Kwabatsha ventures into SME business
By Zandile Zaza Ndlovu
House music artiste and producer Trust Gumbo popularly known as Kwabatsha of the hit song Bhachi is defying the odds of struggling musicians by becoming an SME.
The music industry being the hardest hit by the economic woes Zimbabwe is currently facing, most artistes find it difficult to earn a living and sustain their musical careers.
Tickets sales to concerts and the ever prevailing threat of piracy, erode the already minute income for most musicians.
A few are running visibly successful clothing businesses like Sandra Ndebele and Cindy Munyavi, while others like Simon Mambazo Phiri opt to events management and hiring companies.
Kwabatsha is defying the odds by opening a mobile kitchen named Delicious Hot Meals.
He describes himself as a performing artiste, entrepreneur, events coordinator and arts consultant.
Not wanting to place all his eggs in one basket, Kwabatsha is a typical Zimbabwean balancing various income generating streams.
He runs the Kwabatsha dance and music institute that trains artistes and individuals while on the musical side he has produced a number of house music hit songs which have enjoyed huge airplay in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Songs like Zvangu zvamuka featuring DJ Mash O (SA), Zvadadamuka feat DJ Aero Manyelo (SA), Gochi Gochi feat Famous 4 produced by Dj Fingerman both (SA) Magitare feat DJ and producer Laninah Benz (Botswana), Nyama yeku gocha featuring Khuxman produced by Djembe Monks (Zimbabwe) and Ndotofaro chete feat Xelimpilo (Uhuru) produced by Mono T(Kalawa, SA).
He also works closely with universities in and beyond Zimbabwe as part of the curriculum research development team under the ministry of education.
Kwabatsha’s new venture Delicious Hot Meals is a mobile food business located at the New Magwegwe bus terminus.
The business is set to generate income meant sustain his family as well as his arts projects as they are seasonal in generating income.
He said he believes one must give back to the community thus by providing a reliable and efficient service to the public. The mobile food service will see him also provide hot meals during events, festivals and workshops.
“It is important and essential for artistes to have various ways of generating income as our trade demands a lot finance, time and effort compared to the reward or revenue that we generate after selling or showcasing the production,” he said.
According to Zimstat’s 2013 survey, 90% of businesses run in Bulawayo are SME with 70% contributing to the GDP of the nation.
