Creating An Atmosphere For Success

About a year ago I met a man from Ghana, an ex-teacher and a businessman called Joe. I didn't get his surname, it was as much a tongue and mind twister as mine was to him so we settled on first names, in my case it was the second, Isaac, which he found easier to call. But enough of the pleasantries.

I have leant a lot from a great athlete Usain Bolt. In the face of all challenges and competition he still manages to create an atmosphere for success for himself. It is in this spirit of creation of an atmosphere for success that I am writing about a personal experience I had with Joe.

Usain Bolt has become an expert at creating his own atmosphere for success.

My meeting with Joe and all that I subsequently learnt about him from the friend who introduced us were very instructive. Joe, like me, is an immigrant who came to South Africa to pursue a teaching career. After working for a period of time he got tired of the way the system treated teachers of foreign origin. Yearly contracts which can be terminated at any time, delays in payment of salaries that can go up ten or more months, a hostile policy environment and many other irritants were amongst the various reasons that Joe cited as reasons for his resignation from his teaching position.

As part of the process of quitting his job and breaking away from the system Joe paid up all his accounts, reduced his expenditure on rent (moved into a single room in a cheaper area) and groceries and decided to forgo an number of luxuries that he had previously enjoyed. After this Joe looked for a product that he could sell in the Umuzimkhulu area where he had relocated to and what followed was a period of trial and error with second hand clothing, fruits and vegetables and other products until he settled on selling potatoes at slightly above wholesale prices. His strategy entailed maximising on his turnover rate and not on a single sale.

Over a two year period Joe's potato business grew from pushing about 100 pockets a week to a place where he was selling an average of 500 pockets every three days. Limited overheads meant a net profit of about R3.50 per pocket and this effectively meant that in one month Joe was now making an amount that approximated the salary that he had left. Controlled consumption habits saw Joe expanding into hair products and a hair salon. Details of how the hair products and hair salon ventures fared I don't know but I can only conclude that he did very well in that area as well.

Two months ago Joe left South Africa for Ghana after selling his business. Over the past few years he had been setting up a car import and sales business in Ghana and he believes it's time to go and manage it from the ground. I don't know how established the business in Ghana is but I know for a fact that Joe left South Africa with savings in excess of R500 000.

I don't want breakdown Joe's story and point at those elements that one could call instructive that, I leave for you to do as we both both pursue our own success.

Written By Tendayi I Mawango For Arthur Mutambara

Where To Zimbabwe? The Shortcomings Of Our Education Curriculum

The Zimbabwean education curriculum was formulated in a barbaric approach that it has left many university students in dismay. Most university students in Zimbabwe do not know how to relate their programs as solutions to the economy of Zimbabwe. They have a mentality of learning and learning new things each semester, graduate and “find jobs”. As a first year university student, I was given an assignment by my communication skills lecturer which stated “As a first year student how can the knowledge obtained from the program you are doing be a solution to the socio economic problems in Zimbabwe”? Being given this assignment I realised that it was not all about learning and passing with distinctions but it was about implementing the information . I am currently studying an Accounting Science with the Women‘s University in Africa.

They have a mentality of learning and learning new things each semester, graduate and “find jobs”.

I agree that there are exceptional people who have graduated from our school systems. We need to start looking at reality and change if we are to integrate ourselves into the global environment.

The current system is producing graduates who are headed for foreign lands to seek greener pastures. It is very disheartening to note that behind counters of small tuck shops that have mushroomed around Zimbabwe one is most likely to be a University graduate. Each year we have more and more University graduates coming through to join those sitting at street corners and contemplating on raising money for a bus to South Africa. I have often asked myself, are we that proficient. No we are not. We have many University graduates performing menial jobs outside Zimbabwe. This gives me an impression that contrary to what many Zimbabweans think, we are not that good. So what do we need to do my fellow countrymen?

We need to start learning to be practical. We have to develop graduates who are capable of solving Zimbabwe's own problems. We have engineers who fail to implement simple strategies to save towns and cities. We have untrustworthy accountants who have positions of trust in every institution in this country. We have doctors who fail to research on anything significant. We have professionals in every field busy vending and doing cross boarder vending. People need to go back to basics and start solving problems. If this is incorporated into the school curriculum then at least we are one step away from being an economic powerhouse in Africa.

When I look at my grade one report, there is an area which was emphasised by my kindergarten teacher and it was called problem solving skills. I think this should happen at every stage of our school curriculum.

Please note that these are my views and I am open for discussion.

Written By Tinotenda Mutambara for Arthur Mutambara

Zimbabwe In New Investment Drive As Africa's Richest Man, Aliko Dangote Plans To Invest,

The good news coming through from Zimbabwe is that Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, has indicated plans to build a cement factory in Zimbabwe.

Mr Aliko Dangote plans To Invest In Zimbabwe

Mr Dangote is walking the talk about investing in Africa as he also plans to invest in coal mining and power generation in the South African region.

Mr. Dangote disclosed this on Monday after a closed-door meeting with Zimbabwe's vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Reuters report that Mr Dangote said the proposed plant would produce 1.5 million tonnes of cement yearly,

"We've already decided to invest in Zimbabwe, that's why we are here," he was quoted as saying.

Mr. Dangote is billed to meet Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe soon.

Although he did not state the estimated cost of the new plant, he affirmed that construction would commence in 2016, following the government's approval.

The investment will probably see the resuscitation of the Zimbabwean economy.

Source: Reuters