Failure is not an option: Maingehama

The Director of Latview Communications, said being at the helm of the family business is no easy task considering societal perceptions around women in business.

SM: Can you give a brief insight into how you ended up as Director of your family business Latview Communications?

GM: My husband, Last Maingehama was arrested in May 2011 at our home in Glen View, together with his brothers, Stanley, Lazarus and Edison and 24 other MDC- T activists. They were accused of being involved in the murder of a police officer, Inspector Petros Mutedza in Glen View.

Initially, I thought that because my husband had nothing to do with the murder, he was just being taken for questioning. He was a member of the MDC-T National Council and its National Executive Committee holding the position, Secretary for Information Communication Technology Development.

I later realised that he was being implicated as one of the murder suspects and I was devastated.

Before his arrest, my husband was the director of this company and because his arrest was something that we had not anticipated as a family and at the company, I had no option but to take over since I am also one of the board directors.

The company had workers whose livelihoods were dependent on it. I could not stand by and let the company fade into oblivion because Last had been arrested.

QN: What happened when you took over?

GM: It was a traumatising experience. I was so overwhelmed by everything going on around me. The problems had piled up. My husband was in remand prison, the family quarrels where relatives blamed my husband’s involvement in politics for the arrest of his three brothers were escalating and the family was going through financial, social and psychological challenges.

Business was low and it was not easy to the extent that I was forced to down size. My main challenge was the welfare of the workers where sometimes because of cash constraints, they were not getting their salaries on time.

There was a time when I thought that this was the end of Last’s entrepreneurial dream, but I kept working harder. I knew that I was on my own and the children and my husband were all looking up to me to take the family and the business forward.

Before this, I worked for the company, but in a different capacity. My husband ran the show. I was just there on the sidelines. My influence in the day to day running of the company was limited, although my husband always encouraged me to make certain decisions. Even if they backfired, it was my responsibility to come up with a practical and workable solution.

QN: What does the company do?

GM: We sell stationery and related communication gadgets such as cellphones and laptops, and accessories. We also provide secretarial services ranging from typing documents and laminating services. We also do cellphone and laptop repairs and IT installations.

QN: What are some of the key achievements that you have made since you took over?

GM: In a space of two years, I bought two new photocopiers and this greatly improved the company’s income considering the demand for photocopying.

I also managed to renovate the shop. It was very expensive but it was worth it. The place looked so old fashioned. Since then business has been brisk because appearances matter. I retained some of the workers that had been laid off and now the company employs 14 workers full time.

We are now much more professional in the way that we do business. The workers are happy and I am looking forward to expanding the business and opening more branches.

The workers have done a sterling job in keeping this company afloat. Those who doubted my potential now confess that they never thought that I could make it.

QN: Where do you get your motivation from?

GM: I am inspired by the word of God. I am a Christian. I fellowship at Zimbabwe Assemblies of God church, and I believe that everything happens for a purpose. The last thing that we have to lose is faith and I am optimistic that this dark phase (Last’s arrest) in our lives will pass. I am grateful for the support I got from my church, pastors and a number of relatives.

QN: What are some of the major challenges that you experienced as MD?

GM: It is never easy becoming boss at a company where you have been associating with the other workers as a subordinate. Even the family was not so sure if I could handle it but I am just grateful that I have managed to handle this business on behalf of my husband. There are some workers who because I am a woman would defy my managerial skills, I had to stamp my authority to ensure that the company stayed afloat.