In a country where many young people are leaving in search of greener pastures, one young man is choosing to stay, build, and rewrite the narrative. At just 22 years old, Irvin Godwin Karenyi, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Zimbabwe, is not only pursuing his studies but also running his own company, Mhatso Facility Services.

In this exclusive interview with Ronald Gwatido (RG), Irvin (IK) talks about purpose, faith, vision, and how he plans to leave a lasting legacy through entrepreneurship.

RG: Briefly introduce yourself
IK: I’m Irvin Godwin Karenyi, a 22-year-old boy born and raised in Mutare. I’m a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Zimbabwe, and the founder & CEO of Mhatso Facility Services. We specialize in construction, real estate development, land & landscaping designs, and facility services and maintenance. My passion lies in creating practical, youth-driven solutions for Zimbabwe’s future.

RG: Let’s dive straight into it, when did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur?
IK: I started to think of myself as an entrepreneur late year, end of 2023.
I was always finding myself reading and researching about entrepreneurial ventures and opportunities. I started participating in business webinars, going to hosted conferences, and that was when I confirmed to myself that I was in the right place, and it was time for me to start writing my own story.

RG: I understand MHATSO is your brainchild. Talk to us about that.
IK: MHATSO, meaning “Home” in the Shona language, pays tribute to the warmth and hospitality that defines the community that I grew up in. Growing up amongst the Manyika people, I was inspired by the tribe’s values of unity, resilience, and care for one another and hence the name MHATSO and our motto: “Your Space, Our Care.” So MHATSO was born from a passion to bridge the gap between traditional values and modern service excellence.
So the services we offer are all about making people feel at home wherever they are, whether indoors or outdoors, and that is why we made our mission to be “To enhance the living, playing and working environments of our customers through services that reflect our commitment to sustainability, excellence, innovation, and community well-being.”
We specialize in civil & construction, real estate, landscaping, and facility services maintenance for both commercial and residential properties.

RG: So why did you choose the construction industry?
IK: I can’t call it a choice, though I always wanted to venture into construction as a kid. I remember one night on 28 October 2024, when I was sleeping, a dream came to me and in that dream I had raised and was the owner of the biggest construction and facility services company. Outside my business was a lot of heavy-duty machinery, and as I was walking around, multitudes of people were around, branded with the same colours, and were all waiting to hear from me.
I woke up from the dream at around half-past one a.m. and wrote the dream down in my WhatsApp chat. I told my friend, Tadiwanashe, about it, then my sister Lyn also.
All nights that followed after that were just heavyweights for me—sometimes I would think of it and other times I would dream of it. I could rarely sleep, and for my peace, I took a step of researching more about the combined industries that I was to venture into—opportunities, market trends and caps, risks associated with them, etc.
October passed, and 2 December came—my birthday—and that’s when I made a promise to myself: that out of all business ideas I were to pursue, MHATSO was to be launched first and in 2025.
And when the year 2025 started, I fulfilled the promise I made to myself, and started making a dream that I believe God had given me into reality, with HIM as my Father of course.

RG: How has that been received by peers your age and even your parents and family?
IK: Everyone has been supportive. My mom had some fears, like “Irvin is so young, he has an engineering degree to complete, so then how is he going to handle that—both business and school?” She was worried because she loves me—one of the people who does it genuinely.
Then all other close relatives and friends have been supportive too—kind words, commenting on posts and reposting on their social media accounts—and that meant a lot to me.
On that, I appreciate mostly and daily a friend who became a brother to me—MHATSO’s Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder, Tadiwanashe Muriritirwa.
He has been supportive since day one, and he has been pushing me to become the best version of myself. He believed in the vision before anyone else did. I appreciate him.

RG: How are you then balancing with school?
IK: Time allocation, proper planning, I think these have been vital for me.
Before going to bed, I plan my day ahead, and that lets me know the things I’m to do—what’s important and what’s not. It’s stressful but surely manageable. For me, pressure is a privilege, because it clearly tells me that a lot is expected of me. And as a man who wishes to leave a lasting legacy in the business world and positively impact millions and millions of people, it is important for me to learn to perform best under pressure.

RG: Who can you say was your biggest inspiration to kick-start this journey?
IK: My journey was deeply inspired by my faith in God. He inspired the vision, He provided the direction, and gave me the strength to act.
Then again, the desire to retire my mother from working year-round in a foreign land—South Africa—to make all ends meet, has been an inspiration. She has been working there for more than my age, from being a cross-border trader to working as a house helper just to make sure I and my sister had a better education. It is my duty as a son to make sure that she comes home and lives the best lifestyle possible.

RG: Where do you wish for MHATSO to be one day?
IK: I envision MHATSO growing into a multinational corporation that leads in every sector we operate in—that is, in construction, real estate, landscaping and designs, and facilities services and management. I want MHATSO to be recognized as the foremost creator of comforting sanctuaries, not just building spaces, but shaping environments that uplift lives and communities.
Ultimately, my deepest wish is for MHATSO to leave a lasting impact on people’s lives—creating jobs, raising standards, inspiring young entrepreneurs, and becoming a brand that represents excellence, trust, and transformation across Africa and beyond.

RG: How do you intend to make a difference in Zimbabwe through entrepreneurship?
IK: I’m going to raise a lot of entrepreneurs by simply identifying them at tender ages, and equipping them with the right knowledge and skills, as well as exposing them and giving them chances to learn from industry bests.
Currently I’m working on an idea for a non-profit organisation that is going to help kids and youth to become better versions of themselves by basically making themselves valuable, because I have seen it as something that many of the youth are lacking—that is, value. If a firm or company doesn’t see the value you bring to the table, then how do you expect to get paid? People don’t just pay for your time; they pay for the value you give during that time.
So, through that and other investment opportunities that I intend to make available for the youth, I believe I’m going to be a voice that speaks to hearts and minds—a voice that makes the FUTURE a NOW—and definitely I will make a difference not just in Zimbabwe but globally.

RG: Any word of advice or parting words?
IK: I would just love to encourage people that whatever you do, do it with God.
Always pray, because life is more spiritual than it is physical.
And to fellow brothers and sisters, like I have been told, I will pass it to them too:
Always carry the three P’s to succeed in life:

1. Passion
2. Persistence
3. Patience