It’s not by accident that Jeff Bezos is fabulously rich

It’s not by accident that Jeff Bezos is fabulously rich

I remember the burning desire to purchase a nice pair of trousers, book or record, 45 years ago. We would have considered travelling to Nairobi, Lusaka or Bujumbura. Around 1983, a deceased friend of mine, Ernest Mushora, (football coach in his last years in Ethiopia) had just bought a beautiful shirt from Burundi.

We, his mates, felt envious and asked many questions. I took a picture of the shirt. It was white with black and purple decorations. Totally mesmerising.

“The shirt from Burundi” became so famous among Ernest Mushora’s circle of friends that I decided to write about it in my then Arts and Culture column in the Sunday News.

Some items could also be bought secondhand in big urban markets such as Kariakoo in Dar es Salaam. Buying a really smart pair of trousers from Kariakoo – which only cost five shillings – was normal. One I owned lasted over ten years.

There is a word for special, ancient items.

Vintage.

London has many vintage shops. You get in and see stuff from the 1970s, 1960s and even farther back.

Known stars are notorious for revamping vintage artefacts and objects.

The two flamboyant musicians, Jimi Hendrix (famed guitarist who died in London 1970) or Prince (died in Mineapolis 2016), liked wearing clothes with past centuries designer style. According to the dictionary, vintage is “ageless” and superior.

Instead of dreaming of owning latest car models like ordinary Johns, Marys, Alis and Fatumas, the wealthy have a habit of buying vintage cars and furniture. You may also order vintage products on the Internet. Like I got myself a 1970s vintage hat from Amazon the other day.

Speaking of Amazon, we should mention the richest fella in the world, the man who will be 57 next week.

Jeff Bezos is estimated to be worth almost $200 billion, almost double the value of Facebook mogul Mark Zuckerberg. To put this in perspective, the richest Tanzanian is worth $1 billion, according to media sources. Mr Mohammed Dewji is an articulate, suave businessman, which is among the main attributes of self-made multi-millionaires.

Jeff Bezos kicked off Amazon as an online bookshop in 1995. It soon spread its wings and began selling other products online. Lately Amazon has also bought other popular companies such as Wholefoods (for $13.7 billion, according to Forbes magazine), the international health products supermarket. I get some of my stuff from Wholefoods, a bit expensive but ethical – for example non GMO. This column has in the past discussed genetically modified products.

A few years ago, I was shocked to see a bag of dona, made in Tanzania, but unfortunately it was genetically modified maize. I quickly (and reluctantly) laid it back on the shelf. The non-GMO movement in Tanzania continues to grow, although “get rich” traders and farmers still embrace GMO foods as if it is some sort of a beauty clinic. Ignorance of the impact of GMO on our long-term health is still a reality.

Amazon has made shopping easy.

Take Covid -19 and the just-ended Xmas 2020 period. Normally, we buy presents and traditional shops would be ideal, but this is now woeful.

Prior to Xmas 2020, another lockdown was imposed, so instead of trying to make your way to shops that have long queues, the alternative is Amazon.

A friend narrated a long story early this week.

She is addicted to science fiction books.

Tapping the name of the top science author on the Amazon site, she was quickly facing several top selling titles.

“I was overwhelmed with so much choice and ...good fees. There were new and old, used books. Used books were said to be OK. Amazon usually says ‘used as new’ and the price was quite affordable too. Whew! In the past Amazon would take at least three to five days to send the publication. During ‘Covid 19 Christmas 2020’.” I received the book the next day. Amazon is operating during holidays and weekends. They also have a tracking method where you can find where your book is. If it gets lost you are quickly refunded.

Hear that?

No wonder Jeff Bezos is the richest dude around.

The efficiency is brilliant.

In an article by Tugba Sabanoglu, a retail and e- Commerce researcher, Amazon made $96.15 billion in the last months of 2020, which is $27 billion more than in 2019.

The verdict?

Amazon keeps expanding.

What do we learn from such self-motivated individuals like our own Mohammed Dewji and Jeff Bezos?

Keep working hard and do not despair. Let us run in 2021 and keep hoping!

The Bible has words about trying and striving. Proverbs: 10: 4

“Lazy hands make for poverty

But diligent hands bring wealth.”