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Features Writer
Mbuya Tsvakai Mashamhanda Hwede, mother to prominent Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist Mr Alex Mashamhanda, who owns the diversified and well-established Mashwede Holdings is no more.
Mbuya Mashamhanda Hwede nee Tsvakai Mundeyi Charumbira died on July 19 2021 and will be buried today at her rural home in Chivi near Sese Business Centre under headman Jaka.
Born on April 16 1927, Mbuya Mashamhanda Hwede leaves behind 31 grandchildren, 66 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She was a pillar of strength to those who had the opportunity to know and mingle with her.
Mr Mashamhanda described her mother as a hard worker. Mr Mashamhanda, who is Managing Director and Founder of M and H Educational Supplies and Mashwede Holdings and Company, which employs over 500 people and has done numerous community projects throughout the country, is heartbroken by her death.
His mother made him the person he is today. Now his work is well known in the business circles, thanks to her.
“She was a rural wife who would not be known if it was not the work of her son. People come here because they know me and you cannot divorce one from the other.”
He said when taking about his mother, it would be difficult to divorce her from him.
“If you talk about her, you will be talking about the achievements of me, her son. For example, in many cases, the mother only comes into the picture because you would have talked about Bill Gates. Her story is told through her son.
“When you come to Mashwede, that is when the boys tell you what we have done.”
Mr Mashamhanda said his companies carried out various projects in construction of rural roads in different provinces.
“We are currently grading a 70km road in Mashonaland West and 20km in Chivi. We have also renovated a number of roads that were damaged by heavy rains.”
In the past, Mr Mashamhanda said, they have worked together with the community and built a dam and a dip tank.
“We sponsored electrification of a rural township and two schools and have many projects,” he further said.
Over the years, Mr Mashamhanda added, they have pumped over US$2 million into supporting community initiatives.
“As an organisation, over the years we have assisted several children and we do not keep records because we feel it improper.”
He said they have sponsored over 1 000 children in various tertiary institutions and secondary schools and others scattered throughout the world.
“We do not write down names or keep numbers, it might be not ethical.”
He said they do not want the people they assist to feel like they are bonded to them in any way whatsoever.
“Our main achievement as an organisation is employment creation, giving opportunities to the young ones and we have a vision,” he said.
Mr Mashamhanda said they are currently undertaking a chicken project they. “We are to create more than 300 jobs alone this year through this chicken project.”
He said he measures performance on the basis of opportunities, which his companies creates for young Zimbabweans.
“It’s not about the buildings, but the opportunities that we give to the fellow youngsters to lead normal lives and look after themselves and that is our pride.
“That is the vision of Mashwede and M and H, but it will be incomplete without my mother and we are proud of her.”
Mr Mashamhanda said the foundation laid by his mother enabled him to also teach his children good values.
“I was moulded by her and society also played its part,” he said. “Everyone knows that the root of a person is cultivated by the parents and society.”
His mother influenced him a lot with regards to what he is doing — helping others.
“I know she is proud,” he said, adding that sometimes when he went home, he would find his mother sitting with two or three children asking her to give them a job.
“She would promise anyone a job and that was her character. Some parents would be reluctant to see their child helping someone else, but my mother accepted that.
“She encouraged me to help others and even people not related to me. I will fulfil societal obligations she asked me to do.”
Mr Mashamhanda described his mother as a person who was not selfish.
“She would always promise other people that ‘my son would help you.’ It was a societal obligation,” he recalled.
He said Mashwede would continue to move on the path set by his mother.
“She would say you are the businessman, so go and create opportunities for these people instead of buying luxuries, why do you not save that money to create a job for that person so that this child can get a job and you will get money?,” he said. “She would ask me that if you do not help that child, what will l tell the mother?”
Online Reporter