MARGARET NYAHUNZVI TAKAEDZA
Margaret is an award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, a motivational speaker, author, counsellor and a farmer. She is the founder of Woman of Standard Global Business Network. Margaret holds several influential positions in both local and regional organisations. She is a Director of Shemitah Mining Company, the Chairperson of Zimbabwe Women Minerals Association, Vice Chairperson of Emit Empowering Women (Headquartered in South Africa).
Margaret is actively involved in the promotion of women owned businesses. In 2013, she organised a business trip for women to China. In 2014, she also organised another business trip to Mauritius, which was aimed at establishing the market for crafts. Accordingly, women were able to establish business linkages and most of them are operating shops and flea markets.
Margaret Takaedza is always invited to make presentations in churches, national and international functions. Her activities are recognised by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender, and Community Development. In April 2015, Margaret attended the Indian Home Expo. As the Chairperson of Today’s Woman Business Network, she facilitated a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Business Associates in Zimbabwe. She was part of the organising committee of the 2016 International Women’s Day Celebrations that were held in Nyazura. She was also one of the presenters during the 2015 Today’s Woman Conference. In March 2017, she attended the United Nations’ 61st Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 61 (held in New York), where she presented the success stories and challenges faced by women in the mining sector in Zimbabwe. In August 2015 Margaret launched a book, ‘A Woman of Standard’, which is aimed at empowering women to be entrepreneurs in all sectors of the economy. Margaret’s ambition is to see every woman she associates with being financially independent. She is also willing to share ideas with other entrepreneurs.
In 2016, Margaret won the prestigious Women in Enterprise Conference Awards (WECA). The WECA are a segment of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC). She was also the first runner-up in the Zimbabwe Investment Authority Woman Investor of the Year Awards (2016).
Margaret Nyahunzvi Takaedza is engaged in a myriad of philanthropic activities to support vulnerable groups in Zimbabwe and her company. Through her Shemitah Mining Company, she donated two vehicles to New Revelation Glass House Ministries International in 2015. In addition, in 2016, she donated maize to communities in the mining districts her company operates. She is engaged in providing support to orphans and vulnerable children, HIV positive people, disabled persons and street kids. She also provides counselling to people who have marriage, family and other social problems. Her vast activities to help vulnerable groups in society she has done over time include visits to prisons to assist female prisoners in terms of providing sanitary wear, moral support, paying school fees, providing food and clothing to orphans and vulnerable children, providing legal assistance to Girl’s affected by early marriages, proving women with financial assistance to become entrepreneurs, assisting old people with food and clothing; and assisting street families with shelter and food. In all the meetings she participates, she incorporates issues of women’s health and encourages women to frequently go for cancer screening. She managed to influence women so that they became technologically savvy.
Margaret is married to Bishop Ancelem Takaedza Gwaze, a mother of three children and 1 grandson.