He didn’t start with capital. He started with conviction — and a Mazda 323 boot.

That’s where Omalli Jani, 45, mapped out the early blueprints of what would become Garage & Forecourt, now one of Zimbabwe’s most innovative players in the fuel technology space.

“Garage & Forecourt was established from humble beginnings, operating from the boot of a car without any funding from a bank,” he recalls. “We managed to save the profits and eventually secured our own premises, which now allow us to access bank loans. You need to remove the mindset that a business can only start when you have capital.”

Today he is at the forefront of modernising the country’s service-station systems through 3D Laser Calibration Technology and digital fuel management tools that rival global benchmarks.

His rise mirrors the world’s great boot-strapped legends — from Oprah’s humble start to Jobs’ garage revolution — yet Jani’s story is entirely Zimbabwean: built on grit, faith, and a sharp eye for opportunity.

“You need to believe as a youth in your dreams and anything is possible. Above all, work hard and pray hard; God will help you to prevail. God is the greatest!”

Born in Karoi, the fourth of six children, Jani grew up under the twin influence of his father — a grocer who taught him discipline and enterprise — and former president Robert Mugabe, whose call for black empowerment lit the fire of ownership in him.

Those early lessons became his business DNA. When he launched Garage & Forecourt, Zimbabwe’s fuel sector was running on outdated systems. He saw the gap and seized it. His company installs, calibrates and services modern forecourt infrastructure — partnering with Dover Fuelling Solutions, a global tech leader in petroleum automation.

Jani is quick to credit education as a pillar of his progress, but believes learning never ends. He holds:

• Bachelor of Business Management & IT (Hons) – Catholic University of Zimbabwe
• MBA – University of Milan
• Master’s in Digital Business – Wits Business School
• Currently pursuing a PhD in Management of Technology & Innovation – DaVinci Business School (South Africa)

His academic path, from Karoi’s Chikangwe Primary and Masanga Secondary to international classrooms, reflects a lifelong pursuit of growth and innovation.

Inside Garage & Forecourt, that approach has fostered a culture where collaboration, problem-solving and customer focus drive every operation. Successes are celebrated, challenges are viewed as lessons, and the pursuit of excellence is non-negotiable.

“I lead with vision, trust and accountability, setting clear goals, then empowering my team to innovate and deliver,” he explains.

His ambitions now extend beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, with plans to roll out regional operations across Southern Africa, exporting not just services but Zimbabwean ingenuity.

Equally important to him is giving back — from donating to Chinyaradzo Children’s Home and Jairos Jiri to creating employment for dozens of young technicians entering the engineering and fuel-tech space.

From the boot of a Mazda 323 to the forefront of Zimbabwe’s energy sector, Omalli Jani is proof that entrepreneurship isn’t about what you start with — it’s about what won’t let you sleep. His story is a study in vision, faith, and staying power — the kind of story that reminds us why Zimbabwe continues to breed dreamers who build.