Sitting on the executive committee of one of the world’s
biggest multi-national mining companies, July Ndlovu, refuses to let power go
to his head.
July Ndlovu is one of very few blacks to hold senior mining
post in SA.
“I am no different from the ordinary man on the street and I
would not call myself a successful person,” he says with true humility. “I am
just an ordinary man working very hard and I have been pretty fortunate to have
the opportunity to work with people who believe in me.
If the truth be told, there are many other people who are as
qualified as I am and others who are brighter, but are still nowhere near where
I am now.”
In his fourth year as Executive Head of Process, Member of
Executive Committee and Member of Operations Committee at Johannesburg Stock
Exchange-listed Anglo Platinum Ltd, Ndlovu (45) is one of very few blacks to
hold such a post in mining here.
With Anglo-Platinum being the world's leading primary
producer of platinum group metals and accounting for about 40 per cent of the
world's newly-mined platinum, Ndlovu’s phenomenal rise up its ladder cannot be
downplayed, even by the man himself.
Ndlovu, who graduated in Engineering and Business Leadership
from the Universities of Zimbabwe and South Africa respectively, and completed
the Senior Executive Programme with Columbia Business School, is also the
Chairman of Anglo’s Zimbabwean subsidiary, Unki Platinum, which resumed
operations late last year.
Cause for celebration
As the interview continues, Ndlovu begins to admit that his
status in business is something out of reach for an ordinary man. His rise from
a boy born to a poor peasant family in dusty Shurugwi, Zimbabwe’s Midlands
province, is real cause for celebration, a great inspiration to every
Zimbabwean, and indeed most Africans.
“I enjoy being in business, making money for my
shareholders, but I love more the fact that things that I do, such as the
company’s social responsibility, make a difference in society,” he says.
“Platinum group metals have gone a long way to solve some of
the society’s most intractable problems and being part of that makes me happy.”
Ndlovu gives credit to his poor parents, who kept him on the
straight and narrow and believed in the last-born of the family of six.
“In poor families, more often than not, the hopes and
aspirations for children is quite limited. But I was fortunate to be born to
parents who found it within themselves to believe and hope that their son could
do something much more than they had done themselves,” he says.
Simple faith
“I learnt that if you dream that you can be something else
in life, if you literally see beyond the horizon of the naked eye, have simple
faith and believe in your dreams – you can achieve great things.
“Each one of us was born with a gift to be the very best
that we can be. I realized that and worked through it and always had the
feeling that I should make better my today than my yesterday. I also sought and
got God’s blessings on my side.”
Ndlovu has worked for Anglo-Platinum for most of his life,
having had stints at ZimAlloys, Zimasco and Bindura Nickel Corporation, before
migrating to South Africa in an intra-company transfer in 2001.
He served as Business Manager of Polokwane Smelter and also
as its Head of Process Technology, before he rose to his present post in
September 2007.
He still has high hopes for his home country. Unki’s
operations are part of his grand plan to get Zimbabwe working again.
“It is pleasing to employ local people, contribute to local
economy and exploit resources for the common good of the Zimbabwean people.”
And the best way for a child to lay the foundation for a decent future?
“Education, education, education,” emphasizes Ndlovu.
“I would like to advice the youth to take their education
seriously because it is the only way through which they can open doors to
opportunity. To be able to play the game, you need to first get the ticket and
get in, and then you can start thinking about playing the game.”
Ndlovu also has advice for Zimbabweans in the Diaspora and
great predictions for Zimbabwe’s economic prospects.
“Getting a chance of a breakthrough will always be difficult
in a foreign land, but there are still vast opportunities opening up in
Zimbabwe, which we should take advantage of,” he says.
“Instead of killing ourselves trying to find work in foreign
lands, we should go back and leverage the skills we have acquired outside.
Every Zimbabwean who has lived outside the country has learnt something
valuable that they should consider giving back to their country. I have met
teachers who have become nurses and engineers who have become managers of
Zimbabweans in the Diaspora.
“Zimbabwe will reclaim its place as one of Africa’s best
economies, but that will take willingness, determination and selflessness on
the part of our leaders. Political divisions will not take us forward but only
drag us down. We need to stand together as Zimbabwean people to make progress.
Thank God we are not sinking any more.”
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