Startup Story
Sizolwenkosi Mazolo is the founder of Ingcebethu Pvt Ltd, a small business based in Zimbabwe and in the value addition agro-processing sector. Ingcebethu uses a 3-way model which is Freezing, Canning and Drying fruits and vegetables in the bid to reduce food waste, post-harvest losses, as well as to promote food security in Africa. Sizolwenkosi has been awarded a number of accolades for her work which include: 2022 JCI TOYP Honouree, Top 20 Young CEOs by CEO Roundtable Africa 2022, as well as the Record Breaker Young CEOs by Zimbabwe CEOs Network 2022 among others. She is a YALI RLC alumni and her business was in the top 10 finalists in the 2022 Eagles Nest Incubation program by Zimtrade. In line with her mission to address food security, Sizolwenkosi volunteers at The Mobi Soup Kitchen where approximately 600 children are fed every week at a squatter camp in Harare.
LoA chatted to the inspirational Sizolwenkosi Mazolo to find out more about her entrepreneurial journey, her mission, and her vision for the future.
What does your company do?
Ingcebethu Pvt Ltd is an agro-processing small business that is in the value addition sector. When we started we were only using the freezing method to lengthen the lifespan of fruits and vegetables. However, recently we have started introducing canning, as well as drying, considering the electricity issue that is rampant in Southern Africa.
Our business is there to advocate for the reduction of food waste both in farms and in households. Most farmers just plant and produce without assessing how much a market can consume and eventually end up with excess produce that rots and gets thrown away. In household as well, most fruits and vegetables are bought in bulk and lose their freshness before consumption leading to them to being thrown away as well.
We come into the value chain to add value to what the farmer has produced so that even after months consumers can still enjoy produce that has gone out of season while we reduce losses. Our products have no preservatives or colourants, and they are are suitable for all ages and genders. We package in such a way that consumers typically use only what that they need at that particular moment and store away the rest.
“Our business is there to advocate for the reduction of food waste both in farms and in households.”
What inspired you to start your company?
What inspired me to start this business was the fact that I come from a background where food was very scarce. Sometimes we'd go to bed on sugarless porridge. Seeing food getting wasted and thrown away while somewhere there's a hungry person just doesn't sit well with me. If we can reduce food waste where we are and identify spaces that need help through the food we preserve, we might be in the right direction to fight food insecurity in our communities. The other reason is that I've noted that we're a busy generation but we also want to live healthily. However, at times we just do not have the time to go through the whole process of meal prep. At Ingcebethu, our products are prepared and packed in such a way that requires little effort to make a meal. We wash our products, chop and dice them for the consumer's convenience.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
I believe in Zimbabwe we're currently the only woman-owned frozen fruits and vegetables business. Basically we offer convenience, value and quality. Anyone can enjoy our products, even vegans. Our products are sustainably grown and harvested. We work with small holder farmers and thus we enhance their livelihood as well.
“We come into the value chain to add value to what the farmer has produced so that even after months consumers can still enjoy produce that has gone out of season while we reduce losses.”
Tell us a little about your team
We're a very small team of three women. We all have complimentary skills in sales, marketing and finance. At the moment we cannot afford to hire a full-time food scientist, so we consult part time.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I do not come from an entrepreneurial background. However, I've been exposed to people who are in business and that has motivated me to keep going. I started off as an employee, but I'd still be doing some of my own stuff whenever the opportunity presented itself. I always knew I wanted to be in the food business but I wasn't very sure how. However, with assistance and mentorship from industry leaders I managed to identify the gap I wanted to cover. It has not always been easy, most times I do feel like giving up, but it's too late to give up now.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I'd like to see my business grow beyond Zimbabwe. The Eaglesnest Export Incubation program has equipped me with practical knowledge and information on how to start that process. I'd also like us to do more products that are nutritious, wholesome and convenient to consumers. My hope is that in a few years’ time we will be recognised as a reputable company providing relief to consumers while promoting zero hunger.
“If we can reduce food waste where we are and identify spaces that need help through the food we preserve, we might be in the right direction to fight food insecurity in our communities.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The fact that I was able to start and that people actually see value in an idea that came from me. It makes me happy to note that I've come up with a concept that provides relief to people in a way that is harmless and sustainable. It also makes me happy knowing that I have created employment for others in such times when jobs are so hard to come by.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
My advice will always be: Start even when you don't feel ready. Perfection is a form of procrastination, you'll never get anything done if you wait for the perfect moment or product or service. Just start, now, today, where you are, with what you have.
Contact or follow Ingcebethu Pvt Ltd
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL smazolo27@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
Some of the most successful businesses are those created by women entrepreneurs who are on a mission to make a genuine difference and impact in the world and the communities in which they live. In the case of Sizolwenkosi Mazolo, she was inspired to launch her business to address food scarcity and food waste, and as a result, positively change lives. She is doing just that and in the process also sending out a clear message that advocating for change in our attitudes and habits towards food waste has never been more needed. She is inspiring by example! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa