The Sunday Mail
Chris Chenga Open Economy
Over the last few years, economic discourse in Zimbabwe has put great emphasis on entrepreneurship. The SMEs sector, that is closest in association with the entrepreneurial ventures of start-ups, has gained greater public consciousness. Forums are held across the country to encourage citizens to become self-invested economic participants.
Both public and private sector have initiated programmes and infrastructure such as hubs or vocational training centres to motivate entrepreneurial development in Zimbabwe.
While these initiatives commendably emphasise training, skills development, and resource availability, not enough focus as yet is placed on the desirable personal tangibles of character and conviction in our prospective entrepreneurs.
Arguably, what often distinguish the world’s most impactful entrepreneurs from their global peers are their personal tangibles of character and conviction.
Perhaps it is easy to note that globally prominent entrepreneurs all seem to have stand-out character and conviction.
Consider a few noteworthy entrepreneurs of recent times.
After his passing, it seems Steve Jobs’ legacy is increasingly becoming one of his industrial character and convictions than the mere fact that he was extremely wealthy. Rhetoric around his aura is focused on his passion for product and outcomes. We marvel at his obsession with efficiency, both in terms of product development and consumer utility derived from the product; the latter being his intended outcome.
Of all prominent entrepreneurs in the last several decades, it is their character and conviction which is traceable to their impact on our economies and societal advancement.
Impactful entrepreneurs all seem driven by a passion for product and outcomes.
Indeed this is why in Zimbabwe we may have a number of successful entrepreneurs, but their impact on our economy and societal dynamics is close to nil.
Our entrepreneurs lack any character and conviction.
Reed Hastings, founder of Netflix,carries a passion for transforming the way media is consumed. Vinod Khosla, an investor and technologist, is driven by a passion to enhance standards of living through technological innovation.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and product architect of Tesla, driven by a passion for technological products that increase the efficiency of human lifestyles in terms of productivity and sustainability. Evidently, when one speaks of impactful entrepreneurs, a theme of passion for product and outcome best describes their legacy, not how much wealth they have acquired.
This is the main reason why in Zimbabwe, entrepreneurship has not yet been embraced as the occupation to deliver the most profound impact on our economy and societal advancement. Unfortunately, entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe is still perceived at a superficial interpretation of wealth accumulation. Consider our entrepreneurial elite, particularly those of modern era.
Firstly, they hold no specific occupational description beyond being “dealers”. Hence, they resemble little passion in any overt product or outcomes.
This is why the only visible inspiration they pass onto other youths is a passion for glamorous consumption.
It is no surprise then that these modern entrepreneurs have little visible impact on our economies and societal advancement.
Indeed of many of the prominent young entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe, very few can actually offer industrial or technical inspiration towards impacting the country.
You hardly see them at TED talks, professional forums, or even high school graduation days to give guidance to future entrepreneurial hopefuls.
The first sign that you offer an economy and society little impact is when you cannot openly speak on your product or entrepreneurial outcomes.
Notwithstanding, it would be unfortunate if Zimbabweans find content in the entrepreneurial misrepresentation that now exists prominently.
There is still great hope and potential in prospective entrepreneurs who are still impressionable to more virtuous substance than mere wealth accumulation alone.
There is a great optimism to be found in the thousands of studious up and coming entrepreneurs who remain open to positioning character and conviction as the core that will drive their entrepreneurial ventures.
We really need to groom entrepreneurs of character and conviction; entrepreneurs that hold a transparent passion for great product and outcomes.
Imagine the kind of products and outcomes that enhance the urban standards of living in high density areas.
We hope to see entrepreneurs driven by a passion for greater efficiency in the delivery of financial services.
Entrepreneurs with a passion for world class media distribution to the Zimbabwean market. What our economy and society in Zimbabwe needs moving forward is not necessarily entrepreneurs who wish to be successful in wealth terms.
Instead, what we truly need are impactful entrepreneurs of character and conviction who are driven by a passion for product or outcomes that improve our economy and societal advancement.
Existentially, wealth accumulation is not mutually exclusive to these types of entrepreneurs. As the aforementioned named entrepreneurs reveal, through identifying desirable products and outcomes that are demanded by the economy and society, one inevitably positions themselves for wealth accumulation.
