GROWING up selling freezits at Zvishavane Bus Terminus at the Midlands Province, Mr Jonathan Dube never anticipated that one day he would become one of the leading milling company owners in the country.
Mr Dube, originally from Zvishavane, started Imela Milling with his wife Ms Pardon Tshuma, after they saw an opportunity in the El Nino-induced drought.
They started by selling buckets or a few bags of maize. Two months ago, the couple started a massive production after installing a bigger milling plant in Kelvin North industrial area in Bulawayo where they are producing about 20 tonnes of mealie-meal per day.
The couple’s company won a gold medal at the just-ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) for being the Best Zimbabwean First Time Exhibitor.
Imela Milling was one of the exhibitors at the Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Ministry stand.
Mr Dube said he named his business Imela, which means “thank you” in Nigeria’s Igbo language, in honour of God for guiding them to success.
He said he ventured into the business taking advantage of the Second Republic’s policy “Zimbabwe is open for business” and the need to feed the nation in the wake of drought.
“I say ‘thank you to God’ for opening an opportunity for me as I started by selling freezits at the bus stop in my hometown. I used that money to pay school fees and that is why I say ‘Imela,’ ‘thank you God’ with this name,” said Mr Dube.
“I started this project with my wife Pardon Tshuma until the Ministry of Youth saw what we were doing and opened channels to empower us to become a better brand name. It was not easy, as we started with a small grinding mill and selling sometimes 50kg until we could sell a truckload.
“We got milling plants and we are two months into the business after we got all permits and machines that can produce 34 tonnes in two days.”
Already, the business has created employment for 12 people working at the milling company.
Mr Dube said more jobs will be created as the company grows and their target is to produce about 500 tonnes of mealie-meal per day.
The mealie -meal is already being sold in some shops in Bulawayo. Mr Dube said plans are underway to expand to Gweru and Zvishavane before spreading to other towns and cities in the long run.
The business has also supported the industrial value chain as Imela Milling engaged Zimbabwe Grain Bag to produce packaging.
Plans are underway to introduce Imela Super refined maize meal, as well as millet, sorghum and multi-grain mealie-meal in two months.
Mr Dube said positivity and solution-based projects will drive the country forward despite any crisis.
“When we are positive we are more resilient, innovative and compassionate. While we face the El Nino crisis, we are positive Zimbabwe will have enough food. So, we are developing this to feed the nation in line with the President’s philosophy ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,’” he said.
“For me to start this, I took advantage of opportunities from Government. This vision comes at the right time when El Nino has hit Southern Africa and we believe we will feed the nation in such hard times.”
Mr Dube said although their milling plant is located in Bulawayo, the ultimate goal is to feed the entire nation.
“We want to compete with the giants in the market and we are learning from them and we want to be on the same level. We are seeing an opportunity with the introduction of ZiG and let’s take the opportunity to take our country to another level,” he said.
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