Wiston Jombo (29) came to South Africa in 2017 to look for greener pastures because of the tough economic conditions in his home country.
“I decided to start a business instead of looking for a formal employment because in this country, African migrants are often accused of stealing jobs from locals,” said Jombo.
Jombo who is based at Marironi Village in Bolobedu South says when he arrived in the country he did not have money, so he had to work at a local tavern for a few month to earn money to buy equipment to start a business.
“I saved enough money to buy a grass cutting machine, pruner, shovel, spade, bow rake, digging fork and leaf rake before starting my gardening business,” said Jombo.
He uses social media, pamphlets and word of mouth to market his business. He says that his satisfied clients recommend him to their friends and relatives.
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Most of his clients live in residential areas of Tzaneen. He works alone but when he has too much work he employs some local people to assist him.
“The money I make is not enough but I am able to support myself and my family back in Zimbabwe,” he said.
He visits home twice or ones a year and sometimes his wife visit him.
He dismissed as untrue a notion that foreign nationals steal jobs from local people saying that migrants from neighbouring countries are more likely to take jobs that locals are not willing to take.
He appealed to fellow migrants to create jobs instead of adding to the number of unemployed people in this country.
