The Sunday Mail
Business Reporter
Dr Douglas Mboweni, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe’s largest mobile network operator, on Wednesday launched his new book “A Dusty Road To Success: Principles of an extraordinary life”, in which he uses his humble beginnings to inspire people not to give up on their dreams.
The book addresses questions about discovering one’s identity, purpose, success and legacy, which Dr Mboweni says have helped him throughout his stellar career.
Readers will discover principles, methods and fundamental strategies the long-serving CEO has used to drive him to the top and achieve his dreams, from humble beginnings in Mwenezi district.
“I attribute all my successes in business, family and church ministry to God,” he said during the book launch, adding that he hoped that his life story will motivate people to start leading “an action-driven lifestyle and a more satisfying journey as you go through life”.
Dr Mboweni was born in the drought-prone Mwenezi District in 1964, and went to Gokomere High School before enrolling at the University of Zimbabwe. However, like most young people today, he didn’t have any idea of what he wanted to be in life and at one point applied to be in the military.
“Everything, from my birth to an upbringing plagued by war and struggle, pointed to a future destined for insignificance and obscurity. (But) what brought me to a unique vantage point? There are some key life lessons that have carried me out of the dry and dusty roads of Mwenezi and baked my life into a vessel for God’s purposes,” he said.
In the book, readers will learn the seven principles, or secrets, that led to Dr Mboweni’s success.
It is interesting to note that despite his phenomenal rise to the top, Dr Mboweni had his doubts and fears about his career. When he was promoted to CEO in 2002, he says he almost declined the offer, as he thought he was not qualified.
“This was a life-changing moment for me, as God began slowly to show and teach me that He alone holds our future, that He has a definite plan for all that trust Him. And it has nothing to do with our backgrounds, stature, colour, tribe, gender, qualifications or past experiences,” he said.
The 140-page motivational book, which is available online at Amazon and a few selected bookstores locally, was written with brutal honesty, lucidity and humility.
Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe chairperson Dr Sherrie Shereni, who was guest of honour at the virtual launch, said the principles outlined in the book are sound, practical and pragmatic, drawn out of the deep wells of personal experience, and inked with sincerity, honesty and transparency on what worked and did not work, to help others.
