adminLiberty Dube
JUST when society believes at his age, he should be slowing down and enjoying the fruits of what he has worked for, Mutare Bottling Company’s Mr Tariro Maringapasi believes he still has a lot more to offer, if God allows him to. The 58-year- old Mutare Bottling Company sales manager was last Saturday honoured with the Best Manager award in Manicaland province at the 2015 Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Manicaland held at Golden Peacock Villa Hotel.
His professionalism, humility, hard work and determination finally paid off and was honoured ahead of other notable contenders who were vying for the same award.
Mr Maringapasi, who has a vast experience in marketing as well as public relations, has worked for more than 10 organisations – including as a teacher in secondary schools. He was born in the dusty streets of Shurugwi, and trained as a school teacher at The United College of Education in Bulawayo in 1976 before graduating in 1978. He taught at Amaveni Government School in Kwekwe, Manunure High School and Amaveni Day Secondary School between 1979 and 1983.
“I always grew up telling myself that the sky is the limit and I believe I am destined for greater heights. Working with people everyday and leaving them satisfied and smiling has been my core business,” said Maringapasi.
Like any other ambitious young men who are not satisfied with mediocrity, he dumped the teaching profession to join “sales and marketing business” as a life assurance sales representative at Old Mutual in Kwekwe from 1983 to 1985.
He later moved to Gweru and became a life assurance and income tax advisor at Legal and General between 1985 and 1987.
“Later during that year and in search of greener pastures, I joined National Books of Zimbabwe and Books for Africa as an educational representative here in Mutare and it was a worthwhile experience. I joined Mutare Bottling Company as a route manager from 1992 to 1995 and migrated to Lyons Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd where I was employed as a branch manager from 1995 to 1997,’’ said Mr Muringapasi.
He later traced his steps back to Mutare Bottling Company where got employed as a depot manager in Chipinge from 1997 to 2000 before he transferred to Mutare Bottling Company head office to take the position of marketing services manager from the year 2000. In 2004, he was appointed to the Advisory Council of Mutare Polytechnic College by the then Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Ignatius Chombo before he was elected as chairman of the board from 2011 to date. Mr Maringapasi said although the ZNCC award came as a surprise, he had a lot more to achieve before he retires.
“I see myself as a chief executive officer and director of my own company someday. I look forward to step up and be a leader of my own company in a few years to come. The sky is the limit for me. Of course people might expect me or someone of my age to slow down but this is the time I should be more innovative, be stronger than ever and run my own business,” he said.
He added: “I felt highly uplifted by the award. I was stunned but very delighted. I always thrive to make customers happy and always leave them satisfied with my conduct.”
Online Reporter