12/12/2023
There is a saying that states “Every person you meet is an opportunity waiting to happen. This happened to ring very true for me yesterday (11th December 2023).
My day started with a visit to the office of Luanshya District Commissioner, Mr Oncemore Ngonomo, then went to the Luanshya Central Constituency office, where I had a brief meeting with the area MP’s assistant, Mr Godfrey Ngulube, before having a very interesting chat in the afternoon with Mr Mike Munyoro.
I am very familiar with Mr Ngonomo, because he runs an open door policy that is seemingly unprecedented in public offices. He is always available to hear anyone with no prior appointment. The advice he has given will always be of value to myself (and I hope to those that engage with him). He is an asset to Luanshya, though that may be considered just my opinion.
Mr Ngulube as well was an engaging figure, who lent me his ear and listened to what I had to say about the state of basketball in Luanshya (those who know me know I am passionate about basketball). I look forward to engaging with him again, and at a later date, with the area MP.
Mr Munyoro, however, was a very interesting and fruitful meet. I happened upon him by chance as he was supervising works outside the swimming pool area. I had an interest in having a look at what was happening there, as I had earlier taken a walk around the grounds of the Roan Antelope Recreation Club (RARC). I was specially impressed with what was taking place at the Roan Antelope Rugby Club.
I asked the man seated on a concrete ledge for a way to have a look at the swimming pool infrastructure, and he offered to give me a tour. As we made our way through the squash club arena, he introduced himself as Mike Munyoro. I had heard the name, but had never had the opportunity to officially meet him. Most of what I had heard about the man was nothing to write about, except the fact that he was a businessman (as are many others in Luanshya) with an aim to take over infrastructure in Luanshya (a notion I discovered was totally unfounded).
He led me to the swimming pool area, and showed me what was happening there. As providence would have it, it started to rain. He led me to BU Pavilion, got refreshments for both of us, then led me into the squash club premises.
We sat down, and talked sport in Luanshya. We talked rugby (he is Vice Chair of the club), football, and of course basketball. I picked his brains on many issues spots related, and I got to answers to a lot of the questions that have haunted me for the last 3 years on the state of things (sport and otherwise) in Luanshya.
Our discourse lasted for more than an hour, thanks to the rain. I got to believe that the rain itself was a blessing in disguise.
While many locals paint a bleak picture of Luanshya, this man shared a totally different outlook. Watching him speak and listening to his informed mind showed me a man that knows his stuff, yet is severely misjudged by the masses. This is typical of many small towns like Luanshya.
I have met many so called business people in Luanshya, but sadly very few of them have the vision and focus that I noticed with Mr Munyoro. The man is articulate, knows his stuff and definitely puts his money where his mouth is. He doesn’t just pay lip service, but actually walks his talk.
I am grateful for the short time I spent with him. It is rare that a busy man will afford a total stranger an hour of his time, just chatting about sport. He is a man with a vision, and he is driven by his purpose. It would be beneficial if other prominent figures in Luanshya’s corporate landscape would emulate this remarkable individual.
I will definitely be calling on Mr Munyoro again and again, for I believe his counsel is valuable, not only to myself, but Luanshya as a whole.
