Discover how Tofara Chokera transformed from a struggling entrepreneur to a successful global business owner through mentorship, strategic partnerships, and digital innovation. Learn how she built African Queen Zimbabwe and multiple online ventures while balancing corporate life and family.
Like many aspiring business owners, Tofara Chokera initially stumbled through various buying and selling ventures without success. It wasn't until she received guidance from an established entrepreneur that she grasped the essence of entrepreneurship: solving problems profitably. Today, she stands as a successful entrepreneur with multiple global brands under her belt.
Tofara's entrepreneurial portfolio includes African Queen Zimbabwe, an online clothing business specializing in African print designs for the international market. She also founded Tofara Online, which provides digital marketing education for businesses, and Rava Bookstore, an online platform promoting reading culture across Africa. Her technological aptitude stems from her background as a computer engineer, having studied Information Systems at Midlands State University.
Through business mentorship, Tofara learned to focus on a single venture rather than chase trending opportunities. In 2017, she launched African Queen Zimbabwe, targeting the African print fabric market. While the business was gaining popularity locally, Tofara's research revealed its multi-billion dollar global potential. She strategically established an online presence to tap into international markets, distinguishing herself through premium quality fabrics.
African Queen Zimbabwe evolved from solely selling fabrics to becoming a full-fledged clothing brand. Tofara's strategic partnership with an experienced fashion designer, who had previously worked with prominent retailers like Edgars and Truworths, enabled her to create a clothing line without substantial capital investment in equipment. This collaboration proved mutually beneficial, as the online platform drove international sales volumes for both parties. "Don't wait for significant capital to start your venture. Create partnerships with people eager to grow their businesses, and both parties will benefit," she advises.
The digital marketing success of African Queen Zimbabwe attracted numerous business owners seeking guidance. Tofara initially shared her knowledge freely through WhatsApp groups for a year before recognizing the potential to monetize her expertise through structured digital marketing courses. To enhance her capabilities, she invested in a six-month online digital marketing program with UK-based expert Yeukai Kachidhori. "I had to invest in personal development before scaling up. The course not only expanded my digital marketing knowledge but also transformed my mindset," she reflects.
Currently, African Queen Zimbabwe serves customers in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and several Southern African countries, while Tofara Online operates in ten African nations. She credits her growth to strategic partnerships with various organizations. Despite initial skepticism toward online businesses in the local market, the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption, particularly benefiting Tofara Online's digital marketing training programs. "We have trained over 1,500 people across the African continent so far," she notes.
Remarkably, Tofara balances full-time employment at a mining firm with family life and multiple businesses. She attributes this success to strict time management, dedicating 5-8 PM to family and 8-11 PM to her businesses daily. She envisions transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship in the near future.
Tofara finds particular fulfillment in Tofara Online's societal impact. The training content, developed over three years, reaches a broad audience through WhatsApp and edigitalskillsacademy.com. Evening classes accommodate working professionals, running twice weekly from 8-10 PM for a month. "The program addresses continental challenges like hunger and poverty by helping women grow their businesses online, enabling them to support their families and educate their children," she explains.
Her vision includes international recognition for her brands. As an avid reader, she recommends four books to aspiring entrepreneurs: "You Have What it Takes" by Edna Mukurazhizha, "Commanding your Morning" by Cindy Trimm, and both "Crushing" and "Soar" by T.D Jakes. Tofara emphasizes that successful entrepreneurship requires solving real problems and advises aspirants to persist in their chosen path rather than jumping between ventures. She strongly advocates for digital marketing and innovation as essential growth drivers.
