The Start and Improve Your Business programme making waves with young entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe

ILO News (Harare) – Using the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) programme, the project has enhanced the output of over 1,017 businesses, with 80% of them expanding into new and related business lines. The SIYB training programme has a track record of promoting the development of micro and small enterprises globally. Below are some of the small businesses that have recently been impacted by the programme in Zimbabwe.

Beyond the Needle: From schoolyard styles to global goals

Kudzai Chibi’s love for fashion began in high school, where he expressed his creativity by customizing his school uniforms. Inspired by his mother, also a designer, Kudzai decided to pursue fashion full-time after graduation. Under the mentorship of his mother, he quickly developed the skills needed to design and sell his own clothing brand.

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

Starting his business in downtown Masvingo came with challenges—especially limited customer traffic. Everything changed when he enrolled in the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training. The programme opened his eyes to the power of digital marketing. He learned to use platforms like Facebook and Instagram to showcase his work, reaching customers far beyond his physical location.

I have always been passionate about fashion and design. Even in high school, I was determined to stand out, so I carved my own unique style from the school uniforms.

The marketing module, in particular, was a turning point. Kudzai realized that marketing was not just about selling—it was about building visibility and brand identity. Applying these strategies, he has seen real growth in his customer base and his business, which have added confidence in his vision.

Kudzai’s journey is testament to how passion, mentorship, and the right training can transform a dream into a promising profession.

Kudzai now dreams of styling celebrities beyond his hometown of Masvingo. With his passion, skills, and a strong digital presence, he is well on his way to making that dream a reality.

How Michelle turned idle time into agribusiness

Michelle Mandimutsira, founder of Niallah Foods, transformed her time at home as a mother into a thriving agribusiness. With a background in food science and biological engineering from her master’s studies in China—where she worked extensively with mushrooms—Michelle developed a passion for sustainable farming. Inspired by her husband’s acquisition of a plot, she diversified into rearing chickens and exploring fish farming.

In 2022, she officially registered Niallah Foods, which now specialises in oyster and button mushroom production, poultry, fish farming, sausage making, and training others in mushroom cultivation. Her turning point came with the “Improve Your Business” (IYB) training, which helped her identify key areas for growth—especially in marketing, bookkeeping, and employee motivation.

We specialise in oyster and button mushroom production, bulk chicken production, fish farming, and sausage production. I also provide training in mushroom farming, sharing my knowledge with others...and we are venturing into value addition.

The training provided practical tools and real-life examples that helped Michelle refine her business strategy. She learned the importance of proper record-keeping tailored to her sector, how to motivate her team for better productivity, and how to expand her market reach through effective advertising.

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

Today, Michelle is building large-scale facilities to house up to 20,000 chickens and envisions Niallah Foods becoming a major player in Zimbabwe’s poultry industry. She’s also passionate about empowering rural communities by training cooperatives in mushroom farming, helping them generate income and improve their livelihoods.

Michelle’s journey is a powerful example of how idle time, when paired with vision and education, can be transformed into a sustainable and impactful business.

Framing dreams: Ignatius’s journey with Pikicha Afrika

The transition from a qualified but unemployed social worker to storytelling, has not been smooth-sailing for Ignatius Matope. After five years of unemployment, he followed his passion for film and launched Pikicha Afrika in 2017—a media consultancy focused on film, corporate communications, and digital content.

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

The road has not been smooth. When he started, the media space was crowded and competitive. But Ignatius found his edge through the SURE and IYB training programmes where he learned to protect his assets, embrace marketing, and treat bookkeeping as a growth tool—not a burden. His mindset shifted from “Why be accountable?” to “How can I grow smarter?”

The media landscape was becoming increasingly crowded, with new players offering services at unsustainably low prices. Staying afloat required more than just creativity—it demanded strategy. I needed more targeted training to the extent that I once turned down a client to attend training.

He stopped the habit of chasing every new gadget and started making strategic investments. His former struggle with managing staff became less distressful as he applied new leadership skills. Even when it meant turning down clients, he prioritized learning—attending workshops that connected him with other young and driven entrepreneurs.

Now, Ignatius is planning to expand Pikicha Afrika across Zimbabwe, starting with Manicaland. His story is one of bold self-reinvention and unwavering vision. Through his lens, African stories are not just being told—they’re lived

Driving to succeed: the Mozeka story

From an early age, Maunganidze Jeche was fascinated by engines and the world of mechanics. Growing up in a car-loving environment, it was only natural for him to pursue motor mechanics at Mutare Polytechnic College. After eight years of hands-on experience in the industry, he took a leap of faith in 2019 and founded Mozeka Motors—a vehicle repair and towing business.

In its early days, Mozeka Motors was powered by passion but lacked structure. The small team worked tirelessly, yet profits remained elusive. Maunganidze realized that enthusiasm alone was not enough to sustain a business.

Mozeka Motors was powered by passion but lacked structure.

Everything changed when he enrolled in the International Labour Organization’s Improve Your Business training. The programme revealed critical inefficiencies in his operations. He discovered that overstaffing with underqualified workers had been draining resources. The training emphasized hiring skilled employees and rewarding them fairly, based on performance.

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

Another breakthrough came with the introduction of structured management. Before the training, Mozeka Motors had no formal contracts or defined roles. Now, every employee has a contract, and responsibilities are clearly outlined—bringing accountability and boosting productivity.

Maunganidze also learned to manage variable costs and reinvest profits wisely. His aging tow trucks, once a source of pride, had become unreliable and costly. With a clear strategic plan in place, he set a five-year goal to upgrade the fleet and enhanced service delivery.

Today, Mozeka Motors is on a new trajectory—one defined by strategy, structure, and sustainability. Maunganidze’s journey is a powerful example of how knowledge, adaptability, and determination can transform a struggling business into a growing enterprise.

From volunteer work to a Tech Empire – Tinashe Chakonza’s Journey

In 2016, while interning at Mutare City Council, Tinashe Chakonza and his partner Wilson Mhasho envisioned something bigger than just employment—they dreamed of building a tech empire. By 2018, that dream materialized into Prowess Technologies, an ICT consultancy firm offering services from networking to software development.

Their journey began humbly, volunteering IT services to government departments in exchange for recommendations and referrals. This strategy paid off, and soon they registered their company. To ensure quality control, they opened a retail shop, which flourished and became a key part of their brand.

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

© Shaun Chitsiga of Bizani

The “Improve Your Business” programme taught Tinashe the power of systems over individuals, enabling him to delegate effectively.

The turning point came with training from the International Labour Organization (ILO), particularly the “Improve Your Business” programme. It taught Tinashe the power of systems over individuals, enabling him to delegate effectively and trust his team. Inspired by this, he restructured the company and embraced e-commerce, propelling Prowess to the top ranks of Zimbabwe’s online ICT shops.

Looking ahead, Tinashe envisions Prowess leading in AI-driven security solutions and eventually manufacturing tech products like laptops and routers locally.