Mbabane– African philosopher and entrepreneur Joshua Maponga III has challenged Eswatini’s business community to stop pursuing money as an end in itself and instead focus on passion, innovation and decisive action, arguing that sustainable wealth follows those who solve real problems.
Speaking at the Ignite Eswatini Gala hosted by Business Eswatini at the Happy Valley Thursday evening, Maponga delivered a keynote address themed “Sow or Starve: The African Entrepreneur as a Farmer of Thought,” where he urged the business community to cultivate their minds before pursuing profits.
Addressing B E membership and the media, Maponga said the greatest asset any business possesses is not capital but the quality of its thinking.
“Populate your mind with correct information. Learn to learn, but also be prepared to unlearn so that you can learn again,” he said.
He argued that many entrepreneurs lose sight of the purpose that inspired them to start their businesses, becoming consumed by marketing, expansion or the pursuit of revenue while neglecting the core value they set out to provide.
“Don’t look for money; look for passion. Money follows passion,” he said, encouraging businesses to reconnect with the purpose that gave birth to their enterprises.
Maponga also challenged entrepreneurs to bridge the gap between ideas and implementation, describing execution as the true measure of success.
“My definition of success is reducing the distance between what you think and what you do,” he said. “Don’t keep saying it’s in the pipeline. Cut the pipe and get things done,” he emphasized.
He further warned against defining success through material possessions, saying expensive brands, luxury vehicles and status symbols cannot replace character, integrity and innovation.
“The world of material will never satisfy you if your heart is empty,” he said, urging the business fratenity to invest in personal growth and ethical leadership rather than outward appearances.
Calling on business leaders to embrace lifelong learning, Maponga cautioned against relying on outdated knowledge in an economy that is rapidly evolving through technology and innovation.
“You cannot run a 2026 business with a 1955 mindset,” he said, stressing the need for continuous learning and upgrading one’s skills and thinking.
He concluded by encouraging businesses to foster innovation within their organizations by inspiring employees to imagine new possibilities and transform ideas into practical solutions.
The Ignite Eswatini Gala brought together members of the business community for an evening focused on leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation, with Maponga’s address centred on the idea that Africa’s future competitiveness will depend on entrepreneurs who cultivate thought, passion and action as carefully as farmers cultivate their fields.
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