AS Napoleon Hill said, “Whatever the mind can convince, and believe, it can achieve”. This is true for one ordinary woman who conceived the bidea of starting a security company in 1998, with no prior experience and next to nothing in capital. Her was just an attitude of self-belief that she told herself that she could. Starting at her kitchen table, Dr Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula immersed herself in building systems, searching for smart people to hire, developing them to bring the best out of them, inculcating the culture of excellence, putting the business at the forefront of bringing international standards like ISO Standards to the security sector, as well as fighting for the acceptance of women in this hitherto male industry. Speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebratory dinner recently, she remarked “This incredible journey that started like a fluke in 1998 brought many amazing people into my life as the SECURICO family. In 1998, I was quite young, then, and as underdogs then, my small team and I worked like maniacs to try to stake
our position in an industry that was perceived not suitable for us. “My dream was always to create
a business that would serve its employees as much as it did its customers, hence we emphasised both internal and external customers. A home away from home for the people SECURICO employed, as well as
a platform for growth”, she went on. Dr Ndhlukula attributed the SECURICO success story to the people
whom she is proud to have. A fundamental element underpinning SECURICO’s culture is empowerment.
SECURICO is an empowering organisation where the employee is allowed to reach his or her full potential, academically, and professionally irrespective of tribe, colour, class, religion, or gender. Female employees are delighted with the degree of empowerment at SECURICO, and this has been
a super great game changer in service delivery. Divine, a mentor to many aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, a global speaker and a philanthropist, has been recognised locally and globally,
not only for her business acumenship, but for being impactful and intentional in what she does for
communities’ empowerment. Among others, she was named Forbes Africa Businesswoman of the Year, EY World Entrepreneur Award Southern Africa Exceptional category, and was recently inducted into the Business Excellence Hall of Fame. Simbi-Ndhlukula has been appointed to board membership, directorship, chairpersonship, and leadership capacities in several key and strategic institutions and commissions in Zimbabwe and was conferred with the esteemed Commendation Hero Medal in recognition of the valuable contribution to the economy of the Republic of Zimbabwe. A champion of women’s economic empowerment, Simbi-Ndhlukula is a holder of two MBA degrees from Midlands State University and Women’s University in Africa as well as a PhD Philosophy in Business Leadership from Women’s University in Africa. Hers is an inspirational story of an ordinary woman who has achieved extraordinary achievements against all odds. She is about to publish a business book as well as her memoirs shortly. She concluded our discussion: “Success in business is about having good people and processes. It is also about having a good brand with integrity being the overriding key fundamental issue. I believe we have them all.”
The Standard News 17 December 2023 Page T4
