By Virginia Njovo
While his agemates are busy playing with toys and video games, eight-year-old Tanyaradzwa Mabhanda is defying expectations, turning wrenches and fixing engines mastering intricacies of motor mechanics at his father’s workshop.
Tanyaradzwa, a grade four pupil at Francis Aphiri Primary School in Masvingo town is determined at his age that he wants to be a mechanic and says he got inspiration from his father Johannes Mabhanda.
The boy says he is proud to be working alongside his father at their family company, Mabhanda Motors.
“My father inspired me to do this job though I am yet to be a professional. I used to come to my father’s workshop during the holidays just to give him company while doing his work which is when I started to develop interest in mechanics,” said Tanyaradzwa.
He said he would pursue motor mechanics at college as he has developed passion for the trade.
“I want to study motor mechanics in college. I want to follow in my father’s footsteps and I hope to become one of the best mechanics in Masvingo and Zimbabwe,” he said.
His father, Johannes Mabhanda said his son had shown great potential in mechanics as he only started learning about mechanics about a year ago when he was in grade three during school holidays when he would accompany him to work but has since mastered various tasks including assisting in disassembling a car engine.
“Tanyaradzwa is now able to disassemble an engine, changing wheels of a car strategically, changing oil from vehicles and identifying a problem a car is having as well identifying the tools which are used during some of the operations,” said Johannes.
Johannes said he was grateful that in a world where jobs are scarce and innovation was crucial for survival, his young boy was following his footsteps career wise.
“I am proud of my son since it was my dream to have one of my children become a mechanic and uphold the legacy of Mabhanda Motors even after my departure from this world,” said Johannes.
His father said Tanyaradzwa said his son was an average student in school and hopes that doing mechanics would be an advantage to him as he had committed to teaching him the trade and help him be a master in the industry.
“Since Tanyaradzwa has already identified his strength, I am committed to supporting his journey to mastering the key skills required in the industry and I am keen to mentor him throughout his journey till he become a professional in this field,” said Johannes.
Johannes further said his son had shown traits of innovation since he has developed other skills to improvise in some procedures that might be heavier for him since he is still young.
“As for other duties which might be heavier for him he has come up with his own strategies to do other jobs which may need more strength as well as safety mechanisms for example when changing wheels on bigger cars,” said Johannes.
Innovation is one of the most vital ingredients for success in the modern world where there is a demand for critical skills. Zimbabwe is currently implementing a competence based curriculum which seeks to develop learners ready for life and work in a globalised environment and Tanyaradzwa is already ahead of his peers in this.
