Thanks for being an employer, Mavoko told
Mavoko catering managing director and founder hailed for employing people
Benson Ntlemo
Granny Tinyiko Catherine Zitha, of Giyani Township in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality in Limpopo Province who owns Mavoko catering company never saw the four walls of a class room from inside.
But did not get her down as she is an employer who has employed many people.
Because of her illiteracy, she realised that she was not eligible for any job.
As such she created her own employment when she started her company Mavoko (means hands) in which she and her employees used their hands.
The company’s reputation is high and as such it is a dominant catering company operating in both Mopani and Vhembe districts in Limpopo, doing catering services at funerals and parties.
Her company is very popular as each weekend different teams from the company work at different events.
Last weekend there was an unveiling of tombstone ceremony after her husband Khazamula Olters Zitha died last year.
In the event, her late husband’s brother Ben Zitha praised her for being a good person whose family was visited by everyone in the family.
He said: “I have not said this but I say thanks to you for helping the government in employing many our people.”
Zitha senior added that people usually take for granted when someone does something does good and keep quiet.
“It is not easy to get job but you have employed many people who are able to drive the world away from the door, “he said.
Tinyiko Catherine Zitha is running a catering company Mavoko that employs 27 fulltime and 160 part time workers.
The name of the company means hands in Xitsonga.
“I did not go to school but I must work with my hands,” she says.
She grew up herding cattle and goats with boys and her father did not want her to go to school.
He wanted lobola and felt that girls who go to school end up getting pregnant and their parents never get lobola money.
She later made sure her lack of education does not become a handicap.
Mavoko, as she is called after the name of her company, is also an executive member of the local street committee as well as being in the executive of a burial society.
Her reputation as an illiterate person who makes gone has reached near and far.
Five years ago she received an invitation from Women4Africa to go to its England’s headquarters to attend an event in The Great Hall, Kensington to receive an award.
Because of her tight schedule at her work, she did not manage to go there to rub shoulders with Africa’s top women leaders such as Catherine Uju Ifejika Nigeria’s top oil billionaire who is possibly Africa’s richest woman.
She was excited after receiving a letter signed by Tola Onigbanjo, the founder of Women4Africa.
Her sister in law Maria Ndebezitha also praised Mavoko for her kind nature and generosity.
“She is an in hearted woman and whenever I come to her home I am free to do like I am at home,” she said.
She also remembered her late brother as a forth right person who was also close to his wife.
“I am proud that after he passed on, you were able to erect the tombstone my brother deserved,” said Maria Ndabezitha.
