THE journey of Thelma Chimbganda, co-founder and chief logistics officer of Beyond Borders, is a testament to resilience, self-belief and the discipline to rebuild after every setback.
Her recent revelations on In Conversation with Trevor told a story shaped not by uninterrupted success but by repeated restarts, each one reinforcing her determination to rise.
Her experience demonstrates that vision is not an abstract ideal, but the practical courage to begin again when plans fail, resources diminish and circumstances shift.
For Chimbganda, vision is anchored on the willingness to construct solutions from the ground up whether restarting school, changing careers or launching a business with limited tools and without capital.
She attributes this mindset to values deeply rooted in her upbringing: resilience, independence, unity, faith and confidence.
Her identity is tied to her Zimbabwean heritage and to the example set by her parents who encouraged their daughters to think boldly and work diligently, even in environments that underestimate women.
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Her path was disrupted early when she failed her A' levels, an experience she recalls as deeply discouraging.
At 17, Chimbganda withdrew from her peers, struggling to confront a future that suddenly felt uncertain.
With her parents’ support, she joined a parallel programme at Chinhoyi University of Technology, but the 2008 economic crisis forced her to abandon her studies.
Determined to redirect her future, she moved to Malawi, completed a Chartered Management Accounting qualification and later returned home, hopeful to find employment which proved difficult.
Her father then offered her an opportunity at his fire training academy, where she relied heavily on online resources to acquire administrative, marketing and accounting skills. His relentless entrepreneurial spirit provided her daily lessons in perseverance.
One of his boldest decisions was applying for land in Waterfalls to build a school.
When he unexpectedly secured the plot, the family sold its home, moved temporarily into a makeshift structure and constructed classrooms.
Chimbganda managed operations while learning each task as the need arose.
These defining years reinforced the power of faith, unity and disciplined effort.
When her father passed away in 2021, she was shaken by grief, yet gradually regained confidence as she completed her degree at the Women’s University in Africa and pursued several small business ventures.
A drastic salary cut in her formal job forced her to resign, relying solely on the conviction that a new path would emerge.
That path appeared through online procurement from China.
Partnering her younger sister Michelle, she began sourcing goods for clients across Zimbabwe.
As they identified gaps in communication, transparency and reliability within the logistics sector, they recognised an opportunity.
Working from their parents’ living room, they taught themselves global shipping procedures and partnered a Chinese supplier who had never shipped to Zimbabwe.
In February 2020, they launched Beyond Borders.
Despite global lockdowns, demand for reliable logistics surged, accelerating their growth.
Today, the company operates from a modern warehouse at the Pomona Business Park, offering comprehensive procurement, warehousing and shipping services.
Chimbganda co-founded TOCA International, expanding into broader supply chain solutions.
Her journey reflects the experiences of many Zimbabweans navigating uncertainty.
What distinguishes her story is not only the success achieved, but the unwavering determination that shaped it.