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Parent’s teachings manifest into businesses for Duduzile Tshekela-Zongwana

By Simbongile Mdledle

Growing up, in Tela village, emaXesibeni, in the Alfred Nzo District, Duduzile Tshekelea-Zongwana had little or no time for friends. The little free time she had, she would utilise it by gardening. After all, that’s what her parents taught and instilled in her mind, the importance of land because they believed that is where wealth lies.
Dudu as she is affectionately known revealed that she never really enjoyed youth life because she was always busy in the garden with her parents. “I used to witness boys and girls gallivanting on the streets, meanwhile, the only opportunity I had to be rebellious as an expected teen was at school,” said Dudu. She told the Informer that her routine meant waking up in the early hours of the morning to water vegetables in the garden before embarking on to school.

In the afternoon, she never looked forward to anything at home because there was nothing exciting to look forward to because that is how dull life was. Watering plants and cook dinner for her parents was a norm in her childhood life. Things changed for Dudu when she enrolled for a teacher’s course in University. She completed her diploma in education; got a job and after and later got married.

Despite being a graduate, her parents maintained the importance of farming and using the land. In her mind, when she graduated it meant the days of being covered with sticky mud were over. Nevertheless, the teachings of her parents haunted her until the mother of four took a decision to have a small garden in her matrimony home in Gxulu, Libode. Now Dudu ploughs a big garden and has poultry farming.

She is amongst the respected and celebrated woman in this women’s month because in the process or rising she has also lifted people within her community through employment and skills. She started her project of poultry with 50 chickens but now owns thousands of chickens, supplying in the towns like, Mthatha, Libode, Ngqeleni and many localities.

“Our diamond and gold is in the land, so we need to use the land to make life easier. Our parents were right because they were not buying everything from the shops, as they believed in using the land and get something fresh to eat from the soil. Wake up and starts your projects or whatever is in your mind, government will find you along the way with assistance,” she said. Now Tshekela-Zongwana wakes up every morning to work in the garden after that, feeds her chickens before preparing children, her husband and herself to go to work.

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