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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
EVERY businessperson has a unique story to tell on how they made a breakthrough to establish their enterprise. It only takes a few determined individuals to see opportunity when others lament over perennial problems and financial constraints.

A person with a sound business acumen is not afraid of taking risks, even if it means quitting their job to try a new business venture.

This best describes the path that David Phiri, 44, took. He has risen from the level of a mere tour guide to a successful businessman in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

The former United Tour Company (UTC) worker quit the tourism industry a decade ago and ventured into the transport, furniture and hardware business.

Today Phiri boasts of a flourishing business empire with branches in Victoria Falls, Hwange and Ngezi in Mashonaland West.

He owns a fleet of five haulage trucks trading as Good Memories while the furniture shop located in the industrial area east of Chinotimba Stadium in Victoria Falls trades under the name; Furniture For Less.

Phiri says his story is a successful narrative of an empowered youth who got support from a friendly environment created through government policy.

He co-runs the family business with wife Sheila who deals with operations while he focuses on the marketing side.

“I was born in Kadoma in 1971 and moved to Victoria Falls at the age of five. My father was a waiter at Victoria Falls Hotel. After school I worked as a waiter before joining UTC as a tour guide,” recalled Phiri.

He started off with a tour operating firm in 2000 but abandoned it.

“It was when tourist arrivals started declining that I thought of expanding my business by opening a hardware shop,” said Phiri.

“I thank the government for allowing indigenous people to become businesspersons. Otherwise people with less education like me won’t be businesspersons. These are the fruits of an independent Zimbabwe, which introduced the indigenisation policy that opened opportunities for us.

“We really appreciate that because our independence has benefited us. President Mugabe has made us realise we can break through especially in the tourism sector which was dominated by a few whites.”

Phiri said he shut down his touring business in 2008 when the tourism sector was at its lowest and invested in the furniture, hardware and trucking business.

“After starting a hardware business selling cement, we realised we needed transport to carry our goods from Bulawayo and that’s when we introduced the transport business. We subsequently pulled out of tourism in 2008 and opened two furniture shops in Hwange,” he continued.

Phiri said while the economy was facing challenges, his business was operating efficiently with the hardware arm becoming a major cash cow due to the high demand for building material.

“People are no longer buying much furniture but are building houses, which is why the hardware side is doing well. It’s being supported mostly by people in the diaspora who are sending money to their loved ones to build houses,” he said.

Phiri offers customers buying options of hire purchase and lay-by with discounts for those buying on cash.

“Selling on credit is no longer viable as customers aren’t getting salaries regularly. The transport side is also doing well especially now that the government has opened buying of maize from Zambia,” he said.

Phiri employs 30 permanent workers.

“We’re so proud our business has grown. We started small with one truck but now we’re an established company. We named our first truck Genesis and it’s my wish that one day I’ll complete the Bible naming my vehicles. For now we’re at Judges. I owe everything to God as I’m an elder at Zaoga Forward in Faith,” said Phiri, a former Chinotimba Primary and Mosi-oa-Tunya High pupil.

For him the secret behind success is abiding by the country’s laws.

“We clear our tax in time and I urge every business to pay tax because that is where our government gets its revenue. Without paying tax business will die because the economy will be bleeding as well,” he said.

The couple has three children.