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By Amanda Ellen Nicola Jojo
HUMBLE beginnings, exemplary character, pioneering leadership, unequivocal simplicity, outstanding philanthropy, audacious change-making, astute business acumen, focused audacity, simple living and marginalized by self-tamed controversies. That makes for an impressive profile. One Entrepreneur possesses all these and much more.
Takemore Mazuruse, the founder of Esteem Communications, is one entrepreneur who belongs to exquisite class of people who are driven by a strong core.
In an interview with The Entrepreneurial Magazine, Mazuruse shared with us simple truths that drive home important fundamentals about entrepreneurship, life and the incumbent turns and bends.
Mazuruse, an entrepreneur hailing from rural Zaka, possesses a unique blend of urban and rural life experiences. Growing up, Mazuruse’s father’s work in a prominent manufacturing company and their family home in Harare exposed them to a diverse range of societal backgrounds.
This upbringing instilled in Mazuruse a deep appreciation for life’s virtues, fostering empathy through interactions with both the underprivileged and the privileged members of society.
“I am a vision helper for many and my greatest motivation is personal advancement but even more importantly community as well as national development. Being someone with strong faith and Christian values, I believe I am not just a passer-by in this life journey but I am here to impact generations and build a lasting legacy out of my calling and business pursuits.
“As a visionary helper, my driving force lies in personal and communal growth, contributing to the advancement of both my community and nation. Guided by my Christian values, I am committed to leaving a profound, enduring legacy through my calling and entrepreneurial endeavors,” Mazuruse said.
Throughout his professional journey which incorporates his experience in public relations, marketing, advertising, and development communication, he has had the privilege of collaborating with corporate giants and renowned international development organizations, affording him extensive travel experiences across the globe.
As his expertise grew, he began receiving requests for consultancy services, which ultimately led to the formalization of Esteem Communications—an idea that originated in his early career. From its modest beginnings as a briefcase consultancy, Esteem Communications has flourished into a reputable brand, catering to clientele both locally and internationally.
“I believe I am a marketplace evangelist whose skillset and professional life is meant to inspire many and help them achieve their dreams.
“…I am not inspired by instant gratification; I am building for the future and that ideal helps me withstand whatever challenges and setbacks I may face along the way. For me its all about professionalism, consistency and dynamism so that at any given time I am able to reinvent in sync with obtaining trends.”
Esteem Communications is a brand known for its pay-off line, “Enacting ideas, Building Legacies.” Its mission is to help clients achieve their business aspirations for long-term success, it stands out as one of the most unique creative agencies in Zimbabwe, working with brands across sectors, and consistently delivering exceptional results.
“We employ market tested and tailor-made strategies to achieve the best results possible and for that reason we have been able to attract and retain clients over time. Every job challenge is a good opportunity for us to entrench our signature efforts and that has made us a cut above the rest. We started operations in 2010 but got officially registered in 2014.”
Esteem Communications has a notable client success stories that exemplifies their ability to nurture small start-ups into booming businesses through effective strategies and impactful initiatives. This has been achieved through tailoring strategies for each unique client.
“… A snap survey on our socials also points out to some though we don’t post everything as informed by signed contracts.
“What has carried the day in all our engagements with all of them is our professionalism, skill set, experience and the ability to reinvent in sync with obtaining trends. We boast of a highly creative and motivated team that at all times aspires to give the best service possible.”
Among their esteemed clients are Chloride Zimbabwe, Nash Paints, Nedbank, Ecobank Zimbabwe, Executive Cars, Kamili Investments, and many more.
As an award-winning Brandpreneur and communications consultant, he has developed a profound understanding of the common challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe and beyond when growing their businesses.
“Starting a business in a generally challenging environment like ours is not the easiest of things but we believe that success is possible where there is clarity of intent. We always encourage our clients to be knowledgeable about the trade before they go all out and should they find themselves lacking in that regard, they should engage experts to help them set up.
“Most of our entrepreneurs have the hustler mindset. They operate with the here and now approach and that is oftentimes disastrous. Entrepreneurship is about consistency against all odds and building a legacy brand that survives beyond the founder. Every business must be legally registered and have proper systems and structures in place. You may have a good business idea but methodology counts at the end of the day.
“Any serious brand must invest in market presence and good customer experience. In essence we have invested so much in mindset shift towards better success in enterprise.”
Amidst charting a course in Zimbabwe’s unpredictable economy, Esteem Communications faces challenges like any other business player. However, through strategic investments and professional financial management, Esteem Communications aims to be a market leader.
“Every client of ours have become a de-facto brand ambassador of Esteem Communications and we are getting referrals every now and then with each new client going out with a positive story about our work ethic. We always aspire to operate within our means and we have tried to manage our success so that we stay aligned to the overall vision.”
At some point Mazuruse was a Zimbabwe Chapter Coordinator for YALI RLC-SA Chapter, he spearheaded transformative initiatives such as civic leadership, empowering youth, and driving regional development.
“Being a possibility thinker, I happy that my tenure birthed some of the notable entrepreneurs and community builders from the YALI Alumni community thanks to the various training programmes and workshops we held with a view to inspire excellence and productivity.
“The narrative was that whatever your interest area, make sure you exert yourself well and you become a hybrid brand and market leader. The various ideas exchange and experience sharing programmes led to a positive shift in the way we do things. It is also during my tenure that YALI became more visible and that the regional centre started disbursing funds for chapter activities in Zimbabwe.”
Since Esteem Communications is a lucrative subsidiary of Esteem Communications, the brand is driven to lead the industry, through exploiting new opportunities. As the flagship brand, it has boomed alongside Esteem Car Hire, Esteem Fashions, and Esteem Beauty Bar. Looking ahead, Esteem Communications aims to explore printing, branding, publishing, broadcasting, and research, building on past successes.
Mazuruse was once a chairman of Zimbabwe Business and Arts Hub (ZIBAH), were he made significant strides, including organising impactful business breakfast meetings, dinners, and workshops that played a pivotal role in shaping the mindset of the current generation.
As a result, the majority of ZIBAH members have grown into influential and respected figures within their respective fields. Noteworthy individuals who were part of ZIBAH included Tinashe Mutarisi of Nash Paints, Richard Muchaka of Kitchen-Link, George Munengwa of ProAir, Persistence Gwanyanya of Bullion Group, and David Mudzudzu of Joy Center Entertainment, along with Mbeu and Edith Weutonga, among others.
Esteem Communications is actively collaborating with arts stakeholders and musicians to rejuvenate the arts sector while providing value to musicians’ careers through endorsement deals and brand marketing campaigns.
“We are all about a professional approach to the craft. The majority of our creatives have always wanted to take their craft as a pastime but we are encouraging an all-out business approach that ensures they last the distance and enjoy the most out of their work.
“We have helped artistes and creatives brand and market themselves right with amazing results and we thank God for the results thus far. Examples of artistes we have worked with include Alick Macheso, Nicholas Zakaria, Minister Mahendere, Ellard Cherayi, Tryson Chimbetu, Jane Doka and Tembalami to name a few. We have been able to create some top-tier events with some of the said artistes.”
Evidence suggests that entrepreneurs thrive on hustle culture but risk burnout and mental health issues. Experts emphasize work-life balance, prioritizing personal well-being, enjoyable activities, and meaningful connections to maintain a well-proportioned equilibrium between drive and self-care.
Speaking on this, Mazuruse said: “Being an entrepreneur in Zimbabwe is taxing because you have to go the extra mile but I always take comfort even in the smallest of wins and celebrating those as they came. I also try not to be too hard on myself when things don’t go right. I also find comfort in the beauty of family and friends. They make my days especially when we get to spend time together and laugh about the good things in life and shared beautiful memories. My faith is also a strong shield and spur even in the most difficult of circumstances. Like they say, If God be for us, who can be against us.” Parting words: Don’t wait for the right time to start. Start now and opportunities will find you along the way. Remember opportunity favours the brave. Choose your networks right, spend time with people that bring out the best in you and continue seeking excellence in your career path. An eagle hanging around chickens will soon forget how to fly and spending time with unfocussed people will do your dreams more harm than good.
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