Byo’s tower light syndrome

NRZ (1)Morris Mpala MOB-Capital (Pvt) Ltd
BUSINESSES and businesspeople in Bulawayo always exhibit unique characteristics. From history this has always been a home of talent, from culture to business the Bulawayo community always excelled beyond measure.

Unparalleled sportsmanship, unquenchable cultural exploits, principled business acumen, the proud home of Ubuntu, unsurpassed heroic tendencies, cleanliness (which is next to Godliness) is resident in Bulawayo, you name it.

Yet we are still under difficult economic pressures and other perceived challenges. One thing, which has worked to Bulawayo’s disadvantage, is the idea of not working together.

In the various spheres of influence those much talented want to work alone and won’t pool their competencies together to build a formidable economic force that rivals other towns.

This has caused stagnation in terms of Bulawayo exploding into that giant that it has always threatened to be.

NRZ, Archer, Treger, Edgars bear testimony of what could be created when talents combine. Look at Knight Frank, Power Sales, Falcon College, Bosso (Highlanders) football culture and how they became game changers.

The world took notice of Bulawayo and bowed in awe as to the magnificence of this smart city mostly dominated by manufacturing concerns.

Most of the above went southwards due to the “Tower Light Syndrome”, which says I want to be the best in Bulawayo, the best economic analyst, the best business, the only soccer player, the only manufacturer, the only pastor etcetera.

Everyone just wants to be up there, seen and heard with no one close.

The individual feeling is good but cancerous to the society as a whole. We even go to the extent of sidelining our fellow Bulawayo businesses/individuals so that we remain the main business doing so well.

But all in the name of what?

As we know socially that this syndrome breeds PhDs (Pull her/him down). The problem comes when you catch a cold and there isn’t anyone to fill in your shoes and thus community suffers.

When one falls he/she doesn’t have shock absorbers and the entire expertise or business dies with the fall of the respective individual.

This has caused flashes, there is “now you see them now you don’t”. We celebrate an individual today, tomorrow we sympathise or laugh at their fall from grace and get replaced by outside business interests.

As individuals and businesses we need to elevate those around us to the maximum levels that they can achieve.

That way the community has something to lose when such a business collapses and this makes them responsible for other business success that isn’t theirs.

Thus each and everyone would like to see all businesses successful because of the inter and intra dependence between businesses/individuals. With such inclinations no one will wish another business ill knowing it could affect their businesses as well.

This type of empowerment and emancipation helps communities grow in stature.

Yes as an individual you can shine, be up there but communities need more of you to deliver an impact in making a difference.

Growth for communities is in the numbers of talent being encouraged to realise their potential.

It’s a web concept so that during lean times business can have a shoulder and pillar of strength to lean on.

The synergies derived from pulling together are just unbelievable.

It’s the reason why we haven’t sustained businesses even though many had shown some elements of brilliance in their initial strategies.

At times we even shun our own businesses, our language, our culture, tear down our own sons and daughters and we can’t even converge on the way forward for Bulawayo as everyone wants to be the one spearheading such .

Have you noticed that we are willing to bend backwards or listen to strangers more than our fellow Bulawayo businesses/people?

We are freely doing joint ventures with others other than fellow locals. The speed at which we engage outsiders at the expense of the locals is scary.

The tender processes make my heart bleed. Most tenders are won by non locals, the reason being locals do not do “incentives” but have we also asked for these so-called ‘incentives’ from locals. I am not in any way condoning corruption.

Local companies need to have head offices outside Bulawayo in order to win tenders in Bulawayo. Is it a case of a prophet not having honour in his home town?

Indian communities have perfected the art of working together and thus always seem consistent in business or in excelling in their individual capacities despite their limited numbers.

Working together is sharing information, encouraging, uplifting and having a common purpose that cuts across personal self-actualisation.

Embracing everyone guarantees the perpetual business dealings are maintained and businesses survive for longer.

When you start getting to the top bring others to the top and maintain a solid presence in numbers like how the Indians do. It’s a numbers game.

Look around you and see how most companies never worked alone.

It’s about time we changed our culture so that we bring back that yester year glory. There is no need to gloat and rejoice over the misfortunes of fellow Bulawayans.

How do we mentor and motivate future leaders when the pioneers can’t work together?

Let’s cut the vicious cycle by being the bigger person and just helping those in need during their infancy stages in business.

This brings in ring-fencing of talent and markets to ward off outside competition.

Why can’t MoB Capital join forces with other MFIs and create one MFI that is cost effective and covers all areas in the region? Your guess is as good as mine.

The Tower Light Syndrome rears its ugly head.

IF YOU LIVE IN BYO PLEASE CONSERVE WATER. IF YOU LIVE IN ZIMBABWE PLEASE USE ELECTRICITY SPARINGLY: SOS (SWITCH OFF SWITCHES). IF YOU LIVE ON PLANET EARTH PLEASE PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT.

lMorris Mpala is managing director MoB Capital (Pvt) Limited, a microfinance institution offering loans, micro-insurance and advisory services to small to medium enterprises as well as individuals.

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