Online Reporter
Rutendo Gwatidzo
Changing Perspectives
The future of Africa will not be built by complaints, but by courage. Happy Africa Day in advance to you all.
Please know that I appreciate you all and, as we celebrate Africa Day on Monday, it is my prayer that you find time to meditate, reset and face Africa again with boldness, wisdom and focus. Allow me to share one of the stories I came across as I was doing my HR work.
A young man once walked into a small hardware shop in Harare looking for employment. The owner told him there were no vacancies, but instead of leaving, the young man asked if he could help organise the untidy shelves for free while waiting for his brother who was working nearby to finish work and go home with him.
By the end of the day, sales had increased because customers could now easily locate products. Long story short, the shop owner hired him the following week. Years later, that same young man became a regional operations manager for a growing retail chain. What changed his life was not opportunity alone. It was attitude, initiative, and the willingness to solve problems before demanding rewards. That, is the spirit Africa desperately needs.
Africa Does Not Lack Potential
Africa is rich with intelligent people, gifted entrepreneurs, talented youth, hardworking women, natural resources, creativity, and resilience. Yet one painful reality remains, many people are waiting for transformation while contributing very little towards it. Transformation begins in mindsets and everyone has a role to play. A cleaner who takes pride in their work is transforming Africa. A teacher who prepares thoroughly for the students is transforming Africa. A manager who treats employees fairly and pays salaries on time is transforming Africa. Small acts of excellence create national change.
The Dangerous Culture of Excuses!
One of the greatest enemies of progress is the normalisation of excuses. Many workplaces are filled with employees who arrive late, do the bare minimum, avoid accountability, and blame “the system” for everything.
Some organisations are collapsing not because of lack of resources, but because of lack of ownership, discipline and innovation. A company can buy modern equipment, employ qualified people, and create beautiful offices, but if employees have poor attitudes, the organisation will still struggle. Africa cannot rise with a culture of mediocrity.
A multinational company executive once shared that during interviews, they often meet highly qualified candidates who struggle with simple things like communication, professionalism, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving.“We are producing informed people, but not always transformed people.”
Degrees and skills are important but, character, discipline, consistency, and integrity remain priceless. The future belongs not only to educated people, but to dependable people.
African organisations must move beyond survival mode and build healthy workplace cultures like rewarding productivity and integrity instead of favouritism and nepotism.
Developing young talent, prioritising wellness and mental health and building ethical institutions just to mention a few. Employees also have a responsibility to grow beyond entitlement and become solution providers. The employee who says, “How can we improve this?” will always become more valuable than the employee who constantly complains without contributing ideas.
Stop Waiting for Perfect Conditions!
I once heard of a woman in Ghana who started selling homemade snacks from a small roadside table after losing her job. Instead of giving up, she focused on consistency, customer service, and quality. Years later, she now supplies supermarkets and employs several young people. She did not begin with millions; she began with responsibility. Many people delay action waiting for perfect conditions, perfect capital, connections, timing or support. But progress often begins with imperfect beginnings.
Be A Builder, Not Just A Consumer!
One of the biggest dangers facing modern Africa is becoming a continent of consumers without creators. For instance, people consume content all day long, watching, scrolling, commenting or criticising. But very few are building businesses, writing books, creating systems, mentoring others, solving problems, or developing communities.
Africa needs builders who create opportunities where others see obstacles.
Food For Thought!
As we celebrate Africa Day, ask yourself how much you have contributed positively this far and how much are you willing to give me. The change you hope to see, let it start with you. Africa does not need more motivation and empty words, it needs visionaries, disciplined workers, ethical leaders and courageous entrepreneurs. It needs citizens who choose excellence even when nobody is watching.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is a human capital executive and managing consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy. She is a multi-Award winning leader, transformational speaker and coach. She is also the author of Born to Fight and Breaking the Silence books. Contact details – 0714575805/ [email protected] / Rutendo Gwatidzo_Official FB public page.
