In 2017, 20‑year‑old Nhlanhla Mkhatshwa, then a second‑year university student, sold his only laptop – bought with his first‑year allowance – to purchase a grass‑cutting machine.

He worked with the machine on weekends and holidays, earning cash despite mockery from peers, and by 2018 the income funded the construction of four walls for his first personal space.

Mkhatshwa kept the grass‑cutting work, saved consistently and secured a regular salary by 2022, which he added to his savings rather than spending freely.

From 2023 to 2025 he maintained a strict saving plan, avoided debt and social pressure, and gradually bought bags of cement to make his own bricks, breaking ground on his house in 2025.

On 16 June 2026 he posted on Facebook, sharing that he now stands on the foundation of a debt‑free home and outlining three principles that guided his journey: sacrifice comfort for assets, turn time into income, and convert earnings into permanent structures.

His story, which resonated with thousands across the region, is aimed at encouraging Eswatini youth to start small ventures without waiting for perfect conditions or large capital.