Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
HAWKFLIGHT Enterprises proprietor, Mr Mngane Ncube (pictured), is a man whose remarkable journey from the pavements of Bulawayo to the boardrooms of one of the region’s largest construction firms epitomises resilience, grit, and the virtues of honest business practice.
“In this industry, honesty is the major currency. People want trust. We would rather be slow but deliver,” he said in an interview last week.
For Ncube, construction has never been simply about profit margins.
“I went into building as a passion, as my view is I can make money in mining, which is my other business venture, but passion drove me back into construction. I am a qualified civil engineer but ended up sliding back to housing,” he said.
His philosophy is anchored on sustainability and a long-term vision.
“No one starts a business venture to wind it up a few months afterwards. So one has to model their business venture in a way that survives economic shocks,” he noted.
Ncube’s path to success was anything but straightforward. In 1992, his schooling was cut short when he was forced to drop out.
To survive, he resorted to pushing a handcart, popularly known as a scania, transporting goods across the bustling streets of Bulawayo’s CBD.
Despite the setback, he refused to surrender to despair.
He later supplemented his studies, trained as a quantity surveyor, and eventually found his destiny in property development.
His breakthrough came in 2000 with the purchase of a single residential stand in Cowdray Park.
“The first house that I developed is in Cowdray Park. I bought one stand, developed it, then sold it at a profit,” he recalled.
That modest venture became the seed that grew into Hawkflight Enterprises.
By 2001, the company had secured a landmark project — fully servicing and developing 300 stands in Cowdray Park. From there, the transformation was rapid.
“We have built more than 2 000 houses in Cowdray Park. From there, we got the Pelandaba West project, and since then it has been project after project. We are a company that implements high standards of workmanship,” said Mr Ncube.
Central to his rise has been a simple but powerful principle: never compromise on trust.
“Remember, I said I am in construction, not for money but passion. One needs to be hands-on with the project. I want to build houses that are of high quality and meet the clients’ expectations. There is no need for shortcuts as that destroys your brand after delivering poor products,” he said.
Mr Ncube still maintains a hands-on approach.
Zimpapers Business Hub caught up with him wearing his work suit at his new Emthunzini Township project. He was personally monitoring progress on-site.
He recalled how, in the formative stages, Hawkflight often competed with over 30 contractors for Bulawayo City Council projects.
“However, only two firms, including mine, managed to persevere and got council contracts. For me, that shows that one has to be determined in this sector,” he said.
Today, Hawkflight Enterprises stands tall as a leader in the construction sector, credited with building more than 10 000 housing units across Bulawayo and the wider Matabeleland region.
The company has since expanded operations to Chinhoyi and Harare, where two new projects await permits.
Currently employing more than 550 people, Hawkflight has become one of the region’s biggest private-sector employers.
For his vision and contribution to housing delivery, Mr Ncube has won multiple business accolades, but he remains deeply grounded.
“I want to be known as someone who contributed tangible development to the country in whatever sector I am involved in. Remember, we have a mantra that says ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo. As a Zimbabwean, that is my contribution to the country,” he said.
His journey also aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader housing aspirations.
Access to affordable and decent accommodation is a critical component of the Government’s vision to create an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The launch of the Zimbabwe National Human Settlement Policy by President Mnangagwa set the tone for the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities to operationalise the policy in partnership with the private sector.
Zimbabwe has a national housing backlog of around 1,5 million units and targets to deliver 1,2 million units by 2030. Part of the vision is to change the face of Zimbabwe by building modern houses that are sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Cognisant of the housing backlog, the Government has collaborated with various stakeholders, including public sector entities, the financial sector, and private individuals through self-financing schemes as well as housing co-operatives.
As the nation pursues Vision 2030, entrepreneurs such as Mr Ncube are proving that private-sector innovation and resilience are key drivers in bridging the housing gap.
