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Leroy Dzenga Features Writer
Before Ron Mazhindu (27) of Harare finished his undergraduate Accounting degree at University of South Africa (UNISA), he had made up his mind.

His vision was to build an edgy company, that spoke to his youthfulness and creativity.

A brief dance in the formal employment realm did not deliver gratification and an early exit was the most natural of decisions.

Seeking to fuel the fire that burnt inside of him, Mazhindu ventured into visual storytelling.

At that point, all he had was a camera and a dream.

“I am all about seeing creative things and just have a different view to the world. I’m a photographer and videographer. I always had a passion for visuals after finishing high school.

I felt I should take it after I was done with my studies. I was formally employed until I decided to be a freelance photographer and videographer,” Mazhindu said.

Though he had started fumbling the camera in 2012, he turned professional around 2018.

His visual art engagements which involved attending a lot of events opened his eyes to a new frontier.

“Last year I thought of an idea where I could create a mobile studio which would be a convergence of corporate and entertainment. This is when I started a mobile van company called Acumeuszw.”

The company has versatile vans which can be used as mobile offices, bars, restaurants, recording studios and any other uses.

Over the year they have been in existence, Mazhindu has been getting business from festivals, companies and non-governmental organisations.

This has allowed him to provide periodic employment for his peers with different expertise.

“All the employees that I have are subcontracted depending on the events I have. If it’s a bar, I get a bar man and barista, but usually I am a one-man band on the ground with an administration assistant,” said Mazhindu.

The idea comes as a replacement for old stands at expos which would need trucks for transportation.

One can simply have a van that provides both transport and operating space.

Like most businesses, Covid-19 has affected Acumeuszw’s momentum.

Typically, the business, with its multipurpose function vans, was supposed to be useful in such times but that has not been the case.

“Business since Covid-19 began has not been good at all. I had the hope that since I have a tool that is applicable and used in any situations, I would work with organisations that are doing Covid-19 awareness and prevention as the van is good and useful for a testing centre and awareness programmes.

I went on every platform and approached influential people but nothing materialised. Business has been at its the worst during this pandemic,” Mazhindu said.

Despite the setback, he still holds high hopes of a post Covid-19 recovery.

“I foresee the company growing in various aspects and getting more of these unique vans.

So I will have one as a bar and the other one as a food truck and a refrigerated truck that will ferry beverages only,” Mazhindu said.

His forward-looking perspective, includes incorporating trends in business.

“Because the world is going green, I am planning to operate on solar and that all my trucks in the near future have that functionality.”

Unlike many entrepreneurs who try and sell a rags-from-riches narrative Mazhindu’s story shows how family support can provide dreamers with strong footing needed to succeed.

“A lot of support came from my family. They contributed greatly to this project as I had raised a few funds from my photography journey over the years. So all thanks to my family for buying into the vision.”

Mazhindu is part of emerging youths heeding numerous calls by Government to provide employment instead of sitting on their laurels waiting to be ushered into air conditioned offices.

His wish list includes funding to expand his business, opportunities to connect with like-minded youths and an environment that enables innovation.

There has been an indication by Finance and Economic Development that there are plans to introduce venture capital funds managed by Government.

Venture capital is a form of private equity financing that is provided by firms and to startups, early-stage, and emerging companies that have been deemed to have high growth potential or which have demonstrated high growth.

Such ideas could benefit youths like Mazhindu who dare to dream and work.