Rising entrepreneur’s inspiring journey

Veronica Gwaze

Lifestyle Writer

WHEN patrons meet Terence Maphosa of the famous KwaTerry joint, they immediately ask themselves; “Is he the one?”

Despite his name being celebrated far and wide, the 30-year-old has every right to brag about his achievements, yet he remains modest.

The young rural entrepreneur is often clad in inexpensive attire.

His signature look includes shorts, T-shirts, slides and a sunhat. For clients who frequent his joint, he is usually seated in a “hidden” corner of his compound — one might mistake him for a worker in this busy rural home.

Even those who encounter him casually find it difficult to strike up a conversation with the joint owner.

It is only a matter of time before he excuses himself.

“Growing up here, we barely interacted due to our poverty-stricken family, so that is who I am,” recalled the joint owner.

Raised in a household afflicted by abject poverty, with a mother living with a disability, all Maphosa dreamed of was a meal on the table.

Together with his five siblings, they relied on menial jobs for food and school fees. As a result, school became a luxury they could not afford.

“Our mother could not do much for our welfare because of her condition, but luckily we pulled through. All I ever dreamed of was our next meal and fancy clothes seemed like a luxury, so even now, I do not focus much on dressing,” he said.

To pass his Ordinary and Advanced Levels, Maphosa often used to study under the dim light of the moon.

After proceeding to the University of Zimbabwe, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science, he worked part-time to cover tuition fees. This often meant sacrificing lectures for extra shifts.

“Life taught me to work hard for everything. It was not easy, but I had no one to rely on and I consider myself fortunate to have graduated,” he said.

“During that time, I also experimented with music to earn extra money, recording a few songs. However, my Christian upbringing prevented me from pursuing it seriously.”

After graduation, his political aspirations were short-lived and he abandoned the idea.

Pressured to support his family, he took a job at a furniture shop in 2016. Realising his wages would not suffice, he saved money to start a roadrunner poultry project. Soon, he was selling chicks to customers nationwide.

As his business expanded, he quit his job to focus on the venture, which yielded significant returns by 2017.

In 2022, he established a restaurant — KwaTerry!

Now, he is not only a young farmer but a trailblazing entrepreneur rewriting the rural life narrative. The self-sufficient joint produces its own organic vegetables, poultry, goats, cattle and fish through various projects.

Last year, Maphosa was featured at the 2023 United Nations World Food Programme Summit, where he expressed his dedication to transforming rural communities.

Locally, he received a certificate of recognition at the 2023 Zimbabwe Farmers Awards as an inspiration to young agriculturists.

With solar energy and a borehole on-site, KwaTerry also hosts weddings, parties, team-building programmes and events celebrating Zimbabwean heritage.

Maphosa organises campouts and movie nights featuring African games and drum beats. Through his YouTube channel, “Inside Village 6,” he showcases the wonders of rural Zimbabwe.

“I have a grand vision for this place, but I am in no rush,” he said.

“I want to preserve our core values of providing a unique rural Zimbabwean experience without compromising tradition in our service. Currently, I am satisfied with our progress and focusing on giving my mother and siblings the best life possible to make up for lost time.”

He now employs over 20 people, all from the local community.