SECURICO celebrated its Silver Jubilee 2023 themed “OUR JOURNEY, OUR PEOPLE, Delivering Excellence since 1998” this month.
Many activities focusing on their sustainability agenda were undertaken in the past 5 weeks. Education, the Environment, and Women’s economic empowerment being the key areas for their community engagements, SECURICO had an opportunity to go around the country celebrating with learners in 25 schools and planting trees as part of its legacy-building journey.
SECURICO is one of the leading security companies in Zimbabwe and has been on a remarkable journey of a company born out of a kitchen table. The company has achieved many significant milestones over the past 25 years, consistently demonstrated to their coined pay offline “Commitment to Quality and Excellence”, trailblazing many notable achievements in an environment that has been difficult.
Some of the key milestones that have shaped SECURICO’s remarkable success story are:
Founding with 4 people
SECURICO was founded on a kitchen table with 4 people and the company graduated to the servant quarters of the mid residential area of Mabelreign by an ordinary woman Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula, who not only was did she have no experience in the security sector but had next to nothing in capital. However, having identified the gap that existed then, she and her team worked like maniacs to stake their position as the most professional security services provider in Zimbabwe. The overriding idea was to be the best in uncompromising quality service to the high end of the market segment, being served by dedicated, motivated and highly engaged team members, and thus made a mark on changing the face of the industry in no time.
Exponential Growth
With that approach, SECURICO grew quickly, and its reputation started filtering to the very people who had written it off as a nonentity. The company moved from Mabelreign to the National Sports Stadium and other service offerings came on stream, with the purchase of its Headquarters in Workington in 2006.
In no time, regional offices were being opened every 10 months in places like Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare, Bindura, Marondera, Kwekwe, Chinhoyi, Chegutu, Ngezi, Rusape etc… with many of the offices being owned by the company.
Cash Management
Cash Management Service was pioneered by SECURICO in 2003 providing end-to-end cash management. i.e. Cash and Asset – In – Transit, ATM Replenishment, Cashiering, and Valuable Storage Services. This was started together with Reception Services.
SECURICO ‘s cash handling experience also includes the distribution of cash to more than 100,000 households in all districts in Zimbabwe. The company has experienced Cashiers supported by a well-resourced CIT service with vehicles that have onboard CCTVs and are tracked in real-time. The company boasts of a fully-fledged Investigations Department that does random follow-ups and Escort services by ZRP engaged where necessary.
Electronic security systems
Having understood the need to provide 360 degrees of security solutions, SECURICO started an electronics division to instal high tech security systems like the intruder alarms, CCTVs, access control systems and provide rapid response and emergency security services. SECURICO went on to acquire Multilink, a rapid response company in 2008, and became a fully-fledged electronics security systems company. The company has been installing high tech security systems at key strategic sites and mines in Zimbabwe.
ISO certification with everyone on board
SECURICO trailblazed in the certifications of ISO 9001, 45001 and 18001 to achieve a robust SHEQ management system that has supported the growth of the business. This has now seen many security companies going for certification pitching the local security industry at the global level.
Due to the large number of employees, SECURICO’s challenges in implementing ISO 9001 QMS were ensuring that everyone was on board; that they understood what it is about, and their role in the whole certification process. SECURICO was the first manned security company to be certified to ISO9001 in 2005 with certifications to 14001 EMS and 45001 OHS following a few years later.
Culture of Excellence
SECURICO’s culture of excellence has seen it win many business leadership awards over the past 25 years. These prestigious awards like the Africa Award for Entrepreneurship are a testament to its commitment to fulfilling the needs of its customers.
Many other recognitions have been awarded to SECURICO with London Stock Exchange naming them as One of the companies to Inspire Africa, as well as being adjudged in the Zimbabwe Top Ten Best Employers, consistently being adjudged one of the Superbrands in Zimbabwe.
It is thus when the World Cup did its journey across Africa in 2010, that SECURICO was chosen as the security service supplier to this very monumental and sensitive assignment.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
One of the motivations for starting SECURICO was a desire to empower disadvantaged women in Zimbabwe who were not able to access opportunities for formal employment. Since its formation, SECURICO has taken an active and deliberate initiative to include women targeting especially single mothers as they are most vulnerable in the hitherto male-dominated private security industry. Currently, SECURICO employs over 900 women and is the largest employer of women in Zimbabwe outside the Government. The trend set by SECURICO has seen a rise in the general acceptance and inclusion of women in the private security sector.
The company provides equal opportunity to all regardless of gender with women occupying positions like Gunners, Supervisors, Management, CIT Drivers, and Dog Handlers with women well represented in the SECURICO leadership. The company holds an exclusive Women Empowerment Day as part of its annual calendar of activities. It has gone a step further to establish a Gender Desk that is manned by fully qualified counselors who handle gender issues as and when they arise.
The company has extended its women empowerment to its supply chain where over 60% of suppliers are women. Dr Ndhlukula also founded the Women Owned Business Trust initiative, to help women scale up their businesses.
