Online Reporter
Tapiwanashe Mangwiro
On a quiet afternoon in Harare, Dr Abel Mubango sits back and reflects on a journey that has taken him from the dusty paths of rural Gutu to the high echelons of international banking, the academia and, ultimately, the helm of one of the country’s emerging security firms.
His life story is one of faith, resilience and an unshakable belief in solutions.
“I believe there’s a solution to all challenges,” he says with calm certainty. “It does not matter what comes up. If one thinks hard enough, one will come up with more than one solution.”
It is a philosophy that has carried him through war-disrupted schooling, professional hurdles and the leap of faith that saw him abandon the stability of a senior banking career to venture into the unknown terrain of private security.
Dr Mubango was born and raised in rural Gutu, Masvingo province.
His early life was shaped by the realities of the liberation struggle, which forced his family to move into town so he could complete his schooling.
Those formative years taught him both adaptability and endurance, qualities that would serve him well in his career. His professional path began in banking.
At Barclays Bank Zimbabwe, Dr Mubango rose steadily through the ranks, gaining experience in general banking, human resources and training. By the time he left, he had reached the position of executive director for human resources.
“I wanted to give my employer my undivided attention,” he says, recalling why he did not pursue business ventures while at Barclays. “The pressure of work, given the senior level I was at, meant the time for other things was very limited.”
However, beneath the discipline of corporate life, an entrepreneurial spirit was stirring. If you had asked the young man in Gutu if he would one day run a security company, the answer would have been a No.
“I never dreamt of venturing into a security company,” Dr Mubango admits. “In fact, I was not even aware of the sector.”
The entrepreneurial hunger to build something of his own was always there.
When he finally stepped away from the bank, he was ready to test his entrepreneurial attributes.
Security, a field he knew little about, became the unlikely stage for his reinvention.
The early days were not without doubt.
“Security was a new field for me, so I had to learn the ropes very quickly,” he recalls.
Finding the first customers was equally tough.
“Most people want to deal with a company that already has a track record. Not many believed I could do it, given my lack of experience in the sector,” he says.
But Dr Mubango had one thing many doubters did not account for — perseverance and the unshakable conviction that challenges could always be met with solutions. From those humble beginnings and adventurous entrepreneurial instincts emerged Peace Security, a firm that today offers a full range of services from guarding to electronic systems.
Alongside it, Peace Electronics provides cutting-edge installations, including CCTV, access control, alarms and even Starlink-powered internet.
“We want to be the number one company in the eyes of our stakeholders,” says Dr Mubango. “Not just the biggest in size, but the most trusted, contributing positively to all our customers and the greater Zimbabwean community.”
That vision is anchored in continuous learning and innovation. The company has rolled out new products such as location tracking badges, Think X wireless alarm systems and remote monitoring solutions; all the evidence of a leader who has never lost his appetite for knowledge.
For all his business ambitions, Dr Mubango’s guidance compass remains spiritual.
His favourite verse is Luke 1:37: “With God all things are possible.”
Faith, he says, has been a constant source of inspiration. He is quick, too, to acknowledge those who stood by him: his wife Annie; his family; his colleagues; his church; and mentors like Mr Isaac Takawira, the former managing director at the then-Barclays Bank Zimbabwe.
“Without their support, our company would not be where it is today,” he says.
Balancing work and family has not always been easy.
“Given the challenges in Zimbabwe, you are always engrossed in work, even when you are not physically at the office,” he reflects. “That is the problem of holding an office position in your head.”
For young Zimbabweans dreaming of starting businesses, Dr Mubango’s advice is simple but profound: Become “shapers.”
Drawing from investor Ray Dalio’s book “Principles”, he describes shapers as people who can craft unique and valuable visions and build them despite doubts and opposition.
“Overcome the doubts of others,” he says. “If others can do it, so can you.”
It is advice rooted in lived experience.
From his rural upbringing, through the corporate boardrooms of Barclays, to the high-stakes world of private security, Dr Mubango has consistently shown that belief, resilience and vision can carry one far.
As Peace Security looks to expand its footprint, Dr Mubango remains guided by a principle that has never failed him: For every challenge, there is always a solution.
