Passionate accountant builds engineering firm

But Kwanele Moyo gave me something new. The life in his voice, the way he punched the air every time he pronounced the word passion, the success story he told about his company and the way he broke into laughter every two minutes lifted my spirits. At last, here was a really inspiring conversation that I did not want to get out of.
A chartered accountant by profession, Moyo (43) is co-founder and Director of Mlilo Projects – a multi-million rand building and engineering firm headquartered in South Africa. Based in Johannesburg, but with satellite offices in Bloemfontein, Durban and Zimbabwe, the company specializes in pumps and tanks, electrical and general construction as well as civil and building construction. It also provides turnkey air-conditioning and fire extinguisher services, including associated project management services.

Safety of Environment
The company also has expertise in water reticulation, resurfacing roads and civil works and is among the best black-owned entrepreneurships in South Africa at the moment. We strive to be the leader in any task that is undertaken. Our aim is to deal with professional clients and provide a professional service, taking into consideration our first priority which is human safety and the safety of the environment. We believe that life entirely depends on what the Creator provides to mankind and we have to ensure that it is protected, said Moyo.
We are Mlilo Projects for Africa, from Africa and with a passion for excellence and innovative technological change. We have acquired the necessary resources and expertise to render quality service. As we are located in South Africa, we are driven by the interest and the need of South African people, so we strive for effectiveness and competitiveness.The name Mlilo is not just a name. It is symbolic to Moyo because it honours his late mother, Thembelihle Mlilo, who succumbed to illness in 1988. Her memory lives on in this companys success. Moyo co-founded Mlilo Projects in 2003 with long-time friend, Brian Mutete.
Brian and I have been friends for about 20 years and because of the trust that now exists between us, it has not been difficult to punch in unison whenever we face challenges, said Moyo.

Best minds
Today we have contracts with the Johannesburg City Council and Total South Africa, among others, because we have performed well and have some of the best minds in the market. But why did the duo decide to go into building and civil engineering?
You know, most of my engineering friends scoffed at this idea when I first told them, saying you are an accountant, how can you start an engineering business?, but that is where business sense comes in. You do not need to be an engineer to be in an engineering business. That is why even engineers themselves end up having to learn business administration when they decide to go into business.
I had always wanted to go into business one day and having Brian at my side as someone who shared the same vision, we looked for a niche market and realised that South Africa had vast opportunities in building.

Home to Zim

Mlilo Projects

South Africa is still developing in terms of civil engineering and we wanted to grow in that field at this early stage. Our aim, though, is to one day transfer this to Zimbabwe, when it eventually comes right.
The biggest challenge we had was that of getting ourselves known in the industry, especially by major players. It was very difficult in the beginning, but we are grateful to Total South Africa for trusting in us and giving us a chance to maintain and refurbish their service stations and bringing most of them back to life. They also made things easier for us by paying us sooner than is the norm and that helped us grow faster than we would have.

How about the recession period?
Eish man, I didnt want to talk about that year. You know, things were really going well for us in 2008 and money was rolling in, but 2009 hit us badly because we had not prepared for it.
However, we also learnt a lot coming from such a situation and since we did not fold then, I dont think we will ever fold. I am glad that this has now passed and we are now focusing on growth.

Strategic partner
As a form of approval to the company, Mlilo Projects is now on the second year of a five-year South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC) entrepreneurial development programme under the mentorship of one of South Africas biggest construction companies – WBHO/Roadspan, who are its strategic partner.
The SAFCEC Programme, run by the employer body that represents South African civil engineering contractors, is designed to target all the skills that a contracting business requires to grow, thereby developing technically competent and independent small black owned civil engineering contractors.
This is a programme in which big companies look for small ones that have a potential for growth and might be a good strategic partner, whom they adopt and begin to mentor, explained the Gweru-born Moyo.He is excited about the future and believes Zimbabwe will soon be awash with opportunities for us.

And what is the secret of Moyos success?
You know, to succeed in life, you must have passion. Be passionate in what you do and you will never go wrong, said the former Standard Bank credit department employee who also worked as a Transtel Chief Financial Officer before breaking into his own venture.
As passionate in life as he is in business, Moyo, who already holds a number of accounting qualifications, is now studying for a Post-graduate Degree in governance with the University of Johannesburg.
Mlilo projects has also not forgotten about social responsibility sponsoring more than 200 Zimbabwean and South African children by paying their school fees.