Tawanda Ndlovu’s journey was never meant to be a story of triumph. It wasn’t supposed to be a story of success or fame, but a journey of survival, of finding the strength to rise despite the overwhelming weight of circumstances. There were no red carpets or applause for her resilience. Just broken dreams, heavy hearts, and quiet, hard-fought victories that would go unnoticed by many. But it is in the darkest places that the truest strength is forged.
In 2018, when Tawanda and her family registered their public transport business in Zimbabwe, it was with hopes of providing for a brighter future, for her family and the community the business was serving. At first, there was optimism, with just a single Toyota Quantum minibus, and then it grew—four vehicles, each one a piece of a dream. They ventured into Harare, Murewa, Mutoko, even reaching as far as Nyamapanda. The business thrived, despite challenges, because they had no choice but to make it work.
But life, as it always does, threw an unexpected curveball. The government ban on independent public transport operators in October 2018 hit them like a hammer. Tawanda’s world crumbled. The sudden ultimatum from the government—either join ZUPCO or shut down—was a cruel blow to her family’s aspirations. What followed was a whirlwind of panic, confusion, and helplessness. They had to shift strategies, transitioning into the tourism space, desperately hoping to find a way forward.
She had always been an academic, a researcher, and a professional, never imagining that her path would lead her into the world of business, especially not in transport. But when her ex-husband’s job transferred him from Dar es Salaam to Maputo, she had no choice but to leave her own career behind, and move with him. For years, in a new city where she couldn’t speak the language, Tawanda struggled to find work. The frustration of being unable to contribute or even find a sense of purpose weighed heavily on her, but she held on, trying to make the best of a difficult situation.
Tawanda, though reluctant, was thrust into a new venture back home—The transport business which shifted to Art and Culture Tours. She had no background in business, but she worked tirelessly to give under-resourced artists a platform to showcase their work. The idea was to create a bridge between local artists and the buyers, providing them with visibility and opportunities they would never have had otherwise. The launch was promising, supported by the parent Ministry, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and other stakeholders like the National Handicraft Center, local Galleries and Community Art Centers, who helped connect them with artists from different provinces.
The tourism market, however, was a different beast. It was ruthless. A field dominated by seasoned players with established customer loyalty. Tawanda, who had spent years in the corporate world, working with international organizations and managing quality control systems, had no experience in the tourism or transport industries. Yet, she found herself thrust into the heart of a fierce, competitive space, where every step forward felt like two steps back.
But just as things began to take off, personal turmoil hit. In 2019 Tawanda’s ex-husband, who had already started a telecom business in Maputo, abruptly shut down their plans. He gave her an ultimatum—return to Maputo or face dire consequences. Tawanda was forced to make the excruciating decision to close down the Arts and Culture Tours business. She had no choice but to comply with his demands.
“I was given an ultimatum. I didn’t have a choice. I simply had to tell the people that I had engaged, from Government to NGOs, even the diplomatic community, the likes of British Council that we had to shelve the the program.
“We had really knocked on a lot of doors to make this work for the benefit of the artists. And I had to just announce that I was leaving and we had to put everything we had planned and developed on hold. But I knew what it meant. I told the 515 team (ten employees in total) that the business was closing. I don’t have control over it, because I was given conditions that had I not complied, the result was likely going to be disastrous for my marriage. Breaking this news to them was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do. It was heartbreaking. I just found a place to park the Quantums as I couldn’t get any buyers, which was a good thing, as I later discovered, and then proceeded with the trip back to Maputo.” She recalls.
Tawanda found herself in Maputo again, only to face more heartbreak. Her world came crashing down when another woman, who had been involved in her ex-husband’s business and personal life, made it clear that she didn’t want Tawanda or their child there. With her ex-husband’s compliance, they were forced to pack their bags and return to Zimbabwe. Two weeks! That was all it took for Tawanda’s world to crumble. She was forced to return to Zimbabwe, with nothing but shattered pieces of a once-promising life.
“There was a lot of drama and another woman involved, and there were things happening that I was not aware of. And that woman pretty much told my ex-husband that I do not want to see your wife and child here. I don’t want to see them here, and he complied. He said, you guys have to pack your bags and go back to Zimbabwe. Two weeks down the line, after closing, after all of that,” she narrates.
Tawanda was breaking. She had always been a hands-on leader, immersed in every detail. But the emotional toll of her broken family, the business struggles, and the sheer weight of it all were too much to bear. Her marriage had fallen apart, and with it, so many of her dreams. Her ex-husband’s decision to end their partnership and start a new life in Maputo with another woman was the final blow. The pain of betrayal, compounded by the chaos of her business, left her in a dark place.
Back in Zimbabwe, with nothing left but a sense of deep loss, Tawanda couldn’t face the idea of returning to Harare or Bulawayo her hometown. She had just been there, announcing plans for a future that no longer existed. Instead, she chose Mutare—a quiet place, far from everything familiar, to try and rebuild her life. The weight of it all—the sacrifices, the broken promises, the shattered dreams—was overwhelming. Yet, despite the heartbreak, Tawanda’s spirit remained unbroken. She was determined to find a way forward, to heal, and to find her purpose once again in a world that had seemed to turn its back on her.
“I didn’t want anyone to know, my parents thought I was still in Mozambique. I was in Mutare from January to October and they had no idea. I felt embarrassed because I had told them I was going back to Maputo and then two weeks later I’m back, how was I going to face people?” she says.
In March 2020, COVID-19 hit, and the world stopped moving. Tawanda was left to deal with not only the collapse of her dreams but also the brutal truth of how fragile everything was. The parked quantums were in a bad condition, one was stolen and later another was in a minor accident. With each setback, the future was uncertain, her sense of failure grew.
“I think I had not quite given myself time to heal. The business had somehow kept me distracted but when things were not working it took a toll on me. I had to put a lot of effort to make things work, but everything was just collapsing right in front of my eyes.”
Then, a phone call shattered everything. A client had already paid for a tour, and Tawanda’s quantum, the only vehicle that was operational at that time, had broken down. Desperation took over. She scrambled, trying to find a solution. But it seemed like nothing was going right. Her subcontracted vehicle failed her. The clients were angry and claimed for refunds. The pressure, the weight of it all, felt unbearable. In that moment, as she sat in the quiet of her home, with no one around, the thought crossed her mind: Maybe if I just disappeared, it would be easier. Maybe they’d all be better off without me.
“That day I remember very clearly, we had a Quantum coming from Harare carrying goods. We had managed to get authority allowing us to operate as a courier service transporting essential goods between Harare and Mutare. We also had a Nyanga client who wanted two Quantums for a tour from Troutbeck to Mount Nyangani the following day. So, I had asked someone in Mutare who also had a quantum to subcontract his. On his way from Harare the driver called saying the brake pads had failed, he fixed that and on his way between Rusape and Mutare he had an accident. As if that was not enough, the subcontracted vehicle was no longer available as planned,” she recalls.
In that moment, she saw no way out, a fleeting thought, but a dark one came up: suicide. But then, as quickly as the thought came, she remembered her daughter. Her heart broke at the thought of leaving her child, of what kind of mother she would be if she allowed her pain to dictate her actions. Her daughter, who had already been torn from her mother’s arms once to live with her parents in Bulawayo, didn’t deserve to carry that pain. It was in that moment that she chose to live, for her daughter, for the future. She chose to face her demons, even when they felt too big to conquer. The road ahead would not be easy, but it was the only road she could walk.
“I remember going home maybe it was around six in the evening, I had sort of managed to sort things out but the pressure had been too much to contain. That is the day I broke down and I was like why? why?, Trying to figure out where I had gone wrong or what I had done wrong in this life.”
“I broke down and a suicide thought came but it is also in that moment that I realized that I have a daughter and any decision I make, it has to be with her in mind, so I just spent the rest of the night and early morning just processing and just telling myself okay this is what you have to do to sort of just slowly heal.
Tawanda’s journey did not end in that moment. It was only the beginning of a long, painful healing process. The years that followed were filled with setbacks, struggles, and heartache.
“First things first, I had to downsize and settle for a single room for accommodation. I didn’t have any property because I had sold almost everything at the time I was going back to Maputo. I had just my bed and a few kitchen items. I managed to get a room for $80 but even that proved be too much for me. I am embarrassed to say that at one point I had to ask my parents who don’t work to help out. It was one of my worst moments, at my age getting money from my parents to pay rent, I was in that space.”
But she found a way to keep moving forward, day by day. She found solace in work, in the community, in the small victories that came with rebuilding her life. Slowly, she regained her strength. The business she had once fought so hard to keep alive began to find its feet again.
“I managed to get a contract with a school in Ruwa area which I am happy to say we have maintained since October 2020 to date. We’ve got two Quantums there. They operate Monday to Friday. But the tourism side and the vehicle rental are areas of the business that I still want to go back to because the art and culture tours are very close to my heart,” she said.
Tawanda Ndlovu is deeply committed to uplifting young, under-resourced artists from communities like Sakubva, Dangamvura, Chikanga etc, where many lack the opportunity to finish school due to financial struggles. She creates platforms for these talented individuals through an Arts Association—offering events, workshops, and skill-building programs. Through these initiatives, she helps them learn how to monetize their art, write proposals, and gain essential communication and presentation skills.
Tawanda is also focused on combating the rise of substance abuse in the art community, particularly in areas like Sakubva, where many young artists turn to drugs. She works to provide mentorship and build professional artists who can inspire others. By partnering with organizations like Green Governance and Youth Development Initiative Trust, she introduces artists to sustainable livelihoods and emphasizes the importance of education and personal growth through her role as the Project Manager of the Association. She is also currently serving as a Production Manager for an upcoming film project. She remains the proud founder and Director of Five One Five Luxury tours a rising force in the Transport, Travel and Tourism industry.
Her efforts also extend to promoting arts as a tool for social change, using creative forms like poetry and theater to address issues like climate change. Tawanda’s passion for the arts remains strong, especially in Art and Culture tours, which she intends to revive in the future, despite the many challenges she faces. Through her work, she continues to offer hope, opportunities, and a brighter future to the youth of Mutare.
In 2024, Tawanda stands not as a woman who has conquered everything, but as a woman who has fought and survived. She had lost so much—her marriage, her career, her sense of self—but she has gained something infinitely more valuable: resilience, self-awareness, confidence, strength and of course a deep love for her daughter.
Her story is one of pain, but also of hope. Hope that even in the darkest moments, when everything seems lost, there is a reason to keep going. For Tawanda, the road ahead is certain and it is hers to walk. And that, in itself, is a victory.