Most influential young Zimbabweans speak on nomination

The top two young Zimbabwean entrepreneurs have reacted to their being announced by Dindingwe Media as occupants to the top spots ahead of religious icons Emmanuel Makandiwa and Prophet Eubert Angel.

Astro Mobile's Munyaradzi Gwatidzo and Affirmative Action Group's Chamu Chiwanza expressed their elation at being nominated as influential after the announcements of results in separate interviews.

"It says a lot when people say you influence them in a positive way and shows your contribution is understood," said Gwatidzo.

"It says that a lot of young people who voted are looking up to you and they see you as some sort of role model. It says I have to be cautious and I should not fail them at all," added the youthful entrepreneur.

Gwatidzo runs an end to end mobile solutions company, Astro Mobile, after parting ways with former business partner Munyaradzi Shumba in what was then G-Tide.

His star has shot phenomenally ever since then and his company has launched top of the range mobile phones that they have released including the posh Astro V2 mobile phone which they claim is the slimmest mobile phone on the planet ahead of international competitors.

He says the reason behind his success is that he has remained in touch with the grassroots that have made him a recognisable face in media solutions in spite of how big he has grown personally in business.

"I have kept contact with the small group of entrepreneurs wanting to create media solutions as much as I have maintained new links with big business. I am different from prominent people who become too busy for the people who made them prominent," he said.

He also said at the end of the day, it was the hard work he put into what he did that made him attain this feat.

"In business, the youth have seen that it is just not sitting and expecting that if I pray I will wake up rich. They know that above divine providence there should also be real hard work put into one's actions. Prayer alone will not bring success," he said alluding to Biblical phrases that attest to the Godliness of exerting oneself.

Apparently his is not miracle money.

Meanwhile, his second on the tier Chamu Chiwanza, was cautiously accepting of the honour but vowed it would make him work harder to be leading light amongst the youth.

"I am sure they have their method to determine who is influential because people have different perspectives on who is influential and who is not but I am flattered that I have been nominated as second on the list; humbled in fact," said Chiwanza.

"I could never imagine myself on a list ahead of Eubert Angel and Prophet Makandiwa who are my spiritual fathers but it makes me honoured to be recognised," he said.

The holder of the record of youngest ever Zimbabwean to be named Institute of Directors Director of the year in 2008 at the age of just 28, says it is probably all down to hard work, energy and tireless dedication.

A lot of it, he said, was to do with the fact that he has led from the front in business, being the man behind Prime Time Motors which had offices in South Africa and Singapore when he ran the business of automobile merchandising.

His presence and experiences in the Finance Industry with Cernic Finance and also a spoor in the Security services sector have made him notable no doubt contributing to his rise and noticeability amongst the youth.

"In the pipeline we have Cernic properties which is influenced by the housing and development clauses in ZimAsset and once that is up in full throttle I and assured my dream for further growth will be attained," he said.

Chiwanza also put his success down to his leadership of the Affirmative Action Group which he said gave him a pedestal on which to be noticed.

"It gave birth to big names in business in its twenty-year life including James Makamba, Peter Pamire, Supa Mandiwanzira, Saviour Kasukuwere Jane Mutasa and Philip Chiyangwa amongst others and so that no doubt puts me in the spotlight," said Chiwanza.

"If you are influential it doesn't make you rich and so there are much wealthier younger Zimbabweans who have been rated below me but I guess it is all down to recognition as an inspiration to my young peers."

His dream, he says, is to influence and inspire somebody else to greater achievement even if it means he himself is not that person.

"I want Zimbabwe's billionaire in dollar terms in the future generations to say I was inspired and influenced by the work of Chamu Chiwanza. That would be enough for me as a life's legacy," he said.