Written for Mitchel my daughter ❤️
My child, when you ask how I figured out my growth strategy, you are essentially asking about the entire journey of my life — where I came from, what shaped me, and how I turned hardship into a model for growth that now guides thousands of people. Let me take you through it in depth, so that you understand not just the steps I took, but the thinking behind them.
1. Vision: Roots in Poverty, Seeds of Change
My story of growth strategy does not begin with agriculture; it begins in the struggle against poverty.
I was born into a very poor family. Poverty was not just my reality — it was my inheritance. I looked at myself, my children, and imagined their children, and I saw a cycle that could last generations. It was then that I made a vow: I would be the last born in poverty in my lineage. That vow became the fire that shaped every step of my life.
In 2004, I founded New Hope Zimbabwe, a child rights organization designed to protect and empower vulnerable children. Later, it evolved into New Hope Foundation Zimbabwe, and eventually into the New Hope Foundation Global Network. This was my first real strategic growth: starting with child rights, expanding nationally, then building a global footprint. I understood from the beginning that impact comes through structure, vision, and scale.
What pushed me was not charity — it was the determination to dismantle poverty at its roots.
2. The 2007 March: Walking for Justice
In 2007, I organized a walk from Harare to Plumtree — 541 kilometers — as part of the Global March Against Child Labour. With the support of the Zimbabwe police, who escorted us for safety, we carried the message of justice for children across the country.
But this march also brought betrayal. My own Director conspired with others to misuse funds meant for the cause. Another organization later claimed ownership of the march and secured a large grant to fund their agricultural project on child labour.
This was one of my earliest lessons: not everyone who walks with you is truly for you. My life has been filled with people who turned against me, but each betrayal sharpened my resilience and forced me to think more strategically about growth, partnerships, and accountability.
3. The China Experience (2009–2018)
A turning point came in 2009, when the Chinese government and international NGOs opened doors for me. I was invited to China more than ten times between 2009 and 2018.
Those trips changed my worldview. In Africa, we are taught how to think. In Asia, they learn how to discover and create. China exposed me to a new world order of self-reliance, discipline, and innovation. I saw firsthand how a nation could rise from poverty into prosperity through production, innovation, and collective vision.
That was when my mission grew from child rights to economic transformation.
4. Transition into Agriculture
4.1 Family Roots and My Mother’s Example
Although I resisted farming in my youth, I was born into a family of farmers. My mother, even though she served as a police officer, never abandoned farming. For her, farming was more than work; it was passion, resilience, and identity. She cultivated the land faithfully until her passing on 22nd September 2015.
From her, I learned that farming was not just survival — it was dignity and continuity. Even though I once despised it as “an old people’s business,” her example remained a silent compass in my life.
4.2 Early Training and Food Security Projects
Before I embraced Moringa, I invested in training communities in chicken feed production. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I turned to food processing, teaching others how to adapt to disruptions in supply chains.
In 2021, I began potato farming, training thousands of farmers across Botswana and other countries. Potatoes showed great potential but also revealed the difficulties of financing projects without structured systems.
It was at this point that I saw the need to bundle 18 high-value crops into one strategic vision, with Moringa as the anchor crop — generating revenue to finance other crops and creating an agricultural ecosystem.
5. Choosing the Anchor Crop: Moringa Oleifera
When I transitioned into agriculture fully, I did not scatter my efforts. I chose Moringa Oleifera as the anchor crop.
Why?
- It thrives in poor soils and harsh climates — just as poor families thrive in hardship.
- It is both food and medicine, with cosmetic and industrial uses.
- It opens multiple industries: powder, oil, teas, pharmaceuticals, animal feed, renewable energy, and carbon credits.
By making Moringa my starting point, I created a currency of the future — a crop capable of fighting hunger, restoring health, generating wealth, and positioning Africa on global export markets.
6. Building the Cluster Model
I understood that one farmer cannot change a nation. That is why I developed the Agriculture-Based Cluster (ABC) model.
Clusters bring together farmers, financiers, processors, exporters, and governments into one structured ecosystem. They deliver:
- Economies of scale — one voice, one price, one standard.
- Access to finance and insurance — banks trust organized groups.
- Compliance and quality — HACCP, ISO, organic certifications.
- Guaranteed markets — because buyers demand volume and reliability.
This model became my growth engine, applicable not only to Moringa but also to potatoes, sunflower, wheat, and other crops.
7. Value-Chain Expansion
I refused to base my strategy on raw exports. Poverty thrives where farmers sell raw crops and buy back expensive finished products.
So, I mapped 17 levels of the value chain — from farming and processing, to packaging, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, animal feed, renewable energy, and carbon credits.
This built a circular economy where nothing is wasted and every by-product creates income, jobs, and resilience.
8. Partnerships as Multipliers
I discovered that growth without partnerships is fragile. I built alliances at every level:
- Governments for land, infrastructure, and enabling policies.
- Banks and insurers for credit and risk cover.
- International buyers and NGOs for markets and support.
- Women and youth networks for innovation and empowerment.
Partnerships multiplied my capacity. Alone, I could grow a field; together, we grow nations.
9. Phased Growth: Discipline in Expansion
I never rushed growth. My expansion followed a phased plan:
- Pilots — 30,000 to 70,000 trees per hectare.
- National clusters — 100 to 1,000 hectares.
- Regional expansion — SADC and Pan-African markets.
- Global markets — exports, certifications, and branding.
Each phase consolidated lessons before scaling, ensuring sustainability.
10. Media and Influence
I realized agriculture is not just about crops but about narratives. That is why I launched Legacy Media & Publications and created The Farmer’s Voice 24-Hour Radio & Podcast Network.
Media gave me visibility, credibility, and influence. It positioned me as both a practitioner and thought leader, allowing me to shape agricultural discourse locally and globally.
11. Resilience and Adaptation
No strategy survives unchanged. Droughts, policy shifts, and funding gaps tested me. But my model was designed for resilience, integrating:
- Climate-smart irrigation,
- Renewable energy,
- Carbon finance,
- Youth-driven innovation.
This ensured that the strategy could adapt and survive crises while remaining future-proof.
Timeline of Growth Strategy:
2004 – Founded New Hope Zimbabwe (child rights).
2007 – Harare to Plumtree 541 km march against child labour.
2009–2018 – China study tours (10+ trips) → new worldview.
2015 – Mother passed; her legacy in farming inspired me deeper.
2020 (COVID-19) – Food processing training for resilience.
2021 – Potato farming expansion; identified funding gaps.
2022 – Introduced 18 high-value crops, with Moringa as anchor.
2023–Present – Agriculture-Based Clusters (ABCs), value chain building, export readiness.
Conclusion: The Last Born in Poverty
So, my child, the depth of my growth strategy lies not just in models and numbers, but in the journey itself. I moved from child rights to agriculture, from poverty to prosperity, from local initiatives to global influence.
What shaped it all was one vow: I will be the last born in poverty. Everything — New Hope, the 2007 march, betrayals, the China experience, my mother’s example, potatoes, Moringa, clusters, and partnerships — came from that single fire.
That is how I figured out my growth strategy. It is not only my story; it is a roadmap for anyone who dares to break cycles and build a future.
