Fact file: Rinos Mautsa

• An entrepreneur with successful business interests in construction, ICT, hospitality, education and energy sectors.

• His business operations stretch beyond the borders of Zimbabwe to Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa and Zambia.

• Sits on a number of boards for leading organizations across Africa.

• He is the author of the bestselling book The Will of Time.

rything I am experiencing now I imagined growing up. I told myself that I will be in energy, construction and hospitality over 15 years ago. I had a 20-year plan outlining most of the things manifesting now. Since then a series of activities worked in my favour to point me in that direction.

MC: You are into construction and it is one of those industries that have in the past been hit by policy inconsistencies especially around currency. What is your comment on this?

• His business prowess earned him several regional and international business accolades including the Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship Award, India - Africa Young Visionary Award, Crans Montana Leader of Tomorrow Award among others

• He is a holder of MBA from Midlands State University (MSU), Executive Leadership Programme from Oxford and PHD in Customer Relationship Management.

RM: The current environment is affecting all sectors. However, with time we all devise strategies to bypass our present challenges. It is not easy but we have to do something for us to outgrow our present challenges.

MC: What can you say about the future construction in Zimbabwe?

RM: There is a housing deficit and a huge infrastructure gap in Zimbabwe and the region outside South Africa. This in itself is a huge opportunity that will create a lot not have this industry at all. Currently, we now have over 19 000 people working in contact centres supporting local companies and organisations in the US, Europe and Australia. We have also grown from nothing to over 75 established omni-channel contact centres

MC: Many indigenous businesses have folded in Zimbabwe over the years. What can you say has been the general cause?

RM: Speaking as someone who started from the ground, I think we have a huge gap within the entrepreneurship ecosystem of this country. Running a sustainable venture with no access to proper capital is not easy. The financial sector in Zimbabwe has limited capacity to support scale. I had friends who raised capital easily in neighbouring countries but in Zimbabwe they were just given a 10th of what they wanted. This is further worsened by government policy inconsistency and mismanagement by company owners.

MC: What can you say about the Zimbabwean economic landscape as an entrepreneur?

RM: Zimbabwe opportunities.

If you can start and scale in Zimbabwe, you can succeed anywhere in the world. Our economy has opportunities, unfortunately it is just a breeding ground. Scaling is easier if operating outside Zimbabwe. A proper support framework needs to be put in place for businesses with structures and potential to scale.

MC: What is your outlook for 2022?

RM: I think the low rains and twoyear coronavirus induced lockdowns will dampen the hopes for massive growth of the economy. Also, from the past experience investors and funders will scale down spending ahead of any elections. With the looming 2023 elections we might experience the same. However, despite all these potential setbacks, I still think Zimbabwe is poised for massive growth post-2023. has some amazing