Thelma Chimbganda's path was disrupted early when she failed her A' levels. At 17, she withdrew from her peers, struggling to confront a future that suddenly felt uncertain. The 2008 economic crisis then forced her to abandon her university studies.
She moved to Malawi, completed a Chartered Management Accounting qualification, and returned home hoping to find employment — which proved difficult. Her father offered her an opportunity at his fire training academy, where she relied on online resources to acquire administrative, marketing and accounting skills.
When her father passed away in 2021, she was shaken by grief. A drastic salary cut in her formal job forced her to resign, relying solely on the conviction that a new path would emerge.
The Turning Point
That path appeared through online procurement from China. Partnering with her younger sister Michelle, she began sourcing goods for clients across Zimbabwe. Working from their parents' living room, they taught themselves global shipping procedures.
In February 2020, they launched Beyond Borders. Today, the company operates from a modern warehouse at the Pomona Business Park, offering comprehensive procurement, warehousing and shipping services. She also co-founded TOCA International, expanding into broader supply chain solutions.
What distinguishes her story is not only the success achieved, but the unwavering determination that shaped it.
"Failure is not the end — it's the beginning of something new."
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