Local engineering company Fumati Group has recorded great growth during the 2022 business year signing major contracts with some of the big players in telecommunications, energy, retail and hospitality industries.
Speaking to Standard Style, the company’s founder and CEO Tinashe Changweya, who was recently named Businessman of the Year Engineering Services while his company Fumati Engineering was named Engineering Company of the year at the Zimbabwe Business Awards (ZIBA) 2022, said he owes his success to hard work and regard for the client.
“We didn’t start big, but over the years we have recorded amazing growth thanks to our hard work, quality workmanship as well as high regard for the client,” Changweya said.
“Fumati Engineering is the new age entrepreneur’s best friend and we have amazing engineering services that ensure our clients have durable business structures as well as equipment for use in their businesses.”
At only 28, Changweya whose Fumati Group is a diversified company with interests in engineering, food processing and architecture said he is buoyed by the continued confidence in his brand and has set his sights on even more growth this year and beyond.
“I believe the success and recognition achieved in 2022 is a precursor to even bigger things in the coming year,” Changweya said.
“We have set our focus on conquering the local and international business world even amidst the ongoing economic challenges in Zimbabwe.”
He said he was onto a multi-billion dollar venture, which will help turn around the fortunes of the country.
"I believe in the power of possibilities. Like Barack Obama said, yes we can and there is just no stopping us from here on. We are motivated by the positive feedback and happy clients that continue to flock our premises in Waterfalls as well as the Hardware shop along Simon Mazorodze in Harare.
“Conditions may not be as conducive, but we are going all out to turn around our fortunes as a business and fast-growing brand. We want to have presence in every city and town hence we believe the world is yet to see the best of Fumati Group," Changweya said.
Fumati Group’s flagship business is Fumati Engineering which specialises in mechanical engineering, structural engineering, steel fabrication and general engineering.
“Our flagship company Fumati Engineering has become one of the most sought after engineering companies in Zimbabwe with both blue chip companies and start-ups lining up for our services,” he said.
“Our workmanship is second to none and we are happy to play our part in building a stronger Zimbabwean economy. Whatever your needs Fumati Engineering is the plug.”
The company’s headquarters is in Waterfalls, Harare, but they have since opened a hardware shop along Simon Mazorodze Road where they sell their products, among them business equipment for various brands, doorframes and window frames, braai stands and other related hardware needs.
“Our factory is in Waterfalls and that is where we do all the production from scratch,” he said.
“We turn steel into gold and we are providing a one-stop shop for our clients.
“We have, however, opened a hardware shop so that our clients can enjoy our quality products in a comely environment.
“The shop is along Simon Mazorodze Road and it's easily accessible with good parking.”
Fumati Engineering is also tapping into the indigenisation and black empowerment drive that has birthed many entrepreneurs.
“The majority of our people are self-employed which means they actually produce and run their enterprises,” he said.
“They, however, need equipment like ‘freezit-making’ machines and peanut butter-making machines as well as grinding mills among others and we are producing all these at affordable rates.
“One just has to come through and we give them the available range.”
Fumati Group also has interests in food processing and they are setting up a poultry plant as well as other yet-to-be-publicised business ventures.
The young entrepreneur, who is a self-taught engineer, thanked those that showed him the ropes and believed in his dream early on.
“Yes, much of my engineering work was self-taught before I then enrolled with a professional engineering company, but I just want to thank those that believed in me and inspired me to soldier on,” he said.