By Staff Reporter
FOR many who last met him at High School thought because he did not progress further with his studies, his journey to the top was shuttered. Theirs was the belief that one cannot excel outside the conservative social set up.
His name is Ken Sharpe, an entrepreneur who has become a household name in the country’s real estate sector who is widely reputed for introducing game changing innovations which have redefined the country’s property market landscape.
Through a company he founded in 2007 ,WestProp Holdings Limited has grown to become a multi-award-winning luxury properties developer and has been leading the property development industry in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The company made history by becoming the first property development concern to list on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange on the 29th of April 2023.
With over sixteen years of experience in real estate development in Zimbabwe with a portfolio of completed and under-construction projects, the company’s strategic plan to develop real estate worth over US$5 billion is now in full swing with more than 1,000 residential units namely, Homeland 263, Pokugara Clusters Phase 1 and 2, Pokugara Residential homes/stands, Gunhill Rise, Pomona City stands phase 1A and phase 1B and C, Millennium Heights Apartments Block 1, 2,3 and 4.
The company’s retail development, Mbudzi Market, was completed in 2015 and is operational and fully let.
But who really is Ken Sharpe and what has driven him to such unimaginable heights?
The business leader recently told delegates at the Sharpe Business Academy (SBA)( a business training institution he founded to assist youngsters from under privileged backgounds to pursue their dreams ) that he never gave up on his dreams.
“The biggest reason why people give up, why people slow down, or why people don’t reach their potential is being afraid i.e fear. Afraid that they aren’t good enough. Afraid that they will fail. Afraid that they aren’t qualified,” he said.
The revered entrepreneur told the youngsters that t God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies those who are called.
He drew eaxamples from the stories of Moses, David, Paul, Noah, Joseph and Samuel underscoring that when one is called ,God qualifies him for the tasks.
“These stories in the Bible speak of people who were fearful. People who lacked faith. People who were nobodies that became somebodies because of God’s plan.
“I’m not qualified, I dropped out of school after my O levels and only by the grace of God can I now consider myself an Alum of Havard Business School. I know early on in my life growing up I felt I was a nobody and many called me exactly that! That would say you are no one and will come to nothing.
“I too had fears. But now when I look back I know it is God who made me into somebody and enlarged my territory more than I could have imagined. He has called me to his purpose and that is why I am here today and have nothing to fear because when God is with you who can stand against you !,” said Sharpe.
He underscored that God doesn’t call you when you’re ready to be called but calls you when it is time. It isn’t always ideal for you, but it’s what’s necessary.
The entrepreneur said posture of confidence because if not for the grace and mercy of God he would not have been like this – which he said it humbles him and allows him to never think he is greater than another.
The property market tycoon said short term vision is to day by day live most fully today what God has called you to do and long term vision is to set your eyes on the prize and finish the race. He said at SBA the most important element taught in the final paper is a strategy statement of a singular prize or goal to go after .
He said on his part , at WestProp Holdings, they developed the 1 billion brick vision by 2050.
“ In Proverbs 29-18 it says “ where there is no vision the people perish”.Ask God to give you a clear vision today and then focus on it to go for it with all you have Don’t let your vision limit you – at SBA when I invited Dr Ru from Washington DC to come back to Zim it was not to achieve my vision which was to have 10 000 SBA alumn but for her to now own her vision of 1 million! One million millionaires is 1 trillion dollars and that’s the potential of SBA!,” added Sharpe.
