Mzimkhulu

Mzimkhulu

Mzimkhulu during our interview

Our team first heard about Mzimkhulu from our sponsor Dianne Womersley while we were discussing the progress of the guest house, and its need for burglar bars in order for our team to install the sewing machine. She told us that he ran his own business from an informal settlement close to Monwabisi Park, and that he would be a good person to talk with in order to try and understand how small businesses work in an informal economy.

Mzimkhulu has been building and installing burglar bars for five years from his central location of Harare.  Unlike the other people in the burglar bar business, he creates and builds all of the bar designs prior to installation, and does not require a down payment. At his shop he displays all of his designs as a marketing tool, but also risks getting them stolen from him.  He often has assistance from a couple of local students who can be described as apprentices under him.  During our interview, he said that they were taking finals, and that he was excited for them to be done so he could have more help around the shop.