Makawa combines vehicle repairs, fitness

In 2020, when musician Lawi engaged an extra gear to perform on the highest point in Central Africa, Sapitwa on Mulanje Mountain, the then Minister of Tourism Michael Usi joined the Voice of the Mountain Hike.

For many, it was doubtful for the two to make it on the three-day trek to the peak, 3 002 metres above sea level. Yet, they made it to the peak on time.

Before the trek, Usi was groomed by Gringer Ishmael Makawa, a fitness and wellness trainer who owns Makawa Fitness Centre in Lilongwe.

And during last year’s Miss Malawi beauty contest, Makawa was the fitness trainer for the 12 contestants during their boot camp in Salima. Not only has he been part of long treks like the long walk from Bunda Hill in Lilongwe to the Soche Hill in Blantyre, he was also on the first team of hikers who went up to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.

Apart from conducting walk-ins as well as tailored f itness and wellness programmes for individuals at Makawa Fitness Centre, he has also been a judge in the body-building Mr. Malawi contest.

However, the fitness aspect only compliments his core business, as he runs Chibiso Motors at Biwi Triangle in Lilongwe, specialising in motor vehicle mechanics, panel beating, spray painting, auto body polishing, detailing, upholstery, auto-valeting.

“I have seen both businesses evidently prosper and grow. Through the years I have become more resilient and able to reap good things amidst challenges. I run Chibiso Motors with my two brothers; one is operating a similar business in Durban, Stevie Panel Beaters and another one in Midrand, Johannesburg, Patricks Panel Beaters.

“These two branches in South Africa opened in 2005. So you can see we have vast experience in this business. And that’s one of our secrets: We get experts from South Africa who groom my local panel beaters and spray painters. These two brothers are the pillars of Chibiso Motors,” says Makawa, who hails from Zomba.

A holder of a Bachelor’ Degree in Business Administration (Marketing) from Zanzibar University, Makawa recalls that he started buying equipment for the gym in 2007 when he was working as a bank clerk for the First Merchant Bank (now First Capital Bank). Before going full throttle in business, he also worked as an area manager at Farmers World Group and later Forhan Snow International where he worked as a regional sales manager.

Says Makawa: “I have always been a fitness enthusiast since my days at Moyale Barracks Secondary School. Coming from a family where my father was a soldier, my sister was a boxer while my sister was an athlete; these issues are in our DNA. I ventured into motor vehicle services industry in 2015 when I launched Chibiso Motors.”

Born in a family of eight, where he is the sixth, Makawa adds that he has always been interested in motor vehicle mechanics since he was a little boy.

Things took a turn in 2018 when his boss wanted him to be transferred to Blantyre. “This didn’t go down well with me and we decided to end the contract mutually. That is when I started pushing at Chibiso Motors on full time basis,” looks back the father of two.

He does not regret going into business and says he is proud that both businesses have grown in the past years and have grown their clientele from individuals to companies, government institutions and insurance service providers.

“There was a time we could stay for over two weeks without servicing any car but now I am ever busy. So you can see that we have grown a lot. We owe it all to our partners and clients who believed and still believe in us,” he says.

Just as in any business venture , Makawa acknowledges he faces. He cites devaluation, lack of forex and rising prices of goods as some of the problems affecting his affairs. Some pulling down, he says, comes from friends who ‘become over-amicable and either end up not paying or consistently delaying payments’.

The fitness aspect also comes with the challenge that some female clients shun paying dues and there is a general misconception that fitness trainers are womanisers.

For him, the two businesses complement each other but Chibiso is the main business, where he works full time from 7.30am to 5pm.

“Fitness is just my passion, which I do as part time. That is early in the morning or after knocking off from Chibiso Motors. Additionally, Chibiso Motors provides maintenance tips or workshops on vehicle care to gym members, fostering a sense of community and adding value to their membership. In this modern era, the overuse of vehicles often comes at the detriment of individuals’ health and well-being,” he says.

According to him, being a fitness trainer he prioritises on the holistic wellness of his clients, which extends beyond workouts to encompass their daily habits and activities.

“Recognising the impact of sedentary lifestyles and excessive reliance on vehicles, I aim to empower my customers to enjoy driving while also maintaining good health. Through education, encouragement, and tailored fitness strategies, I strive to ensure that their time behind the wheel contributes positively to their overall well-being, creating a symbiotic relationship between physical fitness and daily mobility,” declared Makawa.

An admirer of business moguls like Karim Masul of K Motors, Thom Mpinganjira, Napoleon Dzombe, Peter Simbi, prophet Shepherd Bushiri, Makawa urges those thinking of going into business to fear nothing and take a step and not seek to enjoy life when they are only building themselves.

He sees Chibiso Motors as a number one stop repair shop for everyone.