Kubi – 31 years in business and passionate about the family!

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It takes a man and a woman, (husband and wife), to make a home and build a family.

It takes a man and a woman, (husband and wife), to make a home and build a family. Patricia Mabviko Musanhu

However, whereas both the husband and wife have a critical role to play in strengthening the family unit, it is widely believed that the responsibility to keep the family unit intact rests on the woman. 

It is interesting to note on the other hand that to this same woman, the world today is offering more and more opportunities for her to venture into business or to pursue a professional career. Women are expected to compete equally alongside their male counterparts if they are to rise up the ladder of success.

They are at the same time expected to fulfill their responsibilities of a loving and submissive wife who will hold the family unit together.

Is it possible for a woman to chase for success in the corporate or business world and be able at the same time to play a principal role of keeping her family intact?

“It is a very difficult task but it can be done with God’s help, and it must be done!” said Kubi emphatically.

As a woman, Kubi defied the odds and went into business at a time when society did not view women, particularly black women as being capable. 

During that time, very few black women dared to do something different in a country that had just attained independence from white rule and white oppression. 

Women were generally expected to take up either teaching or nursing as career choices and that alone was considered to be a great achievement. 

Kubi refused to conform to such societal norms and chose to pursue what she believed in. She had been to Scotland and completed a nursing course as expected and then moved to London where she decided to venture into modelling.

“I was very tall and thin and I decided to take up modelling with the London Academy,” she said.

As soon as she completed her modelling course, Kubi was inundated with work.

“I was always fully booked. In no time I was on the plane travelling to Switzerland, Paris, Italy and many other places to fulfill modelling contracts,” she added.

One of her many successful highlights in modelling and acting, a career she also took up, was featuring in a James Bond movie “Live and Let Die” alongside the main actor, Roger Moore.

When she returned to Zimbabwe in 1981, Kubi opened up a hair salon in Highfield and soon realised that there were no cosmetics for black people as most of them catered for white skin.  However, there was a huge demand for the product in the market. Kubi took advantage of the opportunity and quickly carried out extensive research on cosmetics for black skin.  When she had gained enough knowledge, she set up a business to manufacture hair and skin products.

“Nobody took me seriously when I started. I used to do virtually everything. I was the manufacturer, the sales person, the driver, and as a woman, I met a lot of resistance. I was told Kubi was an ugly name for cosmetics and would never sell,” she said.  Kubi believed in this vision so much that no amount of resistance would discourage her. The more discouragement she received the more aggressive she became.

A woman is supposed to become twice as aggressive as her male counterpart in order to be break down walls of resistance.   However, with all the toughness and aggression that comes with the business territory, a woman still needs to remember that when she gets home her responsibilities are to give tender love to her husband and children. 

Kubi admitted that the most difficult issue is that of submission.

“God said that the man is the head of the house.  No matter how powerful you are at work, you should not use that power to disrespect your husband and put him down. 

What helped me was that my husband and I grew in our knowledge of God and became very prayerful. I used to pray and still pray today for God to give me wisdom and discernment so that I know how to put across issues to my husband in a way that is not disrespectful.  It is also important to be honest when you deal with issues,” she said.

Kubi added that no matter how busy the schedule gets, it is very important to create some quality time to spend with the family to allow for bonding.

Kubi’s products became very popular in Zimbabwe. In five years she was able to establish her business empire in Zimbabwe. Two years later, she began to sell her products to other countries in the region.

In 1994, she secured a business partner in South Africa where she has also established her business extensively. “I thank God for the support that I have received over the years from my husband John, as well as from my children. 

They have made the fulfillment of this dream all the more worthwhile and I am so glad that  they have been there to share this success with me,” she said.

Patricia Mabviko Musanhu is a Company Director/Producer at Black and White Media Productions. She can be contacted at [email protected]