adminRuth Butaumocho Gender Editor
The old adage seems to hold for Ms Kudzayi Mundangepfupfu, the diminutive 33-year-old owner of Destiny Travel Tours and a security company, Asset Guard Security.
Ms Mundangepfupfu is slowly carving her name in the annals of history as a young woman who dared to make a difference by venturing into business when the economic environment was hostile.
“I started my company in 2010 when the economy was experiencing a lot of challenges. I, however, did not look at that. I had always wanted to be a businesswoman, so it was the most opportune time,” she said.
She may not realise her feat, but the Mutare-born lady joins a league of young African female entrepreneurs such as South African Rapelang Raban (29), a founder of a powerful telecommunications company and 25-year-old Nigerian doctor Ola Orekunrin, founder and managing director of air ambulance services based in Lagos called the Flying Doctors, who are making history on their own.
This generation of young African women is the most ambitious yet. It is a generation eager to build industries, save lives, reform societies, rewrite history and transform the African continent.
It is the same vision that has been the driving force behind Ms Mundangepfupfu’s determination to venture into business and succeed. When her schoolmates at both St Augustine’s and Mutare Girls High were already mapping their careers in medicine, engineering and humanities, Ms Mundangepfupfu was strategising on how to venture into business, instead of looking for a job.
It was while she was doing her attachment for IATA (International Air Transport Association) with a well known travel agency in Harare in 2000 that she resolved to start her own travel agency, so that she could fulfil her dream of becoming an expert on bookings and travel matters.
“Working at the agency made me realise that I wanted to pursue a career in travel. I had always wanted to travel, so it meant that I would venture into business, as a source of income as well as fulfilment of a long held passion to travel and see the world,” she recalled.
Her aunt, Mrs Auxilia Nyambo, who that time was running a travel agency, mentored and encouraged her to follow her passion.
“With my parents having worked in the education field for a long time, I did not want to end up doing the same, setting up a travel agency became the only way out.”
It was only in 2010 that she felt that she could wade into the deep water of business by starting a travel agency.
With no capital and any prospects of getting financial backing from anyone, Ms Mundangepfupfu registered Destiny Travel Tours, marking the beginning of her small but very robust business entity.
“When I started, I was actually subletting just one room. I only had a chair and a desk in my office, doing most of the errands, but I was not deterred,” said Ms Mundangepfupfu.
Prior to her starting the business, she had solicited for assistance from prospective clients who promised to rally behind her. She recalls that the first two months were the most difficult period, where she had to rely on friends and family to chip in with resources and volunteer their time to keep the office running.
Business started booming in the third month, giving her hope that she had made the right decision to start a viable business project. With prospects looking good, and new opportunities coming up, particularly from the corporate world, Ms Mundangepfupfu decided to augment the cash-flow by setting up a security company.
“Business peaks at certain periods, while it can be very subdued at times. Setting up a security firm was meant to ensure continuous cash-flow and also continue to grow my vision to become a successful businesswoman,” said Ms Mundangepfupfu.
It has been a good five years since Ms Mundangepfupfu made the bold decision to set up a business and she is content with her achievement. Although she is yet to achieve the zenith of her business career, she believes that the environment is good, with prospects looking even brighter than the previous years.
“The country is currently going through a number of economic challenges, but I am convinced that the situation will improve. Having travelled around, I can safely say there is no better place to make money than here in Zimbabwe. It might look all gloomy, but as a country we will get somewhere in the next few years,” said Ms Mundangepfupfu.
Although she is enjoying the opportunities that her business has created for her, Ms Mundangepfupfu concedes that she has not been immune to economic challenges other business people are facing throughout the country.
“Business has been on a downward slump in the last few months owing to liquidity crisis. People have cut down on travelling, including companies that are now sending less people to meetings and conferences they would normally go as groups,” she said.
However, that development has not discouraged her as she is now working on a number of strategies to maximise on the companies’ clientele.
“The economic dictates demand that you have to be on your toes looking for other business opportunities. I have to constantly be on the look-out for emerging opportunities,” she said.
Ms Mundangepfupfu is planning to open offices in major cities in Zimbabwe, while eyeing regional and international opportunities that are already on the horizon. Because of her work schedule, she doesn’t have a vibrant social life, but does have stolen moments with her nine-year-old daughter, whom she describes as the biggest part of her social life.
“Being single means that you have to juggle a lot of things and you have no time to sit on your laurels, gaze at the sky, lost in dreams. You just have to work, something that I have mastered over the years,” she said.
Ms Mundangepfupfu believes women have what it takes to venture into business.
“It might appear difficult to venture into business, but once you set your foot on the pedestal, the rest will flow. What is crucial is to identify your passion and turn that into a business ventures.”
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter