Lack of capital has been a major challenge for most Zimbabwen businesses large and small and Natasha Kasukuwere's Comoil is no exception.
Kasukuwere (27) is the managing director of Comoil Pvt (Ltd), one of the first family-owned indigenous fuel companies in Zimbabwe.
It was established by her now exiled father in 2000 after the liberalisation of the petroleum marketing and distribution sector in Zimbabwe.
The industry had been dominated by foreign-owned brands such as Total and BP. Though family owned, management control at Comoil was until Natasha's reign, given to external individuals for the first two decades of its operation.
Comoil was, however, not spared from the economic turbulence in Zimbabwe over the years, and the operation that once boasted 15 retail sites and large commercial distribution across the country began to dwindle.
Natasha is now trying to rebuild the family owned business having quit her job as a senior audit assistant at Deloitte Zimbabwe in May 2020.
Speaking to Standard Style, Natasha said running the business in a volatile macroeeconomic environment is no stroll in the park.
"The position we are in today has not been without its own challenges. Running a business that is flagged for political exposure has resulted in several bottlenecks in accessing finance," Natasha said.
"This has resulted in me having to think outside the box where raising funds is concerned and have the business grow organically.
“While I would love to grow the business at a faster rate, our challenges have taught us financial discipline, integrity and that nothing worth having comes easily.”
Comoil now operates five retail sites in Harare, Dotito, Kadoma, Lupane and Mutare with a staff complement of 50.
Natasha said being a woman in a male-dominated industry has also come with its own set of drawbacks.
“I struggled to get serious clients as I was new in the industry with a brand whose visibility was fading,” she said.
“I even had challenges with staff who saw me as the little girl they watched grow up who was now calling the shots at an organisation formed when she was five years old.”
She added: “Change is always difficult and even moreso when some believe that a woman’s place is only in the home, looking after children.
“I was encouraged and supported by other women in energy and that went a long way in building my confidence and getting my feet cemented in this new industry.”
Natasha, however, said she believed Comoil is on its way to scaling greater heights, “And I am enthusiastic about the opportunities opening up within the country.
“The words of John F Kennedy encapsulate my journey thus far: ‘We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard’.”
Natasha is married to Shingi Zinyemba and they have one daughter.
She is also a registered Legal Practitioner and Conveyancer.