By Lovemore Chazingwa in Kadoma
Humble and socio-economic sensitive life philosophy has led a Kadoma based businessman, Filmon Ncube, to embrace and practically implement the Zimshop concept for the sole benefit of citizens, especially civil servants, it has emerged.
The Rimuka based businessman operates a retail shop, Confil Groceries within the confines of a small shop in Ingezi Township, Kadoma. His move is helping members of the community who are suffocating from economic shocks, making life unbearable with each passing day.
The model is appreciated by the community as a move in the right direction.
“If we can have many shops embracing the Zimshop concept, the better for citizens. We always come here for our groceries. I wonder how this man is managing if he is not getting any other support,” lamented a prison officer from Kadoma Prison, some 5km away, who had come to do shopping with his spouse, while this reporter was taking note of the prices in the shop.
Ncube hints that he wishes to have a better operating environment since he is overwhelmed by stock and customers.
“I would prefer to have a better place to operate from. That’s my main challenge. My idea is on those Chinese built shops which are not the traditional Indian type shops we have in town.
“The Chinese are good at constructing cheaper structures for a shopping mall, like the one along Simon Mazorodze in Harare, whose rental is affordable. I have this small shop here in Ingezi while l live in Rimuka. Lack of shop space makes me end up stocking goods at home. At times l deliver goods to customers using my one-tonne truck. The same truck l must deploy for sourcing orders. Otherwise, things are on the up-side with people flocking here daily because of our affordable prices.”
When we visited his home it resembles a warehouse. One can hardly manoeuvre freely in the groceries packed rooms.
Shop assistant, Shamiso Pitala who has worked at the shop since it opened two years ago concurred on the need for bigger space.
“Customers flock here everyday and we can find them at the entrance before we open especially, on Saturdays when we open in the afternoon. We need a bigger operating space to meet the high demand. Our shop is just too small.”
The sphere of influence for the shop reaches far and wide, Kabudura, Kanyemba, plots, Rimuka, Waverly, Victory Park, Cherrybank, Hoffmary and Kadoma Training Institute also known as Reformatory.
The humorous Ncube says it is the life philosophy that ‘Do unto others what you want others do unto you’ which is the dynamo to make his contribution in easing the life of many in society.
“I was a civil servant (graduate teacher), for a dozen years. I put myself in the shoes of civil servants and feel for them. I consider them my colleagues. Once a teacher, always a teacher, so the saying goes.
It is my dream to make life easier for them and the Zimshop concept enables me to fulfil that dream.
The Seventh Day Adventist is loyal to his religion. His shop opens daily from 7am-8pm except on Saturdays when he opens for three hours only, 5-8pm.
He adds that his wife, Constance, is very supportive in the business model: “Mai Ncube here is very much a pillar of strength. She is on her feet serving customers from Rimuka (home). We work happily together,” said Ncube with a broad smile.
Part of their forenames gave birth to the business brand.
If businesspeople across the country do likewise, that will bring a lot of smiles and food on the table of many households.Quizzed on his source of goods to eventually peg his prices so low, businessman Ncube had a humble, shrewd answer: “I search for friends who are already established in business and ask for discounts. I am honest about my business model and they buy the idea. All my goods are sourced locally save for a few that l import.”
He mourns failure to exploit economies of scale with lager manufacturers whose demands are repulsive.
“I tried in vain to source goods from larger manufacturers like Zimgold but their demands are tall for me. For instance, they would want you to order a minimum of 10 tonnes, which l cannot afford.”
Some supplies by-pass him due to his price regime. “Suppliers like bread and soft drink manufacturers no longer supply their commodities because l shun charging these black market prices that they may ask for. In that case they end up withdrawing supplies. I soldier on and seek orders from elsewhere.” declared Ncube.
Government on its part has mooted the concept but implementation is still on the leaves. When it was announced, all and sundry thought the idea would take shape with the pace of the basic commodities supply side intervention (BACOSSI) or the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) initiative in the transport sector, both fell in love with the masses.
The Zimshop concept is noble, however, its non-existence at shopping centres is frustrating the public. It takes business minds in the ilk of Ncube to grab the bull by the horns and go an extra mile without being greedy.
Member based organisations also need to take a cue from such incapacitated individuals to implement some of these government mooted programs instead of singing from the hymn book without taking action on the ground.
Organisations that come to mind in this vein include but not limited to the Affirmative Action Group (AAG), the Denford Mutashu led Zimbabwe Retailers Association (ZRA), Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), where Christopher Mugaga is chief executive, Sifelani Jabangwe steered Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), Grain Millers Association chaired by Tafadzwa Musarara and the dead and mausoleum headed Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) under Rose Siyachitema.
Rhetoric personalities and politicians are usually the ones feeding off Government trough but want to cover up with pronouncements full of nothing.In Asian states like India, Government led programs are a responsibility of every business entity, no matter their capacity. A particular program is taken up and implemented from taproot level where ownership spreads to the highest rung, with all the support it deserves, hence success, with the larger population benefitting.
On the contrary, in Africa, particularly Zimbabwe, any Government mooted program is taken with a pinch of salt even if it is for the benefit of the masses. When the general public reaps that benefit, only then do doubting leaders want to jump onto the bandwagon and embrace such noble programs.
National economic blueprints like yesteryear Zimbabwe Program for Economic and Social Transformation (Zimprest) and Finance Minister Prof. Mthuli Ncube conceived, Transition Stabilisation Program (TSP) need buy in from business and relevant stakeholders to be successful. Their rewards are never limited geographically, they tend to benefit the whole nation.