By Violet Mashonga
When Leonard Makoshera rolls through his piggery in Nyanga South Constituency, barking instructions to workers and checking on his livestock, few would guess the long road that brought him here — or the obstacles he has had to overcome along the way.
Confined to a wheelchair since Grade Four, Leonard has refused to let his physical condition define his future.
Instead, he has built a thriving piggery business that now employs 10 people from the local community and contributes meaningfully to the rural economy.
“I always believed I could do something meaningful with my life,” Leonard says quietly, his confidence born not from ease, but from endurance.
His journey into farming began in 2015 with a simple dream: to own a productive agricultural project. For seven years, he searched unsuccessfully for land to lease or acquire.
Eventually, rather than give up, Leonard made a bold decision — to develop a small piece of land he already owned in his rural home area.
With the unwavering support of his wife and inspiration drawn from renowned piggery farmer Gogo Nyagano, Leonard launched his piggery project in 2022. What started as a modest venture has grown into a well-structured operation.
Today, his farm has 36 sow units, 15 pigsties, and records monthly sales of 40 to 60 porkers. His ambitions stretch even further. Leonard plans to expand to 100 sow units by 2027, and 500 sow units by 2030, in line with the country’s Vision 2030.
To achieve this, he says access to more land will be critical, particularly to grow his own feed and reduce production costs.
Beyond profits, Leonard’s project has become a lifeline for the surrounding community. It has created jobs, supported local builders and suppliers, and opened a steady market for maize grown by nearby farmers.
His impact extends even further — Leonard drilled a borehole that now supplies clean water to villagers and installed Starlink internet, primarily to help school-going children access online learning and research.
For Leonard, success is not measured only in numbers, but in lives touched.
“Being physically challenged doesn’t mean inability,” he says. “Follow your dreams, your goals, your ambitions. Your physical condition should never be a barrier to growth or success.”
Leonard Makoshera’s story is one of resilience, faith, and quiet determination.
From a wheelchair to a growing piggery empire, he stands as living proof that with perseverance and support, limitations can be transformed into stepping stones — not just for oneself, but for an entire community.
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