Divine Ndhlukula

The global security sector has long been plagued by two persistent challenges- a lack of professionalism and inclusivity. Globally, private security services often fail to meet international standards, compromising trust and safety. Simultaneously, the industry has been predominantly male-dominated, offering limited opportunities for women to participate or thrive. These issues are glaring in Zimbabwe, with the added challenge of high unemployment rates among women. But Divine Ndhlukula has created a change that would elevate the country’s security industry standards and foster gender equality. She established Securico, a company that has redefined excellence in security services while empowering women on an unprecedented scale. In 1998, Divine Ndhlukula founded Securico to meet Zimbabwe’s security needs; in the process, she provided more employment opportunities for women. It began as a small startup operating at her cottage with just three employees. Driven by her determination to address Zimbabwe’s lack of professional and ethical security solutions, Ndhlukula built a company grounded in integrity, efficiency, and customer-centricity. The company was the first in Zimbabwe to achieve ISO certification, a global acknowledgement of quality and professionalism. Securico has earned the trust of clients ranging from multinational corporations to local businesses by combining manned guarding services, electronic security solutions, and cash management expertise. Securico ‘s focus on excellence has not only transformed the security system in Zimbabwe but has also placed it on the global stage as a model of professionalism. The company’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its client retention, with 67% of business coming from existing clients, indicating high satisfaction and trust. While Securico’s commitment to raising industry standards is commendable, its most significant impact lies in its role as a driver of gender inclusivity. Recognising the barriers women face in male-dominated industries, Divine Ndhlukula made it her mission to empower women within her organisation. Today, Securico is the second-largest employer of women in Zimbabwe, after the government, with women comprising a significant number of its workforce. The company has grown to employ over 4,000 individuals, with more than 900 being women, making it the largest private employer of women in Zimbabwe outside the civil service. From frontline security officers to managerial roles, women have found a supportive environment where they can develop their skills, advance their careers, and gain financial independence. Securico invests heavily in training and mentorship programs, ensuring women have the technical expertise and leadership skills necessary to excel. This approach has transformed the lives of individual employees and inspired systemic change, challenging societal norms and proving that women can thrive in any field. The company has contributed to reducing poverty and improving the livelihoods of countless families in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, its emphasis on professionalism has raised the standards of the security industry, instilling confidence in both local and international clients.  Through Securico, Divine Ndhlukula demonstrates that African women can excel in fields traditionally dominated by men and set world-class standards. The Benchmark

The security services market is ever growing in Zimbabwe as a result of a number of factors which include higher crime rates, economic instability, government support towards security companies, growing middle classes in need of safeguarding their assets, heightened activity in cybercrime and increased partnerships in the security business. According to statistics, the industry is expected to have an annual growth rate of approximately 15.98% by 2029 resulting in a market value of about $9 million+. Economic instability has manifested in the form of highly sophisticated armed robberies which were very scarce back in the day and there has been a rise in the rate at which Zimbabwe entrepreneurs are engaging foreign investors to attract funding and strong connections hence the need to engage advanced security systems and services for protection of their assets. Some of the prestigious security companies in Zimbabwe include; Safeguard, Benevolent. Black Shark, Peace security, AGS and Fawcett among others.  The security business is often dominated by men which has created barriers for women in terms of career advancement and gender stereotypes. However, the boost in demand for private security services in the country has seen female entrepreneurs rising and venturing into this male dominated sector and thriving while confronting significant stereotype obstacles. This is the case for Divine Ndhlukula, a well-established and competent female Zimbabwean entrepreneur. Divine Ndhlukula is the owner of SECURICO, a renowned security services company in Zimbabwe. The company offers significant security solutions to corporate firms, residential premises and other major potential stakeholders which include; guarding services, cash management, advanced electronic security systems in the form of state of the art CCTV and alarm systems and rapid response teams among other value added services. To date the company employs thousands of individuals inclusive of management team, guards, drivers, dog trainers to mention a few. The company also offers free security advices and consultation services on its website. Characterised by advanced and latest technology in its security system packages, Divine Ndhukula’s company has managed to scoop multiple awards and is recognised regionally as an excellent business enterprise and some of these awards include the 2011 African Awards for Entrepreneurship as grand winners, it was also awarded a service excellence award and recognised as one of the top ten employer businesses in Zimbabwe. Driven by her passion, resilience and self-confidence, Divine Ndhlukula invested in and founded Securico security services in 1998.The company has been successfully operational for 25 years. Education and Background Overview          The much celebrated businesswoman and philanthropist acquired her first degree in Accountancy and went on to acquire her master’s degrees in Business Adminstration from Midlands States University and finally completed her PhD with the Women’s University in Harare. She possesses skills in management, consulting, entrepreneurship, marketing and agro operation to mention a few. After being employed by a local insurance company in the 90s, she saved enough money and bought and 8-ton truck that she rented out. Divine eventually lost the truck after selling it to secure his father’s plot which had been put up for auction by the bank. She ventured into the farming business but faced multiple challenges during that venture some natural. In 1998 she launched SECURICO in a cottage behind her Harare home beginning with only four employees. To date, the company has grown in capacity to employ over 3000 people. Awards and Recognitions Under her management, Securico has been awarded multiple excellence awards and personally, Divine Ndlukula’s participation in women entrepreneurship has been locally and regionally celebrated through her multiple awards.Some of these awards include; the  Empretec Entrepreneur of the Year 2001, Institute of Directors Zimbabwe Director of the Year (SMEs) 2008, Woman Investor of the Year by Zimbabwe Investment Authority 2013, African Woman of the Year 2013 African Achievers Awards,  UNCTAD/Empretec Top Ten Global Women in Business 2014 among other notable awards. To continuously prove to herself and the world that success has no age limit, she managed to get on the Forbes over 50 list of the most successful women in the whole of Africa. Expanding to diverse business ventures Dr Ndhlukula is also a knowledgeable farmer with a strong farming background. She often admits she got into farming by default, having acquired her father’s land at an early age. Currently, Dr Divine is the owner of Zvikomborero farms located in Featherstone, Chikomba District of Zimbabwe. The farm specialises in commercial livestock production, horticulture and egg production although the main activity is goat production. She has built a lasting reputation on her goat and cattle cross breeding scheme. The farm also offers courses studies in goat production and stockmanship. Dr Ndhlukula’s farm also hosts seminars which are targeted at connecting and exchanging of knowledge between farm owners, directors and other stakeholders. Her massive agriculture adventure has continuously played a huge part in ensuring food security in the country and job creation. Zvikomborero farms scooped a prestigious award, a grand champion award after emerging as the overall winner in the livestock sector at the at the Harare Agricultural Show this year. Recently, she admirably flaunted on her X account, formerly twitter, how they have just finished constructing a dam as part of their plans to curb the ongoing drought crisis in the country and avoid losses in their farming activities at Zvikomborero farms and how they have named the dam after a devoted worker at the farm. This gesture has shown how Dr Ndhlukula’s projects are not just about herself and her success but equally giving other people priority and sense of belonging. “We’ve completed the Tawanda Dam expansion at Zvikomborero Farms, our 6th dam! Named in honour of Tawanda Muzambezi, a long-serving employee whose dedication and resilience inspire us. It’s not just about water but our people too”, she wrote. Additionally, to her successful Agriculture adventures, Dr Ndhlukula is also a celebrated author with several awards to show for her writing skills. One of her successful masterpieces is titled, “Entrepreneurial Success” and part of the book speaks on her personal experiences and challenges

The security services market is ever growing in Zimbabwe as a result of a number of factors which include higher crime rates, economic instability, government support towards security companies, growing middle classes in need of safeguarding their assets, heightened activity in cybercrime and increased partnerships in the security business. According to statistics, the industry is expected to have an annual growth rate of approximately 15.98% by 2029 resulting in a market value of about $9 million+. Economic instability has manifested in the form of highly sophisticated armed robberies which were very scarce back in the day and there has been a rise in the rate at which Zimbabwe entrepreneurs are engaging foreign investors to attract funding and strong connections hence the need to engage advanced security systems and services for protection of their assets. Some of the prestigious security companies in Zimbabwe include; Safeguard, Benevolent. Black Shark, Peace security, AGS and Fawcett among others.  The security business is often dominated by men which has created barriers for women in terms of career advancement and gender stereotypes. However, the boost in demand for private security services in the country has seen female entrepreneurs rising and venturing into this male dominated sector and thriving while confronting significant stereotype obstacles. This is the case for Divine Ndhlukula, a well-established and competent female Zimbabwean entrepreneur. Divine Ndhlukula is the owner of SECURICO, a renowned security services company in Zimbabwe. The company offers significant security solutions to corporate firms, residential premises and other major potential stakeholders which include; guarding services, cash management, advanced electronic security systems in the form of state of the art CCTV and alarm systems and rapid response teams among other value added services. To date the company employs thousands of individuals inclusive of management team, guards, drivers, dog trainers to mention a few. The company also offers free security advices and consultation services on its website. Characterised by advanced and latest technology in its security system packages, Divine Ndhukula’s company has managed to scoop multiple awards and is recognised regionally as an excellent business enterprise and some of these awards include the 2011 African Awards for Entrepreneurship as grand winners, it was also awarded a service excellence award and recognised as one of the top ten employer businesses in Zimbabwe. Driven by her passion, resilience and self-confidence, Divine Ndhlukula invested in and founded Securico security services in 1998.The company has been successfully operational for 25 years. Education and Background Overview          The much celebrated businesswoman and philanthropist acquired her first degree in Accountancy and went on to acquire her master’s degrees in Business Adminstration from Midlands States University and finally completed her PhD with the Women’s University in Harare. She possesses skills in management, consulting, entrepreneurship, marketing and agro operation to mention a few. After being employed by a local insurance company in the 90s, she saved enough money and bought and 8-ton truck that she rented out. Divine eventually lost the truck after selling it to secure his father’s plot which had been put up for auction by the bank. She ventured into the farming business but faced multiple challenges during that venture some natural. In 1998 she launched SECURICO in a cottage behind her Harare home beginning with only four employees. To date, the company has grown in capacity to employ over 3000 people. Awards and Recognitions Under her management, Securico has been awarded multiple excellence awards and personally, Divine Ndlukula’s participation in women entrepreneurship has been locally and regionally celebrated through her multiple awards.Some of these awards include; the  Empretec Entrepreneur of the Year 2001, Institute of Directors Zimbabwe Director of the Year (SMEs) 2008, Woman Investor of the Year by Zimbabwe Investment Authority 2013, African Woman of the Year 2013 African Achievers Awards,  UNCTAD/Empretec Top Ten Global Women in Business 2014 among other notable awards. To continuously prove to herself and the world that success has no age limit, she managed to get on the Forbes over 50 list of the most successful women in the whole of Africa. Expanding to diverse business ventures Dr Ndhlukula is also a knowledgeable farmer with a strong farming background. She often admits she got into farming by default, having acquired her father’s land at an early age. Currently, Dr Divine is the owner of Zvikomborero farms located in Featherstone, Chikomba District of Zimbabwe. The farm specialises in commercial livestock production, horticulture and egg production although the main activity is goat production. She has built a lasting reputation on her goat and cattle cross breeding scheme. The farm also offers courses studies in goat production and stockmanship. Dr Ndhlukula’s farm also hosts seminars which are targeted at connecting and exchanging of knowledge between farm owners, directors and other stakeholders. Her massive agriculture adventure has continuously played a huge part in ensuring food security in the country and job creation. Zvikomborero farms scooped a prestigious award, a grand champion award after emerging as the overall winner in the livestock sector at the at the Harare Agricultural Show this year. Recently, she admirably flaunted on her X account, formerly twitter, how they have just finished constructing a dam as part of their plans to curb the ongoing drought crisis in the country and avoid losses in their farming activities at Zvikomborero farms and how they have named the dam after a devoted worker at the farm. This gesture has shown how Dr Ndhlukula’s projects are not just about herself and her success but equally giving other people priority and sense of belonging. “We’ve completed the Tawanda Dam expansion at Zvikomborero Farms, our 6th dam! Named in honour of Tawanda Muzambezi, a long-serving employee whose dedication and resilience inspire us. It’s not just about water but our people too”, she wrote. Additionally, to her successful Agriculture adventures, Dr Ndhlukula is also a celebrated author with several awards to show for her writing skills. One of her successful masterpieces is titled, “Entrepreneurial Success” and part of the book speaks on her personal experiences and challenges

Top security company Securico hosted its inaugural charity golf day as part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations and raise funds to support marginalized rural learners in Gutu at Country Club Golf Course last week. At least 130 golfers participated in the oversubscribed event which carried the theme ‘swinging for impact.’ All the funds raised from the event will be used to support the Mbuya Mary Simbi Library initiative which was established in 2020, in Gutu as well as the newly opened computer lab at the same institution. Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony, founder and managing director of Securico Security Divine Simbi Ndhlukula expressed delight at the success of the charity event “From what I understand this is one of the best tournaments this club had over a long time. Our sponsors, I will not be able to mention you all by name, but I want to thank you because you understood the cause. You understood the reason why you had to support this tournament because you also want to help bridge the gap between one girl or boy in Tsholotsho, Muzarabani, and Gutu to be at the same level with a boy who is in the city or developed countries like Italy and Germany,” Simbi Ndhlukula said. “You will find that in these disadvantaged communities, there are kids who do not even know what a computer is but this has been made possible by your generosity. “We will be inviting you all to the commissioning of the connectivity in Gutu. There is a young man by the name of Tanaka from Zambezi Ark Technologies, I just met him not so long ago maybe two or three months ago at the British embassy where we were asked to mentor upcoming entrepreneurs. We are working with him and he will train the young learners in Gutu to make solar lanterns from recycled bottles. “I would like to urge those who want to replicate what we are doing in their rural communities to come talk to us and we are always ready to help,” she added. The Mbuya Mary Simbi Library was named after Simbi Ndhlukula’s mother. At least eight schools and 4,000 students are benefitting from the initiative. The men’s competition was won by Clemence Mlambo who is sponsored by Trendy Threads while young female golfer Sharmain Mhundwa from Borrowdale Brooke Golf Club won the women’s section. Some of the corporate sponsors who are set to participate in the initiative of empowering rural education include EcoCash Zimbabwe, ZB Financial Holdings, Maisha, Croco Motors, Premier Corporate Gifts, Delta Beverages, Zimtile, Firstlink Insurance Brokers, Cell Insurance Zimbabwe, Generation Health, Zimplats and Alpha Media Holdings. Sourse: The Independant

Zimbabwe, a nation known for its resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, boasts a cadre of remarkable women who have defied the odds to achieve success in the world of business. From pioneering ventures in various industries to breaking barriers and inspiring future generations, these women have left an indelible mark on Zimbabwe’s business landscape. Here are some of Zimbabwe’s most successful businesswomen and their inspiring stories of triumph: 1. Divine Ndhlukula – Founder of SECURICO Divine Ndhlukula is a trailblazer in Zimbabwe’s security industry and the founder of SECURICO, one of the country’s leading security companies. Starting with just four employees in 1998, Ndhlukula’s vision and determination have propelled SECURICO to become a multimillion-dollar enterprise with a workforce of over 5,000 employees. Her commitment to excellence and innovation has earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of Forbes Africa’s most powerful women. Continue Reading

Prominent philanthropist and award-winning businesswoman Divine Simbi Ndhlukula has unveiled a state-of-the-art computer lab and library programme at Makudo Business Centre in Gutu. More than 4 000 primary school pupils from the district are expected to benefit from the Mbuya Mary Simbi (MMS) Library. The unveiling of the computer lab at the weekend coincided with Securico’s International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024 celebration, further emphasising the company’s commitment to empowering communities, particularly women and girls, through education and technology. Recognising the importance of bridging the digital divide, Dr Ndhlukula set a key goal to develop a computer lab within the library premises. The first of its kind in the district, the computer lab will service several schools in Gutu. At the launch of her debut book, “Entrepreneurial Success: Insights on Growing Business in a Fluid Economy” in February, Dr Ndhlukula committed to raise funds for the realisation of her dream of this computer lab for rural learners. An auction was held and some notable individuals’ like West Property chief executive Ken Sharpe, Gloria Zvaravanhu and Emilia Chisango pledged towards the first hardware for the lab. The weekend’s event witnessed a gathering of key figures from both the public and private sectors, united in their commitment to advance education and technology access in rural Gutu. Officiating at the event, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between Government entities, community leaders, and private enterprises in addressing the challenges faced by undeserved communities. She reaffirmed the ministry’s unwavering support for the lab, emphasising that the initiative was in line with the Government’s digitilisation agenda. Dr Ndhlukula said she decided to invest in the computer lab to bridge the digital divide between the rural and urban students. “Within the Mbuya Mary Simbi Library and Lab hangs a colossal world map, inspiring learners  to dream expansively, transcending the boundaries of their immediate reality. The many books within will undoubtedly propel their minds towards a brighter tomorrow. “Now, these young minds can envision a future that extends beyond the confines of their immediate surroundings. In hindsight, I owe my greatest gifts — love, industry, and a passion for books — to my parents. ‘‘Books, the gateway to uncharted worlds for those who dare to dream, empowered me to stand before diverse audiences, to lead experts, and to champion my business.” Other notable guests among them Masvingo Provincial Education director, district and area schools inspectors, Chief Chitsa and representatives from The United Nations Development Programme, attended the event.