Stuart Sangana, a 26-year-old entrepreneur, is defying odds and making a name for himself in the construction industry at Katima Mulilo. Despite his youthful age and lack of formal qualifications in construction, Sangana has already established a reputation as a skilled and visionary builder. His journey into the world of construction was an unexpected one. Initially aspiring to pursue a career in law, he was drawn to the industry by his late father, a seasoned construction professional.
“I would say I am the youngest constructor in Katima Mulilo. Honestly, it’s not easy being the youngest constructor because I face a lot of hate from some of the older people who have been in this industry for a long time. One thing I’ve noticed is that people don’t want to see young people progress in anything they undertake. But all in all, I stay true to myself, and focus on what’s right for me and my mental health. I’m most focused on residential construction, but in the near future, I want to venture into road and industrial construction. At the moment, I’m busy with a residential project that commenced a month ago, and so far, it’s going well,” he said.
He added that ever since he was young, he always wanted to be a lawyer, but things turned out differently because his late father was into construction. Every time after school, he would take him along to the projects that he was working on.
At first, he didn’t like it because of the physical labour involved in construction. But over time, he began to enjoy it, especially when working with the right people. When he completed high school, he had to upgrade, as he had failed his matric. He upgraded for a year, but things didn’t turn out as planned, and his late father decided he should join him in his construction business. That’s how his construction journey started.
“I would say I’ve been in this business for over six years. It was a tough journey, though. My late father was always my inspiration, and I had to follow in his footsteps and continue his legacy,” he said.
He further said: “The biggest challenges I face are from competitors who are always trying to undermine me by being negative and looking down on me, but that’s what motivates me to work harder.”
“Our team consists of six people: a managing director, a site manager, an architect, a driver, an assistant manager, and a surveyor. When it comes to projects, I prefer to sub-contract because it’s more cost-effective in the long run,” he stated.
The construction industry in the Zambezi region is now flooded with new entrants. What sets his company apart is its registration with FNB Insurance, and its status as a service provider in the Zambezi region and Kavango East/West.
“My advice for people who want to pursue construction is to study civil engineering because technology is constantly evolving. And always stay true to yourself,” he added.
-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na