Young Female Entrepreneur Discovers Wealth in Baobab Trees

Ngonidzashe Mazhura, the CEO and founder of Thandie’s Village, an innovative startup, has found success by adding value to the natural resources of Africa, particularly baobab trees. Her company and its products reflect her genuine passion for Africa, science, good health, and all things natural. Mazhura aims to contribute to Africa’s expertise and prosperity through her endeavors.

“The baobab fruit is highly underrated due to a lack of awareness about its benefits,” explains Ms. Ngonidzashe Mazhura. Thandie’s Village extracts oil and powder from baobab fruits to be used in food products, leveraging its nutrients, health benefits, and natural preservative properties. Additionally, baobab trees can be used to make relish. Traditionally, the fruit has been used to treat various ailments due to its high content of vitamin C, potassium, carbohydrates, and phosphorus.

The baobab tree is renowned for its visual appeal and is predominantly found in semi-arid regions of tropical Africa, including Zimbabwe. These ancient trees can live for over 1,000 years and have been relied upon by indigenous tribes for shelter, food, medicine, clothing, and raw materials.

Mazhura, now 25 years old, embarked on her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 19 while still in college. Her interest in the baobab fruit, an underappreciated indigenous fruit, inspired the name of her company, Thandie’s Village, which pays homage to her mother. Thandie is a Ndebele name meaning “You are loved.”

“I am passionate about Africa, healthy living, and natural products. It has always been my lifelong desire to share Africa’s wealth and experiences with both Africans and the rest of the world. Africa, I believe, is Mother Nature’s home,” Mazhura expresses.

With less than $100 as her starting capital, Mazhura overcame numerous challenges to establish Thandie’s Village. She emphasizes that the ups and downs encountered on her entrepreneurial journey have broadened her perspective on business. Today, she stands as an authentic representation of entrepreneurship.

Thandie’s Village has participated in international expos outside of Zimbabwe, including the Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in 2022 and the Botswana Global Expo this year. Mazhura’s line of baobab products, which includes confectionery, raw powder, and cosmetic seed oil, is raising the bar for young female entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe.

Angelica Chiwenga, an upcoming entrepreneur in the hair industry based in Harare, spoke highly of Thandie’s Village products. “I enjoy the candy sweets; the coloring and sweetness take away the bitterness in the baobab that we grew up eating,” says Chiwenga. She also uses baobab oil in her hair, which has treated her dandruff and promoted faster hair growth. Chiwenga finds the baobab powder beneficial for her digestive health and incorporates it into her smoothies.

A decade ago, there was little institutional trade in baobab products in Zimbabwe, with women selling the nutrient-rich fruits on roadsides or in bulk to informal traders for meager amounts. Traditional knowledge about the life-saving properties of baobab trees had been forgotten due to various economic, social, and cultural factors, resulting in the underutilization of this valuable African species.

Thandie’s Village is actively working with youth and women from villages in Mashonaland West and Manicaland provinces, where baobab trees are abundant. By involving these communities in the harvesting of baobab fruits, Mazhura’s company aims to empower them. Thandie’s Village purchases the harvested fruits and processes them into baobab powder and other finished products like Maheu, a beverage used in drinks and health food products. The company has established ready markets in Zambia, Botswana, and among individuals and local pharmacies.

Mazhura acknowledges that dreams and passion alone are insufficient for running a profitable business. She has assembled a formidable team, which has propelled Thandie’s Village to national and international prominence in the healthy living products industry. The team consists of Mazhura herself as the Founder/CEO & Technical Creator, five permanent staff members, and six temporary employees. Additionally, two agents handle the marketing and sales of the products on a freelance basis.

“We aim to establish two distribution shops in Zambia and Botswana to distribute our products,” Mazhura reveals. She credits Zimtrade for the company’s goal of significant expansion and gaining traction in Southern Africa. Zimtrade has identified Thandie’s Village products for global markets, enabling the company to participate in international trade shows and seize new business opportunities.

Vusa Ndlovu from the Unemployed and Vulnerable Foundation Trust, a Zimbabwean charity that provides life coaching and entrepreneurship training to children in Bulawayo, commends Thandie’s Village as a clear entrepreneurship concept. Ndlovu plans to visit their business offices with some children to learn about establishing a business.

“My advice to youth is not to despair over unemployment because you can be your own boss. Take advantage of the natural resources around you, add value to them like Mazhura did, and earn a living,” Ndlovu adds.

The Zimbabwean government has long encouraged young people to develop self-sustaining businesses as part of its Vision 2030, which aims to drive the economy, create jobs, and foster revenue development.

“My future and goals lie in the baobab sector, as it represents a billion-dollar untapped industry,” Mazhura explains. “The business has truly transformed my life, providing food on the table, access to shelter, job creation, and contributing to the country’s GDP,” she concludes.