The Solutions Man: Zimbabwe’s enthusiastic techno-preneur set to change the World

Many of us, upon acquiring a skill or discovering a natural talent, succumb to the temptation of self-promotion and revel in the fleeting glory of admiration. Yet, Innocent Mafusire’s story defies this trend. He is a testament to the transformative power of knowledge, proving that greatness can emerge from unexpected corners. Who could have imagined that Chiredzi, a seemingly ordinary place, would nurture such a remarkable mind, dedicated to sharing knowledge for the betterment of all?

Born Knowledge Innocent Mafusire in Chiredzi, the young man displayed a captivating blend of intelligence and social energy from his earliest days. Attending Chitiyo Primary School and Chiredzi Government School respectively, Innocent consistently topped his classes, earning first position every term throughout his primary education. His parents must have felt immense pride witnessing such academic brilliance blossom.

Driven by a passion for exploration and technology, Innocent’s love for gadgets manifested early. This led him to pursue Electronic Engineering at the Harare Institute of Technology. Immersed in the world of solutions, Innocent thrived. As he recalls, by his third year, his expertise had reached such a level that even his seniors sought his guidance on projects.

“I have always been the solutions man. Even as a third-year student, I was already consulting on projects for seniors, and I also started programming as a product,” he said.

Innocent’s entrepreneurial spirit blossomed early. While still a student, he established a small business repairing laptops and importing and supplying components. This laid the foundation for what would later become KIMTRONIX GLOBAL. His efficiency and competence attracted many fellow students eager to learn from his expertise. He generously offered his knowledge, leading many of them to achieve distinctions in their studies. However, life back in Chiredzi and even in Harare presented challenges. To overcome these hurdles, Innocent opted to stay with his friend Mutero Lewin and his family during semester breaks instead of returning home.

“The Mutero family was my second home. I felt welcome, and I am always grateful for them.”

Undeterred by life’s challenges, Innocent’s academic excellence continued into his tertiary education. Graduating from the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) in 2017 with a first-class degree in Electronic Engineering, he also distinguished himself as the best student in security and surveillance. His exceptional projects consistently received the highest marks. For Innocent, this was merely the beginning. One might wonder, with such an impressive transcript, whether Innocent ever considered traditional employment. Interestingly, he only attended one job interview, an experience he recounts with a chuckle.

“I applied for a job and had a successful interview. The offer was not pleasing but the biggest thing was that they wanted me to dress formally to work. I hated the idea of being in a suit, tie and tucking in every day.”

With a clear vision to revolutionize Zimbabwe’s technology landscape by developing modern hardware and software systems, Innocent decided to embark on his entrepreneurial journey. Leveraging his strong social network, he secured a cubicle space at Fairview Mall, equipped with just his computer, and commenced operations by supplying components to colleges. Joining him in this endeavor was his close friend and business partner, Tafadzwa Mutsamba. Mutsamba, Innocent’s junior in high school, had honed his web design skills to a level surpassing even his mentor.

Their combined talents and intelligence laid the groundwork for a company poised to make significant strides in Zimbabwe’s technology sector. Fueled by success, the business expanded, leading them to relocate to ZimPost’s shared offices, initially claiming half a standard room. This move reignited Innocent’s passion for sharing his knowledge. Among their colleagues was a man with twins, Marthel and Marvel. Recognizing their potential, Mafusire took them under his wing, guiding them in the world of technology. Soon, the twins were confidently utilizing components, demonstrating the transformative power of knowledge.

Mafusire generously provided the twins with everything they needed for their learning journey, most importantly, his passionate guidance. Their dedication and talent soon caught the attention of the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ). Impressed by their proposed project, “The Spike Project,” the TSCZ fully sponsored Marthel and Marvel for two terms, including their education and travel across Zimbabwe.

Over the years, countless students nurtured by Innocent Mafusire have achieved outstanding academic success. From distinctions and first-class degrees to international recognition through the Zimbabwe Science Fair, his commitment to education has left a remarkable impact on young minds. An outstanding story is that of Tawananyasha Samupfava who started training with Kimtronix Global as young as Grade 5 and has won several accolades and outshined at the Zimbabwe Science Fair. Part of his students are even in the process of writing a film that is tech-centred called The Future. Its storyline is based on the battle of two innovation companies. Now that’s interesting and gives me the first front-row seat on its premiere. It is yet to be filmed.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, when mask-wearing became a global norm, Innocent Mafusire garnered widespread attention for his innovative solution: a system for remote temperature checks and sanitation. This timely invention, addressing a critical need of the era, was readily adopted by a local organization, further solidifying Innocent’s reputation as the “Solutions Man.”

Innocent Mafusire’s company, KIMTRONIX Global, is poised to become a leading innovator, developing bespoke systems that meet the specific needs of the industry and provide cutting-edge solutions for young people. KIMTRONIX is a combination of “Knowledge” with “Innocent Mafusire Tshuma,” where “Tshuma” represents his totem. The writer is a nephew of the Tshuma (Gwai) people and can attest that Mukuruvambwa men are the most generous and kind-hearted souls, the reason why Innocent has a passion for seeing others excelling and being better than him. Passion and experience have seen him rise fast and dominate in his avenue. A devout Christian, Innocent attributes his success to his unwavering faith in God. He never imagined reaching such heights, but his unwavering dedication and reliance on divine guidance have paved the way for his remarkable journey.

“It came with its challenges but maintaining stability is the biggest thing to do. When you see your employees happy every day then you know you are doing a good job as a team leader,” he said.

Innocent has built KIMTRONIX Global around the core values of teamwork and continuous learning. His vision for the future extends beyond sustainability, aiming to expand across Africa and eventually the globe, offering innovative solutions to diverse markets. Reflecting on his journey, the insightful Mafusire admits surprise at the opportunity to serve some of the world’s biggest organizations. He firmly believes in the power of good deeds. He ironically says,

“I don’t expect to make much come to it naturally.”

The innovations continue as he continuously sets the pace in terms of technology in Zimbabwe. Humble beginnings, passion, hard work, and good deeds sum up the continuing story of Knowledge Innocent Mafusire.