We must Celebrate the African Brand

After reading my article nominating Mutumwa Mawere as one of the Points of Light under the ‘BOAF-5000 POL Lifetime Achievement Award’ a fellow Zimbabwean and African Temu Moyo had this to say ;

“YOUR STORY LACKS SUBSTANCE. MAWERE BECAME A BANKER, FINANCIER AT ARL AS A FRONT OF SOME ZANU STALWARTS. WHERE DID HE GET THE MONEY FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE. DOES AN INDIVIDUAL MUSHROOM OUT OF NOWHERE TO OWN MASHABA MINES THUS BOGGLING TO THE MIND IN YOU HAVE ONE. OR IT IS CASE OF A THIEF TRYING TO COVER ELEPHANT TRACKS WITH A FINGER AND SAYING THE TRACKS BELONG TO A SHEEP. MAWERE AND SOME OF YOU ARE FORMER ZANU CONDUITS WHOSE DEALS WENT SOUR WITH YOUR ZANU MASTERS. WE DESERVE BETTER DO NOT MISLEAD US ZANU HAS MISGOVERNED & MISLED US FOR THREE DECADES. YOU ARE A WASTE OF SPACE.”

My response to the comment and similar ones is as follows.

Mawere has written extensively clarifying his relationship with ZANU PF,Government of Zimbabwe and Politicians in general. It is wrong for us to try and attribute Mawere’s success and achievements just to political relationships as if he had a monopoly of any type of relationship. We need to take note of his individual endeavors, business acumen and organizational ability which allowed him to grow a single mine venture into a major conglomerate. A visit to the website www.mmawere.com provides a wealth of information about Mawere and his various endeavors .

One can not build a business just by political links or patronage. A business succeeds because it is providing a useful service or product which has ready buyers willing to pay a fair price. Beyond political links one needs business acumen, ideas, drive, determination and various other factors which are directly from an individual. These qualities cant be borrowed or squeezed from any political patronage .

I acknowledge we can all never agree on who we rate highly and regard as Points of Light in our individual paths of life. However the point must be made that before judging others and criticizing we should take time to reflect upon personal experiences and acknowledge others who have played leading roles which have resulted in many doors being opened for others that followed.

As black Africans growing up in Zimbabwe it was difficult if not impossible to find fellow black Africans who had succeeded in big business. Yes we had various bus business operators, shop operators and other peripheral business leaders. In general when one thought of a serious big business especially that listed on the stock exchange one was forced to relate it to White Africans or major Multinationals .

How ever due to actions and initiatives of black big business pioneers such as Dr Julius Makoni, Dr Mthuli Ncube ,Nicholas Vingirayi , James Mushore, Francis Zimuto, Strive Masiyiwa, Trevor Ncube, James Makamba, William Nyemba and Mutumwa Mawere it became possible for the younger generations such as myself to start dreaming of being meaningful players in big business. Mawere together with these and other entrepreneurs became beacons of hope for any emerging black business person. It is important that we acknowledge such business icons and legends whilst they are still alive.

This is so because one could readily and easily relate to their back ground and say if Mawere can do it then there is no reason why any other young entrepreneur with humble beginnings can not achieve the same feat. This is where the impact of being a Point of Light is amplified.

And when someone succeed there is never a shortage of people especially politicians claiming credit

There is need to follow the Africa Resources Limited story from the beginning to understand how Mawere started ARL.I think the reader has not taken time to research and gather facts about Mawere.The website http://www.mmawere.com/ has detailed accounts about Mawere and his struggle .The link icon marked ARL Origins story is particularly useful.

Mawere started his venture more than 13 years ago. He has not shifted that focus upto the present day he has been pushing for a greater involvement for black Africans into big business and participation in tapping into Africa’s vast wealth .This is what a point of light does and is expected to do .

Our generation must rise above the narrow restrictions of the divisions that have been imposed upon us through various artificial boundaries including gender ,ethnicity, race, religion, class, status and station in life. It is not progressive to see ourselves through the narrow eye of the limitation of the boundaries of our own individual, family and country spaces. Africans must act in a manner uplifts the “Africa brand“. This includes recognizing other Africans who have played a meaningful role in the advancement of the Africa brand.

Mawere built ARL over a ten year period. When Mawere’s business Group was nationalized he remained resolute in stating the facts and educating others about the inner workings of deal making ,structuring, financing and execution .

When Mawere’s business was nationalized he did not taking it lying down .It is important to note several other business people had businesses nationalized, closed, seized or looted by well connected individuals. As a point of Light Mawere provided leadership in exposing these various expropriation schemes disguised as corrective measures meant to fix the Zimbabwe Economy .

There is a certain level of self belief and mental fortitude required to resist such bullying and intimidatory measures that Mawere was subjected .The mere fact that he is still standing and continues to inform and educate others by filling information and execution gaps qualifying him as a Point of Light .

According to the links below Mawere is set to reclaim his assets. What does that say about the manner in which the Empire was taken
(1) .http://allafrica.com/stories/200906260616.html

(2) http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/jun21a_2009.html#Z13

(3) http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/index.php/comment/22536-zabg-testament-to-lawlessness

(4) http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/index.php/local/10699

Not many can practically relate to the path Mawere has traveled from building ARL to its nationalization but remain focused and standing. We must note the whole state machinery was unleashed in an attempt to silence and break his spirit. State Institutions, Government departments, State Media and state security machinery were all fully deployed in a desperate attempt to undermine the role Mawere has played in economic advancement of the African Brand.

In reviewing Mawere‘s nomination as a deserving recipient of the ‘BOAF-5000 POL Lifetime Achievement Award’ we need to look at the requirements for membership and qualification .
The awards are meant for African Citizens. People of African heritage or permanent residents whose life-long careers have had a significant impact on society. Individuals who have the potential to be roles model and inspire creativeness, inventiveness, spirit of service, and hope in others also qualify for the award.

Any African can qualify from social to economic entrepreneurship, the ‘BOAF-5000 POL Lifetime Achievement Award’ recognizes outstanding individuals whose pioneering spirit, fame, power, personality, accomplishments, and demonstrated creativeness and inventiveness throughout their careers has improved African society and inspired others in Africa and beyond.

Gilbert Muponda is CEO and Co-Founder of 3MG Media . He can be reached at; www.Zimface.com

Email: gilbert@3mgmedia.ca . Skype ID: gilbert.Muponda

Twitter ; http://twitter.com/gmricapital

Phone: 1-416-841-5542