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Shupikai Esabel Mubvekeri is one of the women who believe in gender equity and equality as well as women’s economic empowerment.

She is chief executive of a peanut butter-making company called Bescom Enterprises Zimbabwe and is also the national chairperson of Zimbabwe Women in Trade and Development.

Mrs Mubvekeri was born in a family of five in Mazowe on December 25, 1962.
The mother of four says: “One has to believe in their own potential by discovering their strengths and using them.”
She was educated at St Alban’s Mission School in Chiweshe and Nhamburiko College in Harare for her Ordinary Level.
After her “O” Level studies she did secretarial duties at Nhamburiko College.

In 1982 she became a bookkeeper at Leather and Footwear and a year later she moved on to the Registrar-General’s Office.
She resigned in April 2004 to pursue businesses in milling before setting up a peanut butter making company called Bescom Enterprises.
The Standards Association of Zimbabwe gave her peanut butter a seal of approval and Mrs Mubvekeri is a proud distributor quality products.
“I want to be a very big business person and manufacture peanut butter for export to all countries in the Sadc region,” she said.
Mrs Mubvekeri said she drew her inspiration from her “business-minded” mother who was a farmer and used to sell some of her produce like cotton and maize.
Her husband, who owns an engineering company, motivated the devout Christian to pursue her interests in starting a business.
Mrs Mubvekeri is a member of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe in Highfield.
In her spare time, she enjoys interacting with other businesswomen to share and exchange ideas.
Through trade fairs and shows organised by the ministries of Women’s Affairs and Small to Medium Enterprises, she managed to open a branch of Bescom Enterprises in Zambia in 2005.
“The economy is not performing accordingly due to a number of factors affecting our country, sanctions included, and the main impact is being felt by businesspeople.
“We only have to persevere as our country provides the necessary tools for us to make it big in business,” she added.
Mrs Mubvekeri said that there is need for Government to create a platform to empower economically marginalised women.
She believes in the words of Lars Thunell, chief executive of the International Finance Corporation — the private sector arm of the World Bank — that “the best stimulus for the economy is to invest in women entrepreneurs”.

She and 10 other women in 2007 formed the Zimbabwe Women in Trade and Development to support and promote capacity building, trade and development, poverty eradication and employment creation through entrepreneurship and business skills training.

The organisation is committed to seeking transparency pertaining to monetary issues and how women can get funds to start their own businesses.
She encourages other women to have the determination to create their own businesses in order for them to be financially independent.

“It’s better for women to start their businesses so that they can be economically empowered and emancipated,” she said.
The organisation helps women get funding from FBC Bank without collateral.
She believes that “life is the experience of being you” therefore women should not sideline themselves in the business arena but should rather express themselves and show that they are capable of contributing to the economy.
“It took years of hard work to be what I am today and my advice to other women is to have faith in themselves,” she said.

Locally, Mrs Mubvekeri also draws her inspiration from Securico managing director Ms Divine Ndhlukula, who runs one of the country’s top security companies.
“We now want an economy were women own companies and venture into activities that contribute to the country’s development,” she added.

She urged women in top positions to assist their disadvantaged counterparts, as they are better placed in understanding issues that affect them.

“The successes and rich experiences of women in business should be used to mentor and empower other women, especially the young, through development of various skills which they require to enhance their potential.

“Women play a central role in the Zimbabwean society and this intervention will contribute towards eradication of poverty, creation of jobs, wealth and ultimately the growth and development of the nation,” she said.