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Sipepisiwe Moyo, [email protected]

Women in Zimbabwe continue to prove that they are not only the pillars of their households but also visionaries capable of spearheading successful ventures.

One such trailblazer from Bulawayo is Eunice Dlamini, who has transformed every endeavour she touches into gold. Through sheer determination and limited prior knowledge, she has established an events company in Bulawayo, M and M Joyous Events that has evolved into a renowned events venue, securing a legacy for her family and future generations.

Her journey in business has been marked by numerous accolades, including the Entrepreneur of the Year award just one year after launching her company. Over the years, she has earned multiple awards, including Megafest Northern Region Businesswoman of the Year, so many that she has lost count.

M and M Joyous Events Managing Director Eunice Dlamini showcases her prestigious awards

As the driving force behind M & M Joyous Events, Dlamini, who one can refer to as the queen of events, has built a trusted name in the events management industry. Her company has provided services for high-profile corporate events and state functions dating back to the late former President Robert Mugabe’s era. She has also provided catering for the funerals of notable figures such as historian Pathisa Nyathi, politician Dumiso Dabengwa’s wife and John Nkomo.

A qualified nurse by profession, Dlamini worked at Mpilo Central Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals, and with the non-governmental organisation SWV Netherlands. She transitioned into event management in 2007, a dream she had nurtured for years. She fully ventured into the catering industry in 2011, inspired by the elegant hospitality she experienced during her travels.

The road to success was paved with years of sacrifice, hard work and prayer. She recalls the challenges of starting with a group of church women in 2007, many of whom struggled with punctuality. Without formal training, she relied on books and online research to learn the intricacies of events management.

“Events management came to me after extensive travel, both locally and internationally. I was captivated by the hospitality industry, the luxurious hotels and the quality of service. Owning a hotel became my ultimate goal and I knew that event management was a stepping stone toward that dream,” Dlamini shared.

To prepare, she meticulously documented her observations and devised a step-by-step action plan. Starting in 2006, she slowly acquired catering equipment, secretly storing purchases even from her husband.

“Running events was a path that I believed would eventually lead to my ultimate goal of owning a hotel. I started by carefully documenting everything I needed to do after my travels and outlining activities step by step — because I had learnt that achieving something requires a structured approach.

“Having an activity plan kept me focused. I began collecting catering equipment gradually in 2006, spending an entire year building my inventory. In fact, my husband had no idea what was inside the boxes I purchased each time we returned from a trip,” she said.

Eunice Dlamini and her staff. — Pictures by Allen D Ndebele

Before officially launching her business, she sought mentorship from her neighbour, Thoko Ndlovu, who managed Eunice’s nephew’s wedding. Ndlovu became her mentor and allowed her to gain practical experience.
Her first independent venture was organising a memorial service with three women from church.

“An idea came to me while I was in church, and I mobilised three women to join me, even though I wasn’t entirely sure how to run an event. Our first event was a memorial service for my relative. We had no idea how to charge for our services and struggled with time management, which led to delays in service delivery.

“Despite this, we did well, even without formal training. However, I was always exhausted, and the ladies lacked the necessary exposure, which contributed to further time management challenges.”

Testing the waters further, Dlamini volunteered to cater for her niece’s 21st birthday, an event for 100 guests, which proved to be a pivotal moment.

“The success of that birthday party opened the door for my first major event — a wedding for 500 people in April. It was a daunting task, but I was determined to prove myself,” Dlamini recalled.
The wedding was a major challenge for her as she had only two months to plan the catering.

“The wedding was for a friend from church who had attended the birthday party and later referred me to her friend.
“It was a nightmare as there was not much time. As I’m a perfectionist, I was preparing non-stop until the function date.
“Fortunately, at that time, we had experienced ladies from the City Council Club in Makokoba, and I brought them on board to assist.”

The wedding, attended by prominent guests, earned her instant recognition, with requests for her services pouring in. Her collaboration with the experienced women saw her learn large-scale catering techniques such as cooking rice and beef in three-legged pots.

As a woman in business, Dlamini then mastered the art of balancing work, studies and family life through meticulous planning.
“People often say they are too busy, but with proper planning, anything is possible. I would wake up early, handle business matters and ensure my children were cared for before they woke up,” she said.
Her husband played a significant role in her culinary growth.

“I was spoilt as a child and never really cooked, but my husband was very particular about food. He wanted a balanced diet and refused to eat the same meals repeatedly. That pushed me to explore new recipes and cooking techniques.”
Dlamini said that after her husband witnessed her performance at their niece’s birthday, he joined in and has been supporting her with event planning ever since.

“My husband has been very supportive. When it comes to technical tasks like welding and repairing our cars, he is always handy. On the cooking side, he taught us how to make the best beef that people enjoy at M and M, as he used to work at the Cold Storage Company and knows how to prepare meat properly.

“Even when it comes to gravies, he is very skilled and always offers guidance. If we make crunchy carrots, he reminds us that we are cooking for Africans and insists that they must be well-cooked. He is the one who instilled a culture of serving well-prepared food at M and M. He also ensures that I run the company properly, without debts,” she said.
Dlamini’s resilience paid off when she purchased land to build her own events venue at 53 years old. It took her a decade to complete the venue, finally realising her dream at 63 last year – a testament that it is never too late to achieve one’s goals.

“The highlight of my career came on November 16, 2024 when we officially opened our venue. That was proof that persistence and vision can overcome any challenge,” she said.

However, her journey has not been without hardships. She has faced financial struggles, theft of business assets and periods of depression. “I faced my lows as a woman in business, including financial challenges. Along the way, some of my equipment was stolen, which led me to invest in dogs for security at the venue.

“I put a lot of money into the business in the beginning and at some point, I became depressed. During that period, I secured a corporate tender without realising that payments from such clients come later. This left me in debt. I kept borrowing until I could no longer do so,” she said.

Despite these setbacks, prayer and perseverance saw her through.
Today, Dlamini employs over 30 part-time staff members and 12 full-time workers. Many of the women she mentored have gone on to establish their own successful businesses.

Her journey is far from over. She plans to pursue a PhD and has an ongoing ambition to own a boutique hotel, so as to leave a lasting legacy for her family.

Her story is a beacon of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that with determination, faith and hard work, anything is possible.