Public Finance

An entrepreneur, a mentor, and an amazing father.

Born Simon Willar on the 4th of June 1956 in Aberdeen, Scotland, my father and his family moved to Zimbabwe to settle when he was four years old. My father attended Prince Edward High School in Harare, Zimbabwe .He was a man of excellence, his school marks were near perfect, he represented his high school team in four sports-he was destined for greatness. Unfortunately due to the conscription rules he was drafted into the Rhodesian army at aged 17- He could not study his dream career, medicine. At 17 he was expected to kill, to sacrifice his life for a leader he has never met nor will, he was a young soldier forced to run away from a life he so cherished. My father was in the army for seven years and ranked lieutenant of the Rhodesian Army and was greatly respected among his fellow soldiers, for that I will always hold the greatest respect and love for him.

His history in the army is not the prettiest; my father was shot four times- all near death experiences. When he was 20 he was shot just below the eye and lost 50% of his vision, a month later he was hit with a helicopter bomb on his right calf. His army days were filled with terror and repulsion, however I think it helped become the man he is today. He lkater moved to Cape Town, South Africa as there were more opportunities. My father is someone who goes and gets what he wants and Mirielle Willar (My mother) was no exception. She was the object of his desire even when they first met and the rest was history. My father married Mirielle Willar on March the 6th 1984 and was the “best day of his life “. Someday I want to follow his footsteps and find true love.

My father did not attend college to receive a tertiary education due to his army commitments however taught himself the ways of business and enterprise and made a plan to support the family. One aspect, which my father holds, is perseverance, times were tough finding a job and putting food on the...