Chirima attributes her success to God

managing director of ICT firm Baztech Incorporated, a leading supplier of innovative biometric time control systems, access control systems, CCTV systems and turnstiles in the country.
The firm supplies and installs computerised biometric time management systems, systems access control, CCTV, turnstiles, guard control clocks as well as the service and repairs of associated hardware equipment.
The company has sole Southern African distributorship in products from the top rated international companies, such as Acroprint, IR and Uniclox.
It has been specifically awarded distributorship rights in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia.
Caroline Chirima is an acclaimed entrepreneur, marketer and proprietor with over 15 years’ experience in the ICT industry.
She was instrumental in setting up Baztech Incorporated, and through her vision, passion and dedication, the company has grown to become a major player in the biometrics industry, besides being one of the first companies to introduce biometric technology in Zimbabwe.
“When I joined Beurk Company now known as Baztech it was still a new firm on the market and my relatives and friends were against the idea. I left Dandy Zimbabwe, then a big company, to a new firm; but little did they know that one day I would be the proud owner of that company,
“When my boss passed away in 2004, the company liquidated but because of my passion for business, I approached the German directors who were in South Africa with a proposal to reopen the firm and they accepted to support me technically,
“I had to start this company from scratch in June 2004,” said Ms Chirima
She had to strategise since she did not have cash to operate. She did this by asking her clients to deposit half of the money before their product was purchased and she would use the money to buy the products.
The German directors later offered products on account and expected to be paid between 30 and 60 days but they suspended the accounts in 2008 when the Zimbabwean economy was in decline, but she has managed to pull through until to date.
However, she said she was now facing the challenge of uprooting companies which are selling fake Chinese machines and her task nowadays is to fight the competition as these products are being sold at low prices.
“Our company believes in the quality of the product that we offer unlike these fake products which do not have back-up if a problem occurs because they are downloaded
from the Internet.
“We have a good customer relationship as we offer good service; we don’t just do our best we go the extra mile.
“If you want the best product you have to pay for it once for all but if you want a fake one then be prepared to fork out money always,” said Ms Chirima.
Her journey to greatness has not been that rough as she has not worked for more than three companies before she became her own boss.
Born in Harare in 1970, in a family of five, Caroline has lived a fairly comfortable lifestyle as her father was a company secretary for BP and Shell.
She did her primary education in Mufakose and later Mount Pleasant High for her secondary schooling.
“In high school I was interested in computers, travel and tourism studies and marketing, “she said
After high school she studied for an LCCI Diploma in Marketing. She also studied different courses in public relations, sales and marketing.
In 1991, she joined Dandy Zimbabwe as a sale executive. She left the company in 1997 after being offered a post as a personal assistant to the director of Beurk Uniclox, a new firm that supplied time control machines, a move that she says many people were against.
She was promoted through the ranks to be the office manager and then finance manager, a position she held for four years.
Asked on how she managed to get so far in no time, Caroline smiles shyly and attributes her success to God.
“I believe in God so much and we sometimes underestimate the power of prayer, we need to pray for wisdom because we cannot do anything on our own.
“I also thank Pastor Deuschle of Celebration Ministries because when I started to go to that church I had nothing of my own.
“I listened to his preaching of building people, building nations and my life started to change for the better,” said Ms Chirima
She also acknowledged Mrs Christine Dean as her mentor who inspired and coached her with patience when she joined Uniclox.
“One needs to have a passion, desire and know of his/her calling to achieve what you really want, “she said
Ms Chirima has several accolades to her name, among them:
l Second runner-up, ZNCC – Businesswoman of the Year Award 2009;
l Second runner-up, ZNCC – Businesswoman of the Year Award 2010;
l First runner-up Zimbabwe Institute of Management – 2009;
l First runner-up, Businesswoman of the Year ICT – 2010;
l 2011 Institute of Directors – SME Director of the Year;
She also has several accolades for the company’s notable achievements to date and these include:
l Silver medal in the small to medium sector in 2006 at ZITF;
l Silver medal for the best display at ZITF small to medium sector in 2007 and 2008;
l 2011 SME International Expo SME – Overall Pre-eminent Display Award;
l 2011 SME International Expo Most Innovative Product on Display.
Ms Chirima is a single mother of one.
She encourages women to have a career of their own and not to be dependent on men.
She enjoys reading, travelling and farming.