KHUBVI – “Mad, lazy, useless and irresponsible…” That is how his friends and fellow community members described him when he left his job as a Food Manager of the then OK Bazaar (now Shorprite) seven years ago.

They cannot understand why a family man can leave a decent job while everyone is complaining about lack of jobs in our country. But deep inside his heart, Combrick Makhado (44) of Khubvi village, north of Thohoyandou, had a burning desire of becoming his own boss.

With the establishment of a vegetable garden in his yard, Makhado has also created jobs for 17 other community members who were unemployed before.

“I became a laughing stock when I left my job after I had served OK Bazaars for 14 faithful years. People called me names but they were not aware of my plans. My motivational motto is Lupfumo lu mavuni (wealth is from the soil) and that is why I decided to make my living out of the soil. Besides that, I am happy because I have created employment for other people who are now able to feed their families – a step I wouldn’t have achieved if I had not quit my former job. We have to change our mindsets and adopt the fact that we can contribute to the economic development of this country, regardless of where we come from.”

Married to Emma, with four kids, Makhado said he wanted to prove the fact that it is possible to become one’s own boss through hard work and proper planning. He says what is more interesting is that those people who laughed at him when he left his former job are now his best customers who queue for the vegetables he produces. He also has five distribution points in different villages where he supplies his vegetables for customers.

He advises other community members to be very careful when they consider resigning from their jobs for other ventures.

“One has to be very careful and be sure that the intended initiative will not fail. You have to do comprehensive market research before you can decide what venture to take. Soil is the only source of wealth and we must utilize it profitably, for the benefit of our society. Many people will never touch soil because they do not want to become dirty, but to me, soil is a friend which supplies me with food and cash.”

He says he is using some of the skills he acquired from his former employers to consolidate his vegetable production venture.

“Skills like proper customer care, communication and basic bookkeeping are essential for business development.”

Makhado says there is more to vegetable production than simply producing and selling vegetables.

“One has to be physically fit, hard working and self disciplined. I also make sure that I develop a good working relationship with my workers to ensure quality production. I do not only supervise my workers, but instead, I get down and work with them to ensure their maximum performance.”