Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
AFTER a 16-year stay in South Africa, the love for his country motivated Mr Fanisani Dube to give up his flourishing business in the neighbouring country to invest in his home area in Plumtree.
Mr Dube, who has experience in mine engineering, opened a restaurant in Plumtree Town in 2014. He is also playing an active role in developing upcoming artistes in the town.
Mr Dube attended Madlambuzi Primary and Madlambuzi Secondary schools in Bulilima District and did his A-levels at Cyrene High School. He went on to study mechanical engineering at Bulawayo Polytechnic College. In 1998 he moved to South Africa where his journey in mining engineering started.
He gained vast knowledge in mining engineering which helped him to start his own company, FM Makgowa Engineering in 2011. His company specialised in the installation and maintenance of mining equipment.
Mr Dube said it later dawned on him that by establishing a company in a foreign country, he was promoting its development while neglecting his home. He then decided to invest home.
“I had the resources from my years of working in South Africa and I knew that I could establish a business. I didn’t want to invest in any other area but my home area which is Plumtree. I did some research and decided to invest in the fast food industry. I started building my restaurant in May 2014. It took me a couple of months to complete the project and I opened my restaurant known as Chicken King Bar and Restaurant in 2015,” he said.
“When I started the business, I was also focusing on the development of the town and creating employment while at the same time I was also focusing on getting income to sustain my family.”
He said while some businesspeople may shy away from small towns preferring cities, investment in small towns is equally important to ensure they develop.
Mr Dube said some of his counterparts in the neighbouring country still question why he gave up his thriving career and business for an enterprise with less income back at home. He said he does not regret his decision.
Mr Dube said developing the country required collective effort from various professionals and business moguls. He said developing the nation was not an overnight event but a process.
“My move back home shocked a lot of people. While I was in South Africa, I worked for renowned companies that manufacture and install mining equipment. When I started, I worked as a draughtsman, then I moved to be a mechanical designer. I rose through the ranks to become a project engineer and I later worked as a project manager. This experience helped me to start my own company,” he said.
“When I left home, I had the mindset that running away from the troubles of my country was the best option and that I would go back when everything was set. It later dawned on me that for my country to develop I had to play an active part. A lot of people tried to talk me out of giving up my life in South Africa but they failed.”
His thinking resonates with the Second Republic’s philosophy that a country is built by its citizens (Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo).
Mr Dube said some of his business counterparts even offered him jobs in the mine engineering sector with tempting offers but his mind was set on investing back home.
Mr Dube said they tried to convince him that he was making a terrible mistake.
“It was even shocking to many that I was leaving mining engineering which is a good field, for the fast food industry. They were also shocked that I was also leaving Johannesburg for a small town, Plumtree. Some thought that maybe my company was not doing well and they even offered me good-paying jobs but my company was thriving,” he said.
Mr Dube said while it was a good idea to seek employment in neighbouring countries, when it comes to investing, people have to remember home.
He said since opening the restaurant, he has always been hands-on to ensure that it performs well. He said he conducts capacity-building training for his workers to ensure that they maintain high-quality services.
Mr Dube, who is the Plumtree Town Council Chairperson, contested in the 2018 elections under Zanu-PF and won a council seat. — @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter