The relationship between the founding partners of MyDrive, Giles Manyani, Kudzai Genti and Tonderai Muchaka was built on a strong foundation of trust and shared values. Before the idea of a business partnership had even formed in their minds they shared a friendship that only grew stronger with age. They met as young boys at church and connected because of their love for God. What initially began as a casual friendship within a large group quickly evolved into something much deeper, as they realized they had more in common than just their faith. Over time, according to Tonderai they developed a close-knit bond, unaware that this connection would one day lay the groundwork for a business venture.
I’m happy to say God was the backbone and foundation of our relationship. By background and by birth we are Anglicans so I met Giles and Kudzi at church, by then we were youths, and then from there you know out of a big group within a church setup we realized that we had more things in common than differences. So from that we became friends. We actually didn’t know much that one day we were going to run a business as a team or as partners. We developed our relationship overtime.
Their relationship grew organically through life’s highs and lows as they supported each other through various stages of education and early careers, developing a deep understanding of each other’s strengths and ambitions. Their families became intertwined, strengthening the trust and camaraderie between them. This sense of community and shared values became the foundation upon which they later built their business.
As they each began their professional journeys, a routine of commuting together became a daily ritual. These frequent interactions fostered deeper discussions about long-term aspirations, and eventually, a conversation arose about starting a company. They explored various business ideas, ranging from brokerage to farming.
We all lived in Chitungwiza and we would go together to work every day. In the morning we would meet and go to work together and then in the evening, after work, we would meet again and go back home together. This was way before we thought of business and I remember one of these days as we were going to work, we said guys I think we should start a company and we came up with so many propositions some were in the brokerage space in terms of buying and selling, while other ideas included farming. I remember we had so many options, but of the many options what stood was the opportunity that presented itself for us.

2008: The year that made Entrepreneurs
While the economic woes of 2008 were wreaking havoc a unique opportunity presented itself when one of their brother-in-laws offered to hire Tonderai’s truck for an errand and paid them. This was an eye-opener for the three friends. That is how they realized that they had an opportunity to use that truck as a launch pad for their business. This sparked the realization that there was potential in the car rental industry. Driven by both potential returns and the desire to build something substantial, the three decided to formalize operations and moved from a single vehicle to a scalable business model.
It came as an idea that somehow coincided with an opportunity where we had one of our trucks and one of our in-laws requested for that car to use it for an errand for his construction company. That’s when we realized that there was an opportunity within the car rental business. From there I think we realized that we might have an opportunity and we proceeded to formalize it as we wanted to nurse it from infancy and grow it to an extent that it will be a very big brand. Of course, initially, we were driven by the dollars and cents. After we were paid we got excited and it sparked our interest to pursue this as a business. That’s how we started. The transport business also proved to be a common interest area for all of us and we complemented each other in terms of the different strengths that we had as individuals.
As the idea was forming in their minds, they soon realized that they had to raise money for the new business. At that time they had all recently graduated and were each working for different companies. They decided to use their weekends to hire their truck out to test the business mode. On weekends and public holidays, they would go and wait for people who were coming from South Africa at Roadport and ferry them to their final destinations for a fee. On other days they would also engage in selling rice, macaroni, and potatoes on the streets. In one memorable incident, at the height of the fuel shortages that affected the country then, they spent an entire Christmas Day waiting for fuel at a service station and after that, they managed to secure a small delivery for a lady who lived in Chitungwiza only to be told that she had no money when they were dropping her off at her home. Dejected, they left and went to strategize on how to avoid incidents such as this in the future.
Things improved for the three friends when the US dollar was introduced. Market conditions improved, and they decided to launch the business as a taxi business. They started with a single vehicle, steadily expanding to a fleet of two, and eventually reaching ten cars. As Giles recalls, the initial focus on taxi services was lucrative and it allowed them to expand fast, but operational issues quickly arose when drivers started failing to report their earnings. This caused the company to shift to a rental model and to do that they had to dispose of all the taxis they had. They introduced a rent to buy model where all drivers were given the option to buy the cars they were using.
The company started off as Cab Kings. But before we got into taxis we sold macaroni and potatoes in the streets. Tonderai, then bought a truck which was idle on weekends. We decided to hire it out. We would be hired by people who were coming from South Africa and would need the truck to transport their wares.
A new Beginning: A Spark in 2016
They had entered the transport industry and with its vast potential, it emerged as the common ground where they could apply their skills. By uniting efforts, they pursued a shared vision, and combined strategic thinking with operational execution to position each other for success. When they officially registered the company in 2016, they were committing to starting again and they decided to nurture their business from its infancy promising each other that no matter how difficult it got they were not going to give up. Each one of them had to have some skin in the game. They decided to recapitalize the business and the initial capital for the business came from seed contributions made by the three directors, each contributing according to a dollar-for-dollar shareholding model. They had realized that for their idea to grow, they had to put in place proper business systems. Their vision was clear: to create a larger, sustainable brand that would eventually become a significant player in the car rental industry.
My drive started off in 2016, that’s when we officially registered it. The initial capital it was by way of seed capital from us as the three the directors of the company and obviously that then spoke to the percentage shareholding of the company.
What pushed us to keep trying was mainly the desire to achieve financial independence and also the understanding that whilst we are working we might not achieve what we really wanted. We also appreciated the fact that if one wants to go far they need to look for partners who can tag along so that as partners you can leverage off each other in terms of one man’s weakness against one strength.
Breaking Ground: Landing the first Major Contract
The company’s first major contract was with Fuel Solutions. Fuel Solutions wanted about twenty trucks and small cars and their company being tapped for this opportunity marked a significant milestone for the company. When they had closed the taxi business they had bought some trucks which they also hired out as part of that contract.
Business flourished during this period, prompting the purchase of a large number of small cars, such as Honda Fits, to service the contracts. This successful phase lasted for two to three years, but soon, the financial strain of payments and rising maintenance costs began to outpace revenue. Faced with these challenges, the team decided to end the contract and shifted to relying again on walk-in customers. However, the market was sluggish at the time, and by 2019-2020, the business struggled as fuel shortages added pressure. Frustrated with diminishing returns, they briefly pivoted to car sales, but this venture proved unsustainable, as sales underperformed. Recognizing the need for another strategic pivot, the company gradually returned to car rentals. Despite their efforts to maintain sales alongside the rental business, tight market conditions made it difficult to even meet rental obligations. To stabilize operations, they decided to convert a portion of the fleet back into rentals, thus revitalizing their rental services.
The Early Structure and Operations
From the start, the business was structured to leverage the unique strengths of each partner. Giles took on the responsibility of daily operations, supported by a small team consisting of two key employees, one who handled administration and the other one who oversaw marketing, deliveries, and vehicle collections. In order to manage costs, they outsourced third-party services for vehicle maintenance and mechanics. This strategic decision allowed them to trim expenses without compromising on service quality.
The company’s marketing efforts are also supported by partners from outside Zimbabwe, notably in Canada, the UK, and Australia. These international partners help the company market the business offshore in exchange for discounted services and loyalty points, which they could later redeem for rentals.
Fleet Growth and Challenges (2020-2024)
The early days of MyDrive were not without challenges. The business initially operated with a very small fleet, however, as time progressed, they slowly expanded their fleet. By 2022, they were managing 5 to 6 vehicles, and by 2024, they had grown their fleet to 24 vehicles. Funding the business was initially a mix of organic capital reinvestment and leveraging the fleet as collateral.
Despite this remarkable growth, MyDrive is still on a drive to continue growing its fleet and broadening the range of services that it offers. The company has witnessed a resurgence in demand which has renewed its confidence in its future.
We have realized that the business has been on a steady growth since 2016 but however we were not spared by the 2020- 22 fuel challenges. Our business thrives when there is a stable supply of fuel because our clients need fuel. We thank God that fuel shortages have subsided and are seeing the positive impact on our business. There is a significant appetite for our services which we are very confident we should be able to tap into and see us grow as an institution.
Diversification and Strategic Shifts
Throughout the years, the company evolved, starting off under the brand TransKing, which initially covered both the car rental and trucking businesses. As the car rental division grew, the founders realized the need to unbundle the two lines of business, leading to the creation of MyDrive as a subsidiary of TransKing. The rebranding allowed them to sharpen their focus on the car rental market, offering customers more flexibility and freedom.
MyDrive introduced a unique customer-centric approach where clients could rent cars and drive as far as they desired even beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. The company tracked vehicles for security purposes, ensuring that customers were safe, and their locations monitored, in case of any issues during their travels. This customer support model helped them retain and expand their client base, ensuring a steady flow of repeat business.
You drive the car and own it for the period that you have it, you are free, and you are flexible. We allow you to go as far as you want even beyond the borders. We track our vehicles just to see the driving behavior and the locations of our clients more on the security side, just to ensure that they don’t have problems wherever they go. This helped us on quite a number of times to resolve issues.
Overcoming Setbacks and Repositioning for Growth
With a renewed focus on business expansion, MyDrive is restructuring its operations, with the goal of moving beyond small-scale rentals. Their goal is clear, to establish themselves as a major player in the car rental industry, on par with the bigger fish, with ambitions to expand into airports and international markets.
We are growing and we are going to be big. We have repositioned ourselves. The different experiences were a very good learning curve for us. We are now confident that with the experiences that we gathered over the years, we are correctly positioned to take this business beyond our imaginations. The growth that we have achieved in terms of our fleet size and turnover it’s a clear testimony that we have the potential and we believe that we can garner a bigger piece of the market.
The Future: Digital Expansion and Corporate Focus
Looking ahead, MyDrive has positioned itself for significant growth. The company is heavily investing in digital marketing to reach a wider audience and expand beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. Their strategy includes tapping into the corporate sector, where they foresee more stable, long-term business opportunities. The founders understand that relying solely on walk-in clients makes it challenging to project future growth, so they are shifting towards clients that offer predictable revenue streams. By the end of 2025, MyDrive aims to grow its fleet to over 50 vehicles, offering a diversified range of options, including buses to cater to underserved markets. The focus remains on providing world-class service with minimal breakdowns and high customer satisfaction.
A Vision for the Future
The journey of MyDrive is a testament to the power of persistence, collaboration, and strategic thinking. From their humble beginnings to their steady rise in the car rental industry, Giles, Tonderai and Kudzi have created a business built on trust, shared values, and a relentless drive for success. With their eyes set on the future, they are confident that MyDrive will continue to grow and evolve into a world-class car rental provider, serving not only Zimbabwe but international markets as well.