The Sunday Mail
Business Reporter
HERS is an amazing tale of audacity, self-belief and perseverance. At just 30 years of age, she has established a vast business empire which straddles Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and Ghana. Ms Phionah Riekert has already distinguished herself in business, establishing a name as one of the foremost female business entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe. Her portfolio includes a private security firm, retail outlets spread around the region, a gold mining entity and, most recently, a gas distribution company, Uplands Gas.
It is the gas distribution business that the young businesswoman believes will be most vibrant on the local market.
In Botswana and South Africa and Zambia, Ms Riekert’s retail ventures under the brand Emanti Mix have endeared themselves in both small and big towns. The chain of retail shops includes grocery stores, butcheries, convenience stores, nightclubs and restaurants.
Locally, Ms Riekert is a director for a gold concern in Mashonaland West, ZimSan Mining. As some women grapple with the exertions of running even a vegetable stall, it therefore becomes necessary to ask exactly who this woman – who has achieved so much in so little time – is.
Born in Beitbridge 30 years ago, Ms Riekert ventured into business as soon as she become a woman – at 18. With the assistance of her family, she opened Top Formula Private Investigations soon after completing her Advanced Level studies.
“As someone who grew up in a border town, I have always been adventurous and I find a thrill in exploring new things. After I finished my A level studies in 2004, I enrolled at Herentals College in Harare and studied for a course in Security and Risk Management.
“This course developed my passion for investigating and I formed my first company, Top Formula Security Services, becoming its director.
“The company specialises in security issues such as private investigations, private security and other such services. Naturally, because of family links in South Africa, the company spread its wings into South Africa and we were lucky that I managed to achieve success there and events such as the 2010 World Cup were a boon for the business.”
To enhance her profile, Ms Riekert enrolled for studies in Corporate Law at the University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, opening up further international linkages for the security firm. “I managed to grow Top Formula’s international appeal because I would constantly travel around the world, juggling between Zimbabwe and South Africa and my studies in Brazil.
“So, because of the constant travelling, I established many links. I was also able to get contracts for my company, especially providing private security services to big companies.” Earnings from the private security firm helped her open Emanti Mix, which proved to be highly successful. “Emanti Mix is a simple concept but it has been the springboard that has been able to boost my businesses.
It is basically a concept to cater for the ordinary people’s needs, so it now a fairly large brand with a chain of retail shops, takeaways and also upmarket nightclubs. It really helped me to increase my capital base and have money to invest in other interests.”
Using the same formula to grow her investments, proceeds from the retail business were ploughed into a gold mining venture near Chinhoyi. But nothing drives her as much as her passion for liquid petroleum gas, hence the continued investments in Upland Gas.
There are plans to set up a distribution plant in Mt Hampden.
Adds Ms Riekert: “I am motivated by the immense opportunity that gas offers as an alternative energy source for our country. I think Zimbabweans have not really grasped the importance of gas and how it can transform their lives for the better.
“We are going to set up the gas distribution plant in Mt Hampden. It will be a wholesale centre where we will be distributing the product to retailers from around the country.
“Operations will begin next month September and we are still working on the date of commissioning, which will be on day in September.”
The business is mulling plans to establish compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelling stations in Zimbabwe. Such stations will cater for vehicles compatible with CNG. There are also planned national awareness campaigns to promote the use of gas.
“Gas is much cheaper alternative compared to electricity. We have a massive opportunity as a country to take up gas and not rely on electricity. We need to set up gas industries and these can employ thousands of people through several ways such as using rubbish to make gas,” she said.
Significantly, Ms Riekert always makes sure to employ Zimbabweans in her businesses, even for units in Botswana, South Africa and Zambia, providing employment to locals who have crossed the border to eke out a living outside the country.
From the over 300 workers she has employed in her companies outside the country, over 250 are Zimbabweans. Ms Riekert’s narrative is indeed an inspirational tale which any aspiring entrepreneur – male or female – can take a leaf from.
She always counsels fellow businesspeople to walk the talk. “What you believe in just go for, be prepared to take the risk and don’t let anyone think of you less because you are a woman,” she said.
