Not everyone enjoys the luxury of being born with a silver spoon in the mouth. For the average Zimbabwean, building dreams and starting a business venture is about defying odds and shrugging adversity.
Allusol Design and Fitting Experts MD Linos Hapanga (36) believes his fast-growing business venture is testimony to the assertion that fortune favours the brave.
Allusol operates in the shopfitting industry where they specialise in aluminium windows, sliding doors, shower cubicles, shopfronts, office partition, display units, verandah enclosure and steel fabrication among other related services.
“This business venture is a clear testimony of swimming against the tide, but I thank God that we are fast making a mark in a sector where we are competing against some of the industry giants,” Hapanga said.
“We are riding on the general boom in the construction industry and we are happy that from humble beginnings we are now getting some big contracts and ably demonstrating our pedigree as an industry player.”
Originally from Honde Valley, but born and bred in Highfield, Harare, the entrepreneur believes his brand is making a lasting impression on the market.
“We are building a legacy brand that will forever be etched in the annals of the construction industry,” Hapanga said.
“Our workmanship is second to none and we are happy to be giving some of the design and fitting giants a good run for their money.
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“Our biggest satisfaction comes from the amazing feedback we are getting.”
Hapanga, who started off working for some corporate giants, said his venture, which was initially a side hustle, has become a source of livelihood and a largely sought-after service provider.
“Having worked for a big company for years, I discovered there were certain aspects of the trade which they were neglecting and and that gave me an idea to start a side hustle,” he said.
“As fate would have it, the side hustle soon became the main hustle because my bosses realised I had started on my little business and fired me. I lost the job but not the positive vibes, and that's how Allusol was officially born.”
He told this publication that having no guaranteed salary became one of his key motivation.
“Beyond the skill and passion for design and fitting, knowing that I had a life to live and family to take care of motivated me to go the extra mile,” Hapanga said.
“The company has continued to grow with each passing year and I am happy that eight years, on we are taking on some big and rewarding contracts.”
Allusol Design and Fitting Experts has bagged some challenging, but rewarding projects including cluster houses in Harare and Gweru.
“Besides creating employment and contributing to economic growth, we have clinched some major deals in the industry,” Hapanga said.
“We did the famous white house in Mt Pleasant Heights as well as some cluster houses in Fidelity Park and Mt Pleasant Heights as well.”
Hapanga, who has continued to soar in his quest for self actualisation also emphasised the importance of networking in growing one’s enterprise.
“I believe your network can be a very big determinant of how far you go in business.
“I have heavily invested in networking and I am happy that this is paying dividends.
“I am member of progressive organisations like Zimbabwe Young Influencers and Zimbabwe Network for Economic and Social Transformation Trust and these have exposed to many opportunities through ideas exchange and experience sharing.”
Hapanga whose company has serviced many individual clients and institutions also called on government through relevant departments and ministries to support indigenous entrepreneurs.
“Indigenisation has opened our eyes to possibilities,” he said.
“We are now creating employment as compared to seeking it.
“We, however, call on government to create an enabling environment for indigenous entrepreneurs to grow their ventures.
“We need capitalisation and we also need to get those rewarding tenders so that we grow our work.”
Hapanga said it is imperative that government identifies progressive entrepreneurs and help capacitate them to enhance employment creation and advance viability in the local industry.
“Through our own efforts and means we have been able to start our own ventures and creating employment in the process,” he said.
“This demonstrates that with more support and opportunities we can achieve a lot more for the good of the industry and economy.”
