Musie's educational toys help her win Bambelela Business Awards

Ms Mbudzeni Musie, the owner of Vhutambo Edu-Pley, a shop based in Thohoyandou that specialises in educational toys, was among the 20 candidates selected to receive a share of R750,000 in funding from a well-known betting institution. The announcement was made at the third edition of the Bambelela Business Awards, held at the Fusion Boutique Hotel in Polokwane on Thursday, 18 January.

The event served as a platform to recognise and celebrate the achievements of local heroes who have made a positive impact on the communities of Limpopo. The event was attended by the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Rodgers Monama, members of the business fraternity, representatives from the Limpopo Gambling Board, and other stakeholders.

Mbudzeni  (46), a Thohoyandou native, shared that her love of toys, coupled with her growing up in an environment without access to toys, had prompted her to start her business. “As I grew up, I did not have toys because my family could not afford them. In our community, people thought of toys as something for fun only, not for learning purposes,” she said.

Her business, started in 2012 in Thohoyandou’s central business district, sells a range of educational toys and employs six people. She has recently ventured into manufacturing wooden puzzles.

Although this was her first involvement in the competition, she remained optimistic. “I was really hopeful and ready to give it my best shot,” she said.

When asked about what she believed had made her one of the winners, Mbudzeni  said, “I am sure it is because my business is having an impact on young learners. The art of playing with toys also assists in learning, and I believe this played a role in making me one of the winners.”

Despite being married with five children, Mbudzeni effectively manages her business. “We need to work hard and support each other, so that we can achieve our dreams,” she said.

Date:28 January 2024

By: Bernard Chiguvare

Bernard Chiguvare is a Zimbabwean-born journalist. He writes mainly for the online publication, Groundup.

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