While indigenous business people continue to take a stand and make an impression on the local business scene, it is the more innovative that are defying odds and standing the test of time.
For Nerious Mhuriro, who is the managing director of Cutting Lyne, a logistics company and NeproAir, an air conditioning company, the greatest secret has been consistency, professionalism and sheer hard work even when the environment is saying otherwise.
“We are merchants of hope and I believe the world is yet to see the best of our two main brands, Cutting Lyne which specialises in customs clearing, forwarding as well logistics and NeproAir which is an air conditioning company.
We started from humble beginnings but our ability to innovate and understand market has helped us sustain through tailor- made and market-tested strategies. Our products and services are top-notch and we always aspire to give our clients the best service possible.
While other players thrive on cutting corners and shortchanging clients, we are doing our best to provide quality services under our two brands and the feedback from the market is encouraging,” Mhuriro said.
Mhuriro’s Nepro Air brand specializes in air conditioning installations, repairs and backup, mechanical ventilation as well as automotive air conditioning while the Cutting Lyne logistics company has become a trusted player in customs clearing, forwarding, logistics, port clearance, rail clearance as well as pipeline clearance.
The passionate businessman, who grew up in Mabvuku, said he started from the bottom and would get odd jobs with local companies but he is happy to be scaling the ladder of success through providing quality and affordable services to the market.
“I used to work in casinos under various brands before moving to some odd jobs where I would work day time and also get other night shift jobs to supplement my income,” he said.
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During that time, I was also furthering my studies with a view to better my chances in the workplace. At one time I even went into money changing in Harare CBD to pay for my fees until a good samaritan then got me a job in Beitbridge,” he said.
Mhuriro reckons it is the Beitbridge job that opened his eyes to possibilities after a friend who was in customs clearing started teaching him the trade.
“The Beitbridge job was much better because accommodation and food was provided at the company. While there, I started seeing people who would come to buy cars playing casino and they would enquire about the customs clearing service.
“Friends who were working at the border started teaching me and I would get some jobs after work and would pocket some money.
“With that money I then started studying customs so that I get better appreciation of the trade.
“A friend then said you can come and train at the office and going to the casino in the evening.
“The growth from that led me to resign as I was now managing a branch in Beitbridge.”
Mhuriro then went on to study a certificate in customs clearing and procedures, before enrolling for a Diploma in customs clearing and then to FIATA which horned his freight forwarding skills.
“The continuous studying and on the job experience that I was getting gave me the confidence to establish my own company and I then registered Cutting Lyne as the holding company which started operations in 2018.
One thing led to another and I then branched into air conditioning under the Nepro Air brand which is taken from my name and that of my wife. I have not looked back since then and I am very confident of our future business prospects,” he said.
Mhuriro, who is a family man and a father of three, said he was happy to be playing his part in growing the local economy through his business which now has presence around Zimbabwe.
“My greatest motivation is my family and I am happy to play my part in growing the local economy through providing quality logistics and air conditioning services.
“We have presence in Harare where we have the company head office, Beitbridge where we have the main branch, Chirundu, Plumtree as well as Robert Mugabe International Airport.
“We also provide railways clearing, pipeline clearing through Noczim s well as facilitate exports of hides to West Africa, export and forwarding from point of loading to point of destination, exports of fresh produce to Dubai as well as exports of traditional foods like matemba and madora to UK,” he said.
Mhuriro is buoyed by their strides to date and the company has served big clients among them banks, retail giants, mining companies, parastatals, governments, NGOs, big corporates as well as small to medium enterprises.
