adminprofessionalism.
These are the words of local businesswoman, Mrs Naume Mandizha who likes to defy the odds and set new standards.
She is the executive director and co-owner of GNK Laboratories which trades as ZimLabs.
Mrs Mandizha is one of the few females who have dared to venture into a sector largely dominated by males.
She believes that women can venture into any industry as long they have the passion and drive.
Mrs Mandizha joined ZimLabs in 2003 and later formed a partnership with another executive in 2005 to takeover the company. They have been running the company together since then. Zimlabs does various tests for the mining, agriculture, food and water sectors.
“Chemistry is my passion and that is what drives me to overcome the various challenges that I encounter on a daily basis. We took over this company at a trying time when inflation was nearing its peak but because of the drive and determination that we had, we managed to pull through.
“Venturing into business is never an easy task but having a vision, determination and business plan helps one to get through hard times,” she says.
A trained chemist, Mrs Mandizha believes that businesspeople should be professional and honest in all their conduct. She attributed her success to good customer relations as well as good governance, which is also one of her passion.
“I would like to take part in corporate governance on the local and international level,” she said.
Because of her passion for corporate governance, Mrs Mandizha was last year chosen to represent her company at African Conference on Strengthening Responsible Business and Governance in Brussels organised by the World Bank.
Mrs Mandizha did her primary education at Dandare School in Murehwa and did her secondary school at Hartzell High School in Mutare from 1982 -1987.
In 1990 she finished her first degree in chemistry and joined the Tobacco Research Board as a research chemist the following year.
Mrs Mandizha holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from the University of Zimbabwe as well as Msc in Analytical Chemistry.
In 1994 she got promoted to be head of the chemistry department and rose again to the position of divisional co-ordinator for the Research Services division in 2002. After serving the TRB for 13 years Mrs
Mandizha later joined Zimlab as a laboratory executive and rose through the ranks to become the Executive director, a position she holds to date.
“My success is mainly attributed to God because if one is faithful in the little he /she has God surely increases the blessings,” she said.
Having grown up in a family of 9 comprising one boy and eight girls in an era when the country was still under colonial rule where ladies were undermined, Mrs Mandizha believe her success is amble proof women can reach for the sky.
She attributes her success to her father who was an entrepreneur who owned shops and her mother a qualified nurse who both encouraged her to take education seriously.
“My father was rich but we never had everything that we needed because he would tell us that one has to work hard and be self reliant rather than being dependant,” she said
Mrs Mandizha has several publications on chemistry and accolades to her name. In 2009 she was awarded an accolade as Manager of the Year for Small to Medium Enterprises in recognition of her contribution and dedication to developing and promoting best practices in management and leadership.
In 1999-2000 she served as the technical board member in the Zimbabwe Association of Chemists and she became the executive president for the same association. In 2002 she became the secretary to the National Residue Monitoring Board.
She enjoys travelling and playing table tennis. Mrs Mandizha is married and has three children, two daughters and a son.
Online Reporter