is life back home. Our lands are fertile and rich in minerals and fertile for farming. Even if you look around here in Nkayi young people are living a decent life because of these mines and the fertile land for farming. So, I urge young people outside of the country to come back home and build their homesteads here because there is life in Nkayi,” said Moyo.
As a result of his work in the community of Nkayi — Bigboy Moyo will be recognised with an accolade at the Chief Dakamela Achievers Awards which will be held koDakamela Hall this weekend.
Online Reporter