WHEN life pushed Godfrey Mwashita to the edge, he refused to surrender.
Years of unemployment, poverty and uncertainty left the Glen View resident wondering how he would provide for his young family. But instead of giving up, he found opportunity where most people saw only rubbish.
Today, the 38-year-old entrepreneur is transforming discarded plastic waste into a thriving ornamental plant business that is improving both his family's livelihood and Harare's urban environment.
What began in 2018 as a desperate attempt to earn a living has grown into GM Nursery, a business that has now attracted corporate recognition for combining entrepreneurship with environmental conservation.
The journey, however, was far from easy.
Mwashita recalls collecting soil from blocked drainage systems using a bucket and gathering discarded plastic bags with his bare hands because he could not afford proper equipment.
"I started doing plants in 2018 and it was really hard. I used a bucket to collect soil from drainage systems across Glen View and Budiriro and picked plastic bags with my bare hands because I didn't have adequate equipment," he said.
Living near a public park, he took advantage of the constant supply of discarded plastics left behind in surrounding areas, including Glen View 7 Primary School and Tichagarika Shopping Centre, recycling them into nursery containers.
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He started with just 200 ornamental plants, selling them for a few dollars to buy basic groceries for his family.
By 2020, his nursery had expanded to about 12 000 plants. Although he currently has about 3 900 plants, limited space has become his biggest challenge.
"My home has been turned into a nursery. We no longer have enough room for ourselves, so my dream is to secure a larger piece of land where I can expand," he said.
His business gained momentum after supplying ornamental plants to contractors responsible for landscaping projects during Zimbabwe's hosting of last year's Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Summit.
Although the financial returns were modest, the project convinced him there was a viable market for his products.
Despite growing demand, transport costs, limited capital and the lack of formal business registration continued to hamper expansion.
His breakthrough came after he sent a message to TN Holdings Group chief executive officer Tawanda Nyambirayi explaining his journey and sharing photographs of his work.
"I never expected something like this. I always believed opportunities were reserved for people who already had money," Mwashita said.
Following an assessment of his nursery, TN CyberTech Investments Holdings Limited (TNCIH) donated US$5 000 and a motorcycle to support the expansion of his business.
The company also pledged business advisory and financial management support to help formalise and strengthen the enterprise.
"With TN's support, I am now considering registering GM Nursery with the City of Harare and seeking permission to legally collect drainage soil for my work," he said.
Beyond generating income, Mwashita's business contributes to cleaner communities by removing plastic waste from the environment.
Every discarded plastic bag he collects becomes a nursery container, while clearing blocked drainage channels helps improve sanitation and reduce flooding during the rainy season.
At a time when Harare continues to grapple with illegal dumping and plastic pollution, his initiative demonstrates how environmental conservation can create employment and sustainable livelihoods.
TN Holdings Group chief operations officer responsible for marketing, innovation, ESG and research, Sisa Sibanda, said Mwashita's resilience and innovation made him a deserving beneficiary.
"This is about investing in an entrepreneur who has demonstrated determination, diligence and hard work," Sibanda said.
She said his business perfectly aligns entrepreneurship with environmental stewardship by giving discarded plastic containers a second life while producing thousands of ornamental plants.
"Our support reflects our commitment to small and medium enterprises, advancing financial inclusion and promoting sustainable businesses that create lasting impact," she said.
Group operations officer Godknows Mudzingwa said Mwashita's innovation had impressed the company's leadership.
"We were touched by how you transformed waste into something valuable. It demonstrates the positive impact one individual can have on the environment," Mudzingwa said.
CyberTech Bank chief executive officer Hazvinei Kapfunde said the sponsorship represented more than financial assistance.
"We will continue supporting you through business and accounting advisory services because we want to see your enterprise grow. Your work ethic and perseverance despite enormous challenges deserve recognition," Kapfunde said.
Looking ahead, Mwashita hopes to expand GM Nursery into a community-based environmental enterprise that creates jobs for young people while promoting recycling and urban greening.
"I want people to understand that rubbish is not always rubbish. If we change the way we look at waste, we can create jobs, protect our environment and build healthier communities. Cleaner surroundings also help protect us from diseases such as cholera and malaria," he said.
Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Evelyn Ndlovu welcomed initiatives that combine environmental protection with community participation and private sector support.
"There is still a lot of work to do to ensure our environment remains clean, but we are making progress. Greater private sector participation is helping local authorities manage environmental challenges," she said.
