One day I’ll use diamonds

By Sofia Mapuranga

Stellamae Chandisaita is optimistic that one day she will be financially strong enough to use diamonds in the jewellery she makes under her label ‘Maephi arts’.

Having worked for over 20 years as an information technology manager, Chandisaita, 60, believes that because good things come to those that wait, her dream will be fulfilled one day, somehow.

“The last thing that you lose is hope,” she said. Her jewellery making initiative started as a hobby but turned out to be an income generating venture.

“Look around you, there is money everywhere. The only challenge that we have is that we tend to restrict ourselves. We are scared to be innovative and do the things that we love most,” she said.

She began making her own earrings, neck chains and bangles and people would ask her where she had bought them.

“When I was travelling to China in 2009, one of the ladies that I was sitting with in the plane asked me about my neck chain and when I told her that I had made it myself, she placed an order,” said Chandisaita. That marked her turning point and she realised that she had to capitalise on her hobby.

“I knew at the back of my mind even as I worked with the computers that I was destined for greater heights through the arts. I have always been passionate about making earrings, bangles and neck chains that represented the value and pride of the African woman,” she said.

Quality beads

During her trip to China she bought different types of beads, some of which she is still using. “Quality beads are cheaper in China,” she said, adding that although the same type of beads could now be found on the Zimbabwean market, they were very expensive.

“The million dollar challenge in Zimbabwe is the market,” she said. Operating from home, many small businesses failed to make a breakthrough on the local market until they are given the necessary support to boost their growth.

She sells her products at women’s events because many women will be there. “If only I had a shop to display the things that I make, I am sure that I would have grown this label by now,” she said.

Her dream is to financially stable enough to purchase a bead-making machine as a means of designing every bead that she would want to use for her label. When demand for her products is high, she employs extra labour and hopes to be able to permanently employ other people to manufacture, design and market her products.

Innovative youths

“I look forward to the day when this business is going to employ a lot of innovative youths who will not only benefit from it, but also bring their ideas on how we can conquer the world,” she said.

Addressing delegates at the official opening of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo earlier this year, President Robert Mugabe emphasised the importance of value addition and beneficiation of Zimbabwe’s natural resources – including gold and diamonds.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) minister Sithembiso Nyoni said Zimbabwe’s SME sector accounted for $7 billion outside the formal banking system.

In its 2013 policy handbook titled the Agenda for Real Transformation, the MDC acknowledged that it is one thing to have good laws and policies that speak towards gender equality but it is another to have the political will to facilitate their implementa-tion.

“Admittedly, there are pieces of legislation that attempt to address the plight of women. However, these are not adequately implemented which is a case of sheer lack of political will to see them being fully implemented,” says the handbook. The Zimbabwean