Tawanda Mutyebere: How a Small Mvuma Start Led to the Rise of Chicken Slice in Zimbabwe

BUSINESS DESK | LEADERSHIP PROFILE

From Mvuma to National Growth: How Tawanda Mutyebere Built Chicken Slice Through Local Opportunity!

Focus: Visionary Entrepreneurship  |  Sentiments: Innovation & Local Pride  
  Analysis By: Sona Business Desk

True entrepreneurial leadership is rarely about fighting for scraps in crowded spaces. It is about identifying voids, creating value where others see none, and building ecosystems. Long before Chicken Slice became a household name battling giants in Harare and Bulawayo, it started as a bold vision at the 192km peg along the Harare-Masvingo highway.

THE VISIONARY ARCHITECT: Tawanda Mutyebere, the brains behind Packers International, proved that indigenous entrepreneurs have the capacity to disrupt markets traditionally dominated by foreign or legacy conglomerates.

Tawanda Mutyebere, the founder and chief executive of Packers International, did not launch his flagship brand in the safety of the capital city. Instead, on May 1, 2010, he opened a state-of-the-art food court in Mvuma, an otherwise quiet mining town. Driven by the anticipated traffic of the 2010 World Cup, this calculated risk laid the foundation for an empire that would soon encompass Chicken Slice, Creamy Slice, Pizza Slice, and Slice Express. His journey offers a profound masterclass in strategic positioning and local empowerment.

The Mvuma Bet Local Empowerment The Philosophy The Mandate

The Mvuma Masterstroke

While established competitors fiercely guarded their territories in major cities, Mutyebere looked to the transit routes. He understood that a captive audience of cross-border travelers offered the perfect testing ground.

How a transit town became a launchpad:

Capitalizing on Traffic Mutyebere strategically positioned the first Chicken Slice outlet to capture the high volume of cross-border buses traveling to and from South Africa. By offering bus drivers food vouchers to park at the Mvuma outlet, he guaranteed foot traffic and rapidly built a national customer base before ever opening a city branch.

Revitalizing a Community The Mvuma project did more than sell chicken. It brought massive development to an otherwise deserted mining town, employing close to 100 local residents from day one. This demonstrated that corporate success and community upliftment are not mutually exclusive.

Taking Ownership of the Economy

A central pillar of Mutyebere’s leadership is his belief in the capacity of indigenous Zimbabweans. He rejects the notion that major industries must remain the domain of foreign conglomerates.

Challenging the Status Quo "The industry that I am in right now is dominated by foreigners, and locals need to realise that we have potential in running our own economy and creating employment," Mutyebere stated. His success is a testament to the fact that local brands can match, and often exceed, international standards.

The Hard Work Paradox He challenged the youth with a powerful paradox: "Zimbabweans are known as hardworking people in other countries like South Africa and Botswana. How can we be hard workers in other countries and not in our own country? Let’s utilise our resources to build our economy."

The Philosophy of Preparation

Mutyebere’s rise from a primary school student in Bikita to a multi-industry CEO (also heading Con-Tools for road construction) was not accidental. It was built on a bedrock of preparation, faith, and relentless ambition.

The mindset that drives a business magnate:

Faith and Family Roots Drawing inspiration from his father—a mine worker who ran a carpentry shop to complement his income—Mutyebere learned the value of multiple income streams early. Anchored in his Christian faith, he maintains the belief that "Mwari vanoropafadza basa remaoko" (God blesses the works of your hands).

Making Your Own Luck Subscribing to the philosophy that "good fortune often happens when opportunity meets with preparation," Mutyebere offers a powerful evolution of that quote for aspiring leaders: "Great minds must be ready not only to take opportunities but to make them."

SONA BUSINESS DESK VERDICT

Build the Market, Don't Just Enter It.

Tawanda Mutyebere’s journey with Chicken Slice is a masterclass in visionary entrepreneurship. While established giants were fighting over saturated city blocks, he identified an overlooked highway, leveraged a massive global event (the 2010 World Cup), and built a loyal customer base out of transit travelers.

His story proves that you do not need to start in the capital to build a national empire. It also serves as a vital reminder to local entrepreneurs: the capacity to dominate highly competitive sectors lies within our borders. By preparing meticulously, identifying structural voids, and taking ownership of our economic destiny, local brands can rise to challenge multinational giants.

As Mutyebere perfectly summarizes: Do not just wait for the opportunity. Make it.

@ Sona Headlines | Equipping Executives. Upholding Strategy.