By Nigel Pfunde
Mazowe – At just 17 years old Tino Tungwarara has made history by becoming one of Zimbabwe’s youngest retail business owners following the official opening of her new supermarket, Prevail Mart in Mazowe this week.
The grand official opening ceremony was attended by local dignitaries, community members and business associates.
The guest of honour was revered Zimbabwean born international journalist and business consultant Josey Mahachi, the facilitator of the two Aliko Dangote visits to Zimbabwe.
Mahachie is also an inspiration to young women herself and her presence at the event throws weight on Tino’s achievement .
Guest of honour: International journalist and business consultant Josey Mahachie put the icing on the cake on Prevail Mart official launch, she is pictured here with Aliko Dangote who is expected in Harare through her facilitation
The official opening marked the beginning of what many believe will be a remarkable entrepreneurial journey for the young visionary.
In their mission statement , Prevail Mart say they aim to provide affordable and quality products to the Mazowe community, blending modern retail convenience with a personal touch.
In her social media posts , Tino has always expressed an interest in business and leadership and said the venture represents her passion for community empowerment and youth-driven innovation.
It’s also a motivation for ‘girl power’ where females are usually marginalized in business .
“I’m grateful for the guidance I’ve received and the belief that young people can make a real impact in business,” she said during the official launch event.
“Prevail Mart is not just a store, it’s a statement that with discipline and the right mentorship, age should never be a barrier to success.”
Tino’s father, Dr. Paul Tungwarara, who serves as Special Advisor to the President, played a pivotal role in nurturing her business spirit. Known for his sharp business acumen and mentorship, Dr Tungwarara’s daughter is following his footsteps and embodying the values of hard work, innovation and integrity as espoused in the Second Republic’s gospel of women empowerment .
Tino’s entrepreneurial journey is proof that when you guide young people with purpose they can lead with confidence and create meaningful change.
The Second Republic under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has always emphasized on youth empowerment in Zimbabwe’s economic landscape, inspiring many young people to believe that dreams backed by determination and mentorship can indeed prevail.
Meanwhile , Tino’s achievement can can inspire other young women in the country and if one goes down in history of young black women entrepreneurs, one notable case study is Lily Adeleye, a 5-year-old girl who became the youngest entrepreneur to have a black-owned brand sold in Walmart stores.
She founded Lily Frilly, a popular girl’s fashion brand and has also had her products sold in Target stores at the age of 5 .
So Tino is safely Zim version of Lily Adeye albeit just over a decade years older!
