adminPeter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
JOE Madziwa a former Ministry of Water Resources and Development (now Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate) employee had to sell most of his belongings to survive the harsh economic challenges faced by most Zimbabweans in the early 2000s.
Fighting to improve his life, after it went downhill in those years, following the economic situation, he sought greener pastures in South Africa, where it too was not rosy as anticipated. Struggling to improve his life in a foreign country Madziwa did menial jobs, which kept him going for about a decade.
Unsatisfied with mediocrity, he gambled with his savings to establish a carpentry company in 2012, a profession he had received absolutely no training on.
The company, Urbanite Multifit, specialises in carpentry, producing luxurious home and office furniture such as couches, tables and sofas in South Africa and also supplies Zimbabwean wholesalers and retailers.
Madziwa spoke to Sunday Life about his epic journey.
“I didn’t do any course for this; it’s something that I just brainstormed, after having worked for someone in a similar field,” he said.
Reminiscing on his former life he said he even tried to establish a business in Zimbabwe before migrating to South Africa.
“I worked for the Ministry of Water in Zimbabwe, as a casual worker in 2001 and I worked for PTC (now TelOne) in 2002. I then started my own business in 2003. The business never flourished because of hardships that were being faced by the country, as my business was mostly dependent on farm produce,” he said.
Madziwa said after his move to South Africa all was not rosy, as finding a stable job was difficult.
“My life is improving My business possibilities are promising to flourish but there are plenty of challenges,” he said.
Madziwa mentioned that his priority was to establish his company in Zimbabwe, in Matabeleland.
“It’s closer to South Africa. In terms of sourcing raw materials it is much more economic for me to establish in Matabeleland.
I also supply a few companies in that region,” he said.
Madziwa said he only went as far as Form Four in terms of education.
“I went to Rujeko High School in Harare and completed O-level in 1997,” he said.
Being one among many Zimbabweans working towards reviving the economy, Madziwa, a shrewd and determined Zimbabwean has made enough money to invest in establishing a factory in Zimbabwe, which will likely employ hundreds.
His South African-based establishment manufactures deeply personal furniture.
Madziwa uses sheer grit and innovation to improve the lives of many in Zimbabwe.
“To my fellow Zimbabweans I would like to say let’s be strong and encourage ourselves to work hard by using our skills.
“My main issue is to help and teach the new generation how to use craftsmanship as a means of making ends meet,” he said.
Madziwa said he wants to use his misfortunes as an example to encourage optimism and a positive can-do attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune.
Online Reporter