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Mbulelo Mpofu, recently in Harare
PRINCESS Nomalanga Siziba is a true maverick. An award-winning author, unconventional entrepreneur and mental health advocate, Siziba shatters the mould of success.
Hailing from Bulawayo, her journey is interlaced with resilience, innovation and an unwavering commitment to positive impact. From a young age, she displayed an insatiable curiosity and a fierce drive to excel.
“Growing up, I was always a curious child. I played almost every sport in junior school and even joined the birds club, where we learned about various avian species. I vividly remember a moment when, amid a room full of relatives, I confidently declared that I wanted to be a businesswoman when I grow up. The laughter that ensued made me realise that I was different, destined for a path less travelled,” she recounted to Chronicle Showbiz.
Her literary foray began as a path to personal healing. Writing became a cathartic release, allowing her to process emotions and find solace. As she shared her work on social media, she discovered a profound resonance with others. This connection propelled her to compile her writings into powerful books that ignite hope and champion mental well-being.
Her debut book, “Why I Never Gave Up”, garnered global acclaim, winning the African Author Award in empowerment. It even received a nomination for best self-help book at the prestigious US Author Academy Awards.
Fuelled by her storytelling passion, Princess established “WING UP Publishing,” empowering individuals to share their narratives with authenticity and impact.
Guided by the belief that every story holds value, Princess fostered a publishing house attracting clients globally, spanning the UK, Germany, China and South Africa. Remarkably, she achieved this entirely virtually, operating from her mother’s house in Cowdray Park.
Beyond literary triumphs, Siziba has made significant strides in the skincare industry. Inspired by her own battles with severe teenage acne, she embarked on a year-long research odyssey to unearth natural solutions.
“What most people don’t know is that I was one of those teens who struggled with severe acne. I’d even be teased at school with one student once saying to me, ‘your skin looks like a bar of soap that has been rolling in sand’ in reference to how rough and grainy my skin looked.
“My confidence and self-esteem took a knock and I started wearing hats a lot at school to cover the acne. As I matured into adulthood I was still dealing with that acne. I’d go broke just trying to fix my skin as I would go for the most expensive acne treatments thinking it would help me and eventually, I got tired of it all and decided to commit to a year of researching on natural skin solutions. That’s until I stumbled on an article about Zumbani tea,” she said.
Fuelled by a year of research, her unwavering determination crystallised into “Indalo” in 2021. This ground-breaking brand, Zimbabwe’s first 100 percent vegan and organic skincare line, takes pride in Zumbani tea as its unique hero ingredient. Backed by science, Indalo’s products harness the power of Zumbani tea’s rich antioxidants to nurture healthy skin.
Siziba’s relentless drive has garnered well-deserved recognition. In 2022, she was crowned one of the top 100 Zim Achievers and Influencers in Matabeleland. The same year, she triumphed at the Zimbabwe Business Youth Expo, earning the prestigious recognition of the United Nations — a testament to her exceptional entrepreneurial spirit. Most recently, she secured the coveted best innovation award under ZimTrade’s Export incubator programme, solidifying her position as a visionary leader in the skincare industry.
“Participating in the Zimbabwe Business Youth Expo was a life-changing experience. It opened doors, instilled confidence and helped people trust the Indalo brand even more. The recognition I received has propelled my aspirations and I now firmly believe that Indalo can become a global brand to be reckoned with,” she said.
Siziba’s journey as a businesswoman is deeply rooted in her experience with the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). She credits the programme for equipping her with the essential foundation to thrive. AWE instilled in her the importance of a strong Unique Selling Proposition (USP), allowing her business, Indalo, to stand out from the crowd upon launch.
Siziba leverages the power of storytelling in both her business and advocacy efforts. Recognising the impact of emotional connection, she integrates compelling narratives to drive success.
Her passion extends beyond entrepreneurship. Drawing on her experiences and wisdom, she champions mental well-being and strives to uplift and inspire others.
“When others heal, I heal too. My purpose is to serve through my writing and entrepreneurial pursuits, sharing the things that have helped me overcome challenges and motivated me to rise again.”
Siziba urged young authors and entrepreneurs to shun procrastination.
“Start right where you are. My journey began in Cowdray Park, the least likely place for people to succeed, but I dared to believe that I could be the first of something. Starting is half the battle won. A year from now you’ll be proud that you started,” she said.
As an avid reader and YouTube videos enthusiast, Siziba also loves travelling.
Unbeknown to a lot of people, Siziba has also tried her hand in music as she once won a singing competition at the late Cont Mhlanga’s Amakhosi Theatre when she was in high school, but due to lack of mentorship, “the passion kind of disappeared”.
Looking ahead, Siziba envisions a future filled with innovation and expansion.
With numerous exciting projects in the pipeline, she invites her followers to stay tuned for upcoming announcements. — Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
Online Reporter