admindetermined woman, well known for her achievements in business and social circles.
While others may recall her name, from instances where she was implicated in controversies surrounding the land reform programme, there is another side to the woman. She is a woman who has opened her heart to accommodate the needs of the less privileged and disadvantaged in society.
Outside her busy and demanding business schedule, Mrs Chiwenga carries a vault of kindness that has spread from caring for abandoned children to support for women’s football in Zimbabwe.
“Whenever I’m confronted with a situation where people ask me for help I leave it all in the hands of God and He provides me with the answers.
“I was asked by the President (Mugabe) to look after the girl child and I accepted knowing that God provides for whatever their needs may be.
“One of the immediate tasks I had was to take care of the female soccer national team, the Mighty Warriors, and so far my associate companies have supported the team to the tune of over US$100 000.”
With a passion for caring for the needy in society, Mrs Chiwenga says she feels uplifted with the hassles of keeping the vulnerable in her check.
“When someone comes saying I need help, it touches me. With my background in nursing I feel obliged to help. Whenever you do something, do it wholeheartedly, because only God will thank you.”
Over the years, Mrs Chiwenga has donated valuables to institutions that look after less privileged and vulnerable groups as well as individuals.
Her decision to establish a lucrative business Zimsafe, which is a leading manufacturer of safety clothing, came about as a result of an incident that happened when she was driving from Masvingo.
“We were coming from Masvingo with a Danish television crew from a shooting and the man who was driving was moving slowly and I couldn’t take it. I then asked if I could take over and he accepted. I was speeding for real until I heard a ‘boom’ like sound, which sounded as if I had hit someone.
“I stopped immediately, trembling and thinking that I had killed someone. We came out of the car just to find a small boy standing by the side of the road.
“The boy said I had not hit him but the stick he was holding. That is when I asked my self ‘why don’t people wear reflectors here?’ It was obvious that they didn’t wear any because they were not available.”
After this incident, Mrs Chiwenga then sold the idea of the need for reflective wear to the then Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Timothy Stamps.
“When I returned to Denmark, this passion of establishing a reflective wear manufacturing company continued burning inside me. I did not want to do it for money although the project later turned out to be very profitable.”
She returned home a year later and started Zimsafe. Mrs Chiwenga has since diversified and is also now involved in furniture making.
“As for Zimsafe, plans are now at an advanced stage to go into the region and we are confident that we will succeed.
“It’s not because I am wise but all my successes come from God.
“At work we now have a policy that before we start work, we all pray,” she said.
Born in Marange, Mrs Chiwenga went to Muzarawa Primary School in Bocha near Bazeley Bridge up to Grade Four before moving to Harare where she completed her primary education at Rusununguko Primary School.
She would work in maize fields every morning to raise money for food and school fees.
“It was not an easy life but it helped me to become what I am today. Telling someone that I used to pick lice from the hem of most of my clothes would be like I am exaggerating but I went through that.”
Her father worked for a steel manufacturing company as a driver but his salary was not enough to sustain the family to the extent that he even failed to send her daughter for secondary education.
“After obtaining my Grade Seven certificate, the biggest impediment was proceeding to secondary school.
“My father was very poor and his job didn’t earn him much. He had to ask his boss for assistance so as to send me to school. Fortunately, his plea was heard.”
She enrolled with Commercial Careers College, a predominantly white school then. After completing her Ordinary Levels, she joined Standard Bank as switchboard operator and was later promoted to
become a banker when she attained a diploma in banking from part-time studies.
Then, she worked with Deputy Minister of Labour Tracy Mutinhiri among other politicians.
She went to Denmark where she attained a diploma in hotel management and nursing. While in Denmark, Mrs Chiwenga was engaged by Danish TV to help them on documentaries on HIV/Aids.
“Since I spoke Danish, I accepted the offer to accompany the group on it trip to Africa. In one of our tours we came to Zimbabwe and this is when the incident that led to the formation of Zimsafe occurred,” she said.
Mrs Chiwenga is blessed with three daughters and a son whom she adopted from Harare Children’s Home.
Throughout her business career, Mrs Chiwenga has won 14 awards locally and internationally.
Online Reporter