adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
ONE of the rags to riches story told so many times is about Jim Rohn, an American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker who wrote: “Formal education will make you a living; self education will make you a fortune”. The words seem to have inspired one of Gweru’s leading businesswomen, Veracious Mhanga, who boasts of a blossoming business empire following the opening of an events management firm and a wedding boutique, V and V Wedding Parlour.
From humble beginnings among the ordinary Shurugwi girls who attended Hanke Mission School, she only ended at Ordinary Level.
This could not cloud her dream and courage to forge ahead and claim her space in the business world.
From a flea market vendor in 1999, Mhanga later established a catering businesses in Gweru, Kwamaiguru/Komamomdala, which has grown to become one of the most popular restaurants in the Midlands Capital and V and V Wedding boutique.
Mhanga, 37, says the events management business is an offshoot of Kwamaiguru restaurant where catering services were being hired out for weddings and other functions.
“We’ve been in the catering business for a long time and with Kwamaiguru being one of the leading restaurants in Gweru, we found ourselves being hired for corporate functions, parties and weddings,” she said.
“It was after this realisation that we decided to open the wedding parlour, which, besides providing wedding regalia also provides party dresses and offers event management consultancy.”
Mhanga’s businesses have created 50 jobs.
Despite the harsh economic environment, Mhanga said her business was doing well riding on booming wedding frenzy, which has gripped the country in recent years.
Her clientele, she says, is largely influenced by the rise of Pentecostal churches that encourage their congregants to walk down the aisle.
“We want to be the biggest event management company as well as the boutique of choice in the Midlands and already plans are underway to acquire more equipment for functions.
“In the long run we want to be able to plan mega functions like indoor garden weddings, parties and related functions where we can put up an outdoor setting indoors,” she said.
Mhanga turned to catering business after her initial flea market venture was affected by the 2005 blitz on illegal structures code named “Operation Murambatsvina”.
She said she kept her eyes above and started a small firm that prepared food for a local security company whose workers bought food on credit and paid at the end of the month.
The business grew to be officially known as Kwamaiguru in 2012.
Mhanga is married to Derrick Mhindisi and the couple is blessed with six children — three sons and three daughters.
She urged women to take advantage of opportunities that come their way especially now when the government is crafting policies meant to empower women.
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter