The Sunday Mail
Freedom Mupanedemo
Most women tend to submit to male chauvinistic rantings, accepting it as God’s curse, but that is not the case with Gweru-based Mrs Smelly Dube. She believes that women and men are equals and has therefore risen to the occasion, challenging male dominance in the construction industry.
While most businesswomen are more comfortable in beauty therapy and fashion and designing, Mrs Smelly Dube feels at home in the construction industry – traditionally viewed by many as a preserve for men.
And she has excelled beyond expectations.
“The first course I did was fashion and design because then I was thinking like most women, that if I am to run a successful business, I should do something feminine. I even ran a modelling agency in Harare in the early 90s before I later realised that I should venture into a more challenging business,” said the soft-spoken Mrs Dube.
She has risen from the humblest beginnings to become a business tycoon who has won awards in the male-dominated field. In fact, she has proven that not only are men and women equals, but some women are even more equal than some men.
“I was awarded the 2014 Businesswoman of the Year in the construction category at the National Women Enterprise Conference Awards ceremony which was held in Harare. It is my eighth award at national and provincial levels since I ventured into property development some few years ago. I am proud of this feat,” said the director of River Valley Properties.
To date, she has developed more than 50 000 houses in Gweru, Shurugwi and Zvishavane.
River Valley Properties is also currently developing stands in Bulawayo and the company’s vision is to develop stands in all the country’s provinces.
“We are engaging councils, including Harare City Council with the hope of getting land to develop. We want to develop stands in every city and town. In Gweru, more than 20 000 houses are already complete with beneficiaries now living in their houses. In Zvishavane, some of our projects are also nearly complete as we strive to provide decent accommodation for all,” she said.
Mrs Dube said most of the beneficiaries to her housing projects are civil servants as her company supports Government’s policy of decent housing for all.
“We are working with civil servants and what we have done is to try and help civil servants by opening a hardware store where they can buy building material on credit. This has helped many to quickly build their houses,” she said.
A down-to-earth mother of two who is happily married, Mrs Dube said she does not have any problems juggling being a wife, a mother and a successful businessperson.
She is a Christian with the Brethren in Christ Church and she attributed her success story to prayer and the support she gets from her spouse, a former soldier.
“I believe in God and prayer. Before we start business every day, we conduct prayers in office. I do this even at home. My husband is also my strong pillar, I thank God for this kind of a husband, he has been very supportive even in difficult times, giving me the much-needed support,” she said.
Her haul of trophies in recognition of her business muscle began in 2011. With eight business awards in her medal cupboard so far, Mrs Dube is surely a woman in her own league.
These include the Zimbabwe Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Businessperson of the Year second runner-up 2014; ZNCC Businesswoman of the Year 2014, Midlands Chapter; ZNCC Corporate Responsibility Woman of the Year 2014; ZNCC Businesswoman of the Year 2013 (Midlands Chapter); Second runner-up ZNCC National Businessperson of the Year 2013; ZNCC Woman in Enterprise Businessperson of the Year second runner-up 2013 (National) and the ZNCC Businessperson of the Year 2012, (Midlands Chapter).
