For most youths in Zambia coming out of Secondary Schools, College and University, looking for formal employment or white collar jobs is the only answer to their becoming economically active. Many blame the colonial education system that still remains and is skewed to producing workers and not entrepreneurs.
We however as the Zambian Business Times – ZBT seek out the examples of some of our local Zambians who have taken up the mantle of not waiting to be employed and blame it on others when jobs are not avsilable. We look for people that have defied the notion of employee mentality and gone ahead to strive, follow their passions and set up companies and in the end creating employment and opportunities for others. Tapson Sibande meets the new school of Zambians taking up the mantle to set up companies and create wealth.
The beginning
Tapson Sibande is an entrepreneur and Electronic engineer by profession. Tapson is one of the main shareholders of Mfumu HD graphics and is currently managing the company. The 29 year old Zambian grow up in Mazabuka town “ the big farm” as he calls it , he did his primary education at Kaonga Basic school, secondary at Hillcrest Technical High School and then went to pursue his Degree in Electronic Engineering at the Copperbelt University.
In an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT news analyst, Tapson narrates that it was in his first year at the Copperbelt University that he and his partner and friend Ephraim Simataa decided to go and register Mfumu HD as a company as they began to work slowly with the passion to see the company get to where it is today.
Collaboration and teamwork is key
“We pushed and worked on the company in the background for 5 years and in the 6thyear we began to work on its growth as we decided to partner with two other people namely Austin Mwakwa who owns 10% and Brian Kabwe the owner and founder of Big Deal Graphics who also has a 10% stake. Brian also happens to be my mentor from day one. So in terms of shareholding, this leaves me and Ephraim with 40% shares each. So Mfumu is proudly owned by 4 people”, said Tapson.
The young entrepreneur says that he believes he was called to do this has he says media chose him because even with the passion he never imagined himself working full time in the media industry which is far away from what he went to study at the university. The issue of financing for acquiring better and more sophisticated Equipments seemed to be a very big challenge in the industry.
Seed capital from angel investors – parents
We started with only one camera and one computer bought using about K1,700 and K1,900 given to us as seed capital by our parents, Tapson and Ephraim worked and just in order for them to grow their skills they would work tirelessly even without getting paid, but this has now started to pay off.
Today, the minimum amount made in a day of events/ weekend to say is on average about K3,000 and we have built up our assets to as close to a million kwacha worth of equipments alone.
Creating wealth and employment for the community
“Today I can proudly say Mfumu has grown as it currently has four permanent workers and about twenty part-time workers. With only one computer and one camera in the beginning, we have strived over the past years and gotten ourselves high quality equipment which enable us to work from all around and be able to shoot as much as 7 events in a day”.
Mfumu HD has worked with a number of celebrities like Slab Dee, Macky2, done collaborations and commercials for companies like DSTV, GOTV, ZICTA, CBU and many others. We carter for both corporate, SME and individual/ family events.
Future plans to make a mark on the international map
The future plans for Mfumu is to see it that we make a mark on the international map for we do not just consider it to be a Zambian company. Long term plan is to cover the whole southern Africa and with us working with collaborations has really helped grow to this level.
Tapson further advised fellow young youths not to be afraid to take risks but to go out there and pursue their passion and make their dreams come to life as he said one has to be daring in life and not take no for an answer for the things needed.
Zambian business environment is very challenging for local entrepreneurs, you need a thick skin
“The Zambian environment is not very conducive for one to venture into entrepreneurship and does not favor local entrepreneurs but one must learn to take risks and I believe there is a formula and once you calculate you can jump without any fear. One needs and must be daring and not take NO for an answer, work as a “Tamaga” as I call it just to see to it that it happen, perfect your craft, invest in yourself, teamwork and collaborate”, said Tapson.
Advice to young people – be ready to be a “Tamanga”
The young see CEO who used to call himself “Tamanga” now calls himself “Young CEO 101” saying he has grown and developed himself from the running around trying to hustle and make his dreams come true to now being the young owner and founder of Mfumu who ensures his work is done more that 100% perfect.
Photo below is a sample of the works done by Mfumu HD with Zambian celebrities
