Businessman and public commentator Frank Gashumba has reflected on the importance of seeking guidance from older people after meeting former South African President Jacob Zuma.
Gashumba said the encounter with the former South African leader reminded him of the value of learning from senior citizens, particularly those who have accumulated years of experience in leadership and life.
In a message shared after the meeting, Gashumba encouraged younger generations to deliberately seek out older people and listen to their experiences before making important decisions.
“Books give you information, but elders give you wisdom,” Gashumba said, stressing that knowledge gained through reading can be complemented by lessons acquired through lived experience.
He argued that older people have already travelled paths that younger people are only beginning to explore, making their experiences an important source of guidance.
Gashumba urged young people to create opportunities to interact with senior citizens rather than relying exclusively on information obtained from books, social media and other modern sources.
“Always seek out senior citizens,” he said, encouraging people to sit with elders, listen to their stories and learn from the challenges they have overcome.
The message came against the backdrop of his meeting with Zuma, who served as South Africa’s president from 2009 to 2018 and remains an influential figure in the country’s political landscape.
Gashumba did not disclose details of his discussion with the former president but used the encounter to underline what he described as the importance of intergenerational learning.
He said people who aspire to achieve greater success should take advantage of the knowledge and wisdom available among those who have already gone through similar experiences.
“If you want to go far, tap into their experience,” Gashumba said.
His remarks highlight the role of mentorship and intergenerational engagement in personal development, with experienced members of society often serving as sources of practical lessons that may not be found in conventional books.
Gashumba’s reflection also comes at a time when younger people increasingly turn to digital platforms for information, making the preservation and sharing of traditional wisdom an important part of personal and community development.