Do you know that what you simply take as your hobby can end up being a hidden golden opportunity to create your own job? If you have not experienced this, ask Evans Mudau of Musina, who has turned his photography hobby into a profitable job opportunity.

Famously known as Jah Rubza Vhadau by locals, Mudau advises unemployed community members to use their talents to make money. “Don't relax and wait for the government to give you a job. You could be crying that you are hungry while sitting on a bag of money. That bag of money is your hobby. This is the time to wake up and create job opportunities for ourselves”.

Mudau said he drew inspiration from his elder brother, Rest Mudau, who was a renowned photographer. “There were no digital cameras then. I used to play with his cameras when he was not around and he would realize that I had taken some photos when he went to develop the film. This went on for some time, and he became tired of losing money by developing photos that were not sold.  Out of desperation, he ended up giving me one of his old cameras. I started by taking pictures for fun, but many people hinted that I was a very good photographer and they voluntarily paid for their photos. I started getting invitations to capture weddings, graduation parties, funerals and social gatherings. And the rest is now history.”

He said people should never despair of their dreams because sometimes achieving one's objectives took a little longer. “I started photography in 2000 and things started shaping up last year. This means that, for the past 19 years, I was struggling to find myself in this industry. Let us soldier on and continue to hustle until the gate of prosperity opens. You just need to be focused and work hard to reach your dreams.”

Mudau encouraged informal and small-business owners to save the little they get from their trades. “With the few pennies I saved over a long period, I have managed to establish a photoshoot studio here in Musina and employ two community members who assist me when we have more bookings. I have expanded the business into videography and music video production while, at the same time, working on the establishment of an online television broadcast service.”