Winning is a challenge to

Speaking after being announced the winner on Friday evening at an occasion held at the Royal Villas, Masuku said this was just the beginning of a long journey in his career path of fulfilling his passion for tourism.

Masuku is the Director of Ekhaya Cultural Tours, a tour operator business that is still at its infant stage.

Masuku said his career in the tourism industry started after completing high school.

He said he worked for a number of companies in the tourism sector such as Mlilwane Wild Life Sanctuary and eventually started his own small business as a tour operator.

"It was not at all easy. Business was quite slow. Fortunately, I was then discovered by Director of Swazi Trails Darron Raw and that is where I gained more skills and expertise to run my business. Through working in these companies, I was fortunate enough to travel to countries such as Tanzania and France where I learnt Swahili and French and this somehow enhanced my business as I am now able to converse with foreigners," he explained when giving some insight about how he started his career.

Masuku asserted that he had always had a passion for tourism, one that even encompasses cooking for them.

As part of his prize package, Masuku received a seed capital of E125 000, plus E10 000 for making it to the top 25.

"I will use this capital to expand my business. This will enable me to employ more Swazis, grow the tourism sector and ultimately contribute to the economic development of the country. I want to go large on the tour operations and bring on board other Swazis who share my passion," he elaborated.

Masuku won in the USAID funded competition hosted by TechnoServe after writing and presenting a sound tourism related business plan competition.

He was part of 36 other participants who took part in this year’s competition.

… he definitely has passion for tourism - former winner

This was said by former winner of the Believe Begin Become (BBB) business plan competition Mduduzi Dludlu when congratulating this year’s winner Mandla Masuku.

Dludlu said it was easy to tell that Masuku has a strong passion for the industry, especially when listening to what he has to say about the business he has just established.

"He has a lot of confidence and I like that in him. I can see his passion for the industry and this is very important because for you to win, you must have passion for what you are doing," he said.

Dludlu is involved in goat rearing and goes to the extent of producing dairy products out of goat milk.