Thread by @mentorshipzim

Firstly I would to thank @mentorshipzim for giving me this opportunity to be on this platform. I don't take this lightly 🙏.

https://twitter.com/mentorshipzim/status/1363430672879222784

My name is Simon Jones Kalindwana. @ZimMech is my trademark.

I was born in Hwange and I grew up there for 25 years before I relocated to Harare.

I did my primary school at Sir Humphrey Gibbs, secondary school at Regina Mundi Sec and High school at Embakwe High School

Being a Motor mechanic was a dream come true. Since my childhood, I had been fixing cars. It started with driving of half bricks as cars and buses. With my friends we could also make cars, lorries, vans, buses, etc from the mud. During the course of playing we repaired those.

It was an imagination of a car been broken down which required attention (even though in reality those vehicles did not have anything to do with breakdown)

In my teenage times I upgraded to make those vehicles from wires. My ambition was to make best and stronger vehicles

The real dream came after I completed my high school, when I came across an apprentice vacancy at Hwange Colliery Mine Company

During the training, we went on an orientation for 2 months learning and getting exposed to various trades. We would attend each department in 2 weeks

After 2 weeks we could write a test and switch to another department. When we finished all the departments, the HODs would compile our marks. The choice of your trade would be determined by your total marks and each of us would be called in a board room to select your trade.

We were told to write 3 trades of our choice. So as you were called if the trade of your choice was taken you will be forced to take a trade which was not of your choice.

And I was no.12 to be called. The trades of my choice where Motor mechanic, Diesel Plant Fitter and ....

Fitter and turner. As I got into the boardroom , out of 11 students who went in , no one had chosen motor mechanics. I was the first one to choose out 3 vacant motor mechanic trade.

This was the beginning of my dream. I was grateful I had to choose the trade of my lifetime.

At Hwange Colliery Company, all those who where under Automotive trade would undergo every trade in the department i.e Motor Mechanic, Auto electrician, Diesel Plant Fitting, and Panel Beating.

In my first year I was deployed to Open Cast Mining.

There I was able to get exposure on earth moving vehicles like Dampers, Front and loaders, Cranes, Bulldozers etc

In my 2nd year, I went to Bulawayo Polytechnic College to do my theory. The course was only one year. This were imaginations turned into reality.

The technology of trade played an important role in my journey. At the of the year we wrote exams. When schools were closed, during the 1st term break, I was deployed to the Transport Main Garage. This is where all light and heavy vehicles of the company were serviced & repaired

In my 3rd year, after I completed college, I was deployed at Colliery Motors Garage. This is where private vehicles in Hwange township were serviced and repaired. Basically it was a commercial garage for the company.

During this year, it is when I made my name visible.

At Colliery Motors Garage I was able to work alone without an artisan. During this year it was a year when you were allowed to make mistakes only.

At the end of September I went for Attachment at Nissan Cloverleaf Motors in Bulawayo for 3 months.

In my 4th and final year , I was deployed back to Transport Main Garage. At the end of the year I was trade tested at the garage.

During the years back the company would recruit internally. Unfortunately for us that recruitment system was no more.

Now that I qualified what was the next step ?

Most of my friends relocated to South Africa to look for jobs. With me it was a different story. From the experience I got at Colliery Motors Garage, I had dreamt to start my own business and open a setup for commercial garage.

I relocated to Harare. I was staying at my uncle's place by then. As a person who grew up in Hwange a Mine town , staying in Harare was a challenge for me as you got no one whom you know with respect to connections to link you get a job.

Initially when I came to Harare I had the mind that my uncle been a person who have stayed in Harare for so long would connect me but it didn't work that way.

After 2 weeks in Harare, one morning I was told to wake up and go look for a job. My uncle's face was not the same.

That was when I faced the reality of the other side of life different from the one I was used to. Hwange was a town full of free gifts of life, no rentals , no hospitalisation, no bills , your salary was for food and clothing and having fun.

In Harare every cent counted.

I learnt to ask around where I could get garages in town without my uncle's help. I had my CVs ready and submitted in various garages but none responded.

After 3 months repeating the same routine, I got frustrated and almost given up about working in Harare.

I had no hope of anything that would come up. I had thought maybe I was not a "Shona" person that was why I got rejected. I had thought of going to South Africa to join my friends.

But one day I received a phone call from ProMerc Company to come for interviews.

ProMerc was garage which specialised with Mercedes Benz Only.

The next day I went for interviews. After I was about to be round up the interview, one of the guys asked me how do they need to employ me and trust I would deliver since I had no Mercedes Benz in my CV

When I thought I had nothing to say, I was filled with boldness to answer him (in a joking manner) and I said " I believe Mercedes Benz is not different from all other cars, since it has an engine with 4 or more cylinders, it has parameters which carry the same function ....

What differs are the size and location" He looked at me and laughed and said "Uno sayiza Benz"

Next morning I was called and told I have got a job.

The first Benz to put my hands on was the S500. My task was to do the top overhaul since it had overheated.

However I worked at ProMerc for 2 years. Then later I worked at Cylinder Head Rebuild for 1 and a half years before it was closed

I wasn't employed for a month , until one Wednesday during Mid week service, my Pastor said "if you're looking for a job,

it's time you stop looking for a job. Jobs should be looking for you. Start to think ownership, dream big, live big and earn big."

This is when I had a turnover of my life. This was the birth of ///ZimMech (Zimbabwean Mechanic). I had to say I belong to this country.

I began ZimMech by going into businesses applying for tenders to different companies.

Some approved , some didn't respond. I didn't give up because I knew what I carry inside me and the jobs began looking for me. Now I have grown big , the name is in the Market

I operate as a mobile mechanic able to deliver my services within Harare and Outside Harare. I have been in Mutare, Byo, Plumtree, Vic falls, Gwanda, Mutoko and Kwekwe.

Right Now am working on getting a place where I can establish a Garage setup.

Once I get the place I can employ individuals and the company will grow and keep on growing even outside towns of Harare.

Last but not list , I will encourage someone out there not to give up on their dreams. Do not fear to start where you are.

This is part of my work

Thank you once again @mentorshipzim @ChelleChipato for the precious opportunity to be in this platform. I appreciate it so much 🙏

For my personal contact :
WhatsApp [phone]
Call 0772116592 or 0712040240
DM me on @ZimMech

NOTE: ALL JOBS ARE DONE ACCORDING TO BOOKINGS