The Story of Dr. Divine Ndhlukula, The Woman Who Built a Security Empire from a Cottage - Breaking Barriers
By Sona Headlines | A Profile in Leadership
The story of Dr. Divine Ndhlukula is a masterclass in triumph over circumstance. From a backyard cottage in Harare, she founded and built SECURICO, a multi-million dollar security company that shattered patriarchal barriers and defied a national economic crisis.
This is the story of how a widowed woman with no security background, armed only with passion and determination, transformed a male-dominated industry and became one of Africa's most successful entrepreneurs.
The Beginning: A Cottage and a Vision
In December 1998, with "next to nothing in capital and no security background," Dr. Ndhlukula founded SECURICO from the cottage of her small home in Harare. The company began with just four employees, including herself. She identified a critical gap in the market: a lack of professionalism and quality service in the security industry. This gap became her entry point.
Born in Gutu, Dr. Ndhlukula's entrepreneurial spirit was evident early on. After working for companies like Old Mutual and ZBC, she ventured into farming in 1992. A devastating drought led to a failed maize crop and nearly cost her house. Undeterred, she returned to the corporate world, but her passion for business remained. This experience of failure, she notes, taught her invaluable lessons in tenacity and self-confidence.
Overcoming Insurmountable Odds
The first major challenge was the industry itself. Security was seen as a man's job. Dr. Ndhlukula recalls, "The challenge was to convince the market that I could do the job despite the fact that I was a woman. Clients even refused to be guarded by women." It took immense persuasion to change this negative perception, but with persistence, women became widely accepted and valued in the industry.
SECURICO's success was achieved amidst the severe post-2000 economic crisis in Zimbabwe. With hyperinflation, business closures, and a jittery financial sector, securing funding was "almost impossible," especially for a woman in an unconventional business. Dr. Ndhlukula decided to "make do with the little that I had," growing the business by diligently ploughing back all profits.
Growth, Innovation, and Accolades
From its humble beginnings, SECURICO grew into a company with revenues of $13 million and over 3,400 employees, 900 of whom are women. It became the first security company in Zimbabwe to achieve ISO certification. The company diversified from guarding services into cash-in-transit, cash management, electronic security, private investigations, and even a canine dog services subsidiary.
Dr. Ndhlukula's success has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including Empretec Entrepreneur of the Year (2001), Empretec Entrepreneur of the Decade (2002), and the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship Grand Prize (2011). She is a respected leader in national business organizations like ZNCC and CZI.
Divine Ndhlukula's 10 Lessons for Entrepreneurs
Sona Commentary: The Underdog Advantage
Dr. Divine Ndhlukula's story is the ultimate blueprint for turning perceived disadvantages into a strategic advantage. As she herself noted, "The market was not receptive to me as a woman without any background in the security sector. But if you work as an underdog, you always do your best – and become the best." This is a profound insight. Being underestimated forced her to innovate, to deliver superior quality, and to build a business so undeniably excellent that the market had no choice but to take notice.
At Sona Solar Zimbabwe, we believe in this same principle of building resilient, self-sufficient futures. Dr. Ndhlukula did not wait for the system to change for her; she built her own system from the ground up, powered by perseverance and an unwavering commitment to quality. Her journey proves that it is not your circumstances, but your determination, that leads to success. She is an inspiration to every Zimbabwean, demonstrating that with tenacity and vision, empires can be built, even from a cottage.
Quick Facts
Dr. Divine Ndhlukula is the founder and Managing Director of SECURICO, one of Zimbabwe’s leading security companies, established in 1998.
She broke through patriarchal barriers in a male-dominated industry, challenged stereotypes about women in security, and survived Zimbabwe’s harsh post-2000 economic crisis—all while securing limited funding opportunities.
She encourages women to conquer their fears, work extraordinarily hard, and view womanhood not as a weakness but as a “competitive advantage.”
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