Motivation: Unemployed lady overcomes adversity to start her soap making business in Budiriro

Rudo with her bar of washing soap

Despite being a holder of Bsc Degree in Chemical Engineering, Rudo Mazhandu (31years) faced the reality of unemployment upon completion of her studies. She tried to be employed in the public sector as a secondary school teacher; the remuneration coupled with the underutilization of her skills made her quit the job in less than a year.

As a chemical engineerer, in December 2014, Rudo decided to utilize her skills and knowledge and started a green bar soap making enterprise. 

The coming in of Z:W project in partnership with Junior Achievement Zimbabwe in March 2016 through life skills training integrated with entrepreneurship and business management training was a turning point in Rudo’s business.

Training on customer care, marketing, record keeping and adherence to operating regulations transformed the way she used to conduct her business. “In March 2016, l used to operate in a very small room, the training offered by Z:W opened avenues of operating with growth in mind. 

I moved from the small room in June and currently l’m renting much bigger warehouse for my soap production business”. Rudo explained happily.

In addition to moving to a bigger place of operation, Rudo also mechanized her operation through procurement of an electric mixing bowler, from a previously manual drum mixing method. 

This has resulted in volumes of production increasing significantly with income rising from a net of $800/month to a range of between $1500- $2000/month employing on casual basis an average seven young people/day on busy days who are paid $7/day from a baseline of one casual employee when she used to operate in a small room.

The business has 2 sizes of bars, 750 g bar retailing at $0.50, wholesale price $0.4167, carton(24*750g) $10. 1kg bar retailing at $0.70, wholesale price $0.65 carton (10*1kg) $6.50 2. Brand name is Mirror Brite.

You can buy straight from her factory, 4411 Kushanda Cresent, Budiriro 2 Industrial, Harare or go to downtown 'tuckshops' in Leopold Takawira, Factory Shop, Gumbas, B&C wholesalers. Her contact number is +263 772 759 373