I have this ongoing obsession for understanding people’s journeys. I’m curious on what it takes for one to rise from being just a dreamer to a doer. I have been fortunate as a ghostwriter to sit under the feet of so many people and listen as they trace their journeys for me.

Recently, I had the opportunity of listening to Dr. Bernard Kasekete’s life story and also witness some of his business exploits as my personal assistant and I also stayed at his resort in Mutoko. While, my PA (who doubles as my sister lol) and I can’t stop talking of the memorable experiences at Gohori resort, what stood out for me are the lessons that I have condensed into ten free mentorship lessons from this serial and successful entrepreneur.

10 Things I learnt for free from Dr Bernard Kasekete include:

1. Horizontal Gathering of Knowledge
He taught me that every experience in life is never brought to waste. His experience with events and working in hotels made him appreciate the beauty found in various places throughout the globe. This is highly displayed in the natural yet sophisticated architectural and landscape designs at his resort situated in Mutoko, Mashonaland East province in Zimbabwe.

It took him many decades between starting his first business and establishing a resort, but that doesn’t mean his knowledge disappeared with time, it all came full circle. The lesson for me was that, life is a journey and whatever I am learning each day will be put to good use one day even when it doesn’t look like it.

2. Charity Begins at Home
The number of relatives I saw being empowered were too many. Most people don’t want their families anywhere near their businesses but what I saw with Dr. Kasekete was way different. I also had the opportunity to talk to his mum who really described her son as someone who takes care of everyone.The love we received at his mother’s homestead showed us where it all came from and surely charity always begins at home.

3. Break History
Dr. Kasekete said that while growing up he always asked his father why he was so poor, a question which earned him a whooping. But he promised himself that he would not die a poor man. While his father passed away before he achieved what he has today, he always remembers that he broke that chain of poverty.

4. Multiple Streams of Income
Since the early 90s, Dr. Kasekete has ventured into various businesses and till this day he has his operations in various industries. He is an intelligent person who doesn’t believe in the totality of failure but bounces back. His operations are in tourism and hospitality, events, construction, among many others yet he remains a very humble human being that is ready to mentor the next generation.

5. Kindness is a deposit
As a participatory observant, I got to witness first-hand how he is so kind to everyone despite their background. People who identified his car would run to just talk to him and well they wouldn’t leave without ‘ka-mari ke beer’ (money for alcohol).

6. Protect the Environment
When I arrived at Gohori resort, I was transported into a realm of beauty. There are indigenous trees scattered all over and there are also exotic trees and flowers blooming together. That fusion of the local and global just makes this so special. Asking Dr. Kasekete he said, ‘We don’t cut trees unless it’s really necessary for infrastructure development. His team is always planting trees not just on the property but to reclaim soils on some eroded spaces outside the resort.

7. Take Risks
Like many entrepreneurs he has had to take risks at the onset of his business. From borrowing money to taking on partnerships that were risky. He said that while some risks were scary, they were worth it in the end. He still takes risks with each venture and it is paying off.

8. Forgive
As we discussed his journey, it became apparent that if you don’t forgive you may never be able to move on. He has faced so many incidents in his life where he had to forgive friends and mentors who had misused power because of access and age. He gave second and third chances to many. He has a motto he lives by that I think we can also borrow, “Each time you think you’re losing, you will be winning.”

9. Never Forget
You should never forget the people who helped you when you were down. It’s amazing how amnesia hits us the moment we add zeros to our networth. Some actually don’t want any association with their background of even people who opened doors when no one was around to even give them a second glance. In our discussion, he told me of how everyone who gave him a chance is well taken care of and how he made sure they know how grateful he is. From the people who gave him board, money, opportunities. It was not left on me that while this man is successful, he has remained a humble figure in his community. There is no air of insolence around him.

10. Don’t Give Up
Like everyone else, he has had doors closed before him and has received a lot of No’s, but he has never given up nor stopped pursuing his dreams. He is a beacon of hope and his territories have continued to rise beyond Zimbabwe into new areas and ventures. For me, that was a lesson learnt.

He had no idea that I was documenting all these and more as we got around our tour. Would I be a good journalist if I didn’t operate covertly, sometimes!

If you ever get to visit Zimbabwe, put Gohori resort on your schedule. From one day excursions like hiking, swimming, braaing, sip and paint as well as movie dates the selection is yours. I was on a short timeline but I managed to get the Mutoko spirit in me. I went for hiking and ensued sacred mountains and as a history geek I also managed to learn a lot of the local culture and appreciate the history that has been passed generations down without being documented.

I also managed to get a taste of the night life by attending a ‘Holy Ten’ show at one of the resorts. Joining the Gohori team we danced the night away and well I must say, I really had fun. Like, while huddled on my desk in Harare, I never get to take a second look at the entertainment scene except Television, maybe. I also just sat and enjoyed the cuisines at Gohori.

I’m still trying to shed a bit of weight because we were fed!! Anyway, this is my passion to learn and share. So any mentor who would like to take a trip with me, don’t hesitate to reach out and let’s inspire the world.

Email: hello@sympathymangwenya.com