By Tadiwa Shunje
MASVINGO – Masvingo businesswoman and Fashion Toucheé founder Tryness Punungwe was honored for her contribution to business at the Zimbabwe Women in Business Forum and Awards held at Urban Lifestyle Hotel on September 12, 2026, marking another milestone in her journey from a small fashion business to a growing enterprise serving clients beyond Zimbabwe.
Speaking to Tellim News, Punungwe said the award came at a time she was expanding her business interests and focused on her vision of taking the fashion industry further through local manufacturing.
“I am honoured to win this award, it shows our contribution to the economy and to the growth of the fashion industry is being noticed. Being a woman in business is not easy and the award motivates me to do more,” said Punungwe.
Punungwe founded Fashion Toucheé in Harare in 2010 before relocating to Masvingo in 2015, where she has continued to build the brand while pursuing opportunities in other sectors.
She is also a director at Amplified Corporations and Amplified Energy & Resources (Pvt) Ltd, with interests in land development, civil engineering and construction, mining, consultancy and earthmoving equipment.
Beyond business, Punungwe also serves as a pastor at Divine Creative Works under the leadership of Prophet L and K Wedzerai, with her faith playing an important role in her life and entrepreneurial journey.
However, her journey to recognition has not been without setbacks.
Punungwe revealed that she once closed her fashion business in 2016 while pregnant with her last-born after struggling to adapt to online sourcing and balancing being a family woman and the demand of the business.
“I started small and have been growing gradually. Along the journey I have faced a number of setbacks and I even closed my business in 2016 when pregnant with my last-born, because I couldn’t adapt to online sourcing,” she said.
She said the setback became part of a learning process that saw her return to business and embrace technology, particularly online sourcing and digital advertising.
Today, she no longer needs to travel regularly to China, Turkey and other countries to source stock, although she still believes physical visits remain important in understanding some aspects of the fashion business.
“The setback opened new opportunities, I nolonger need to travel to China, Turkey and other countries to source stock. I may still visit sometimes, because there are some things you simply cannot fully know or understand without seeing them in person.
“But business is different now thanks to online platforms and digital advertising; I’m not only selling in Masvingo, but I serve clients across the whole world.”
For Punungwe, the challenges faced by women in business should not always be attributed to gender, as every entrepreneur faces hurdles along the way.
“As women in business, yes, we face challenges, but not because we are women. Every business has its own hurdles. Women are resilient and if we take that resilience in business we succeed,” she said.
She encouraged emerging entrepreneurs to be patient with their businesses, warning against expecting quick profits during the early stages.
“My advice: don’t chase quick profits in the first six months. Work hard, reinvest, never give up, and know this: it has been God from the very first day,” said Punungwe.
The award, she said, was a significant recognition of the work and sacrifices made along the way while also creating opportunities for her to engage with other established business leaders.
“Winning this award is such an honor. It validates every step of this journey, and it opens doors, helping me connect and engage with some of the great business leaders and tycoons in our industry. It is truly a blessing,” she said.
With her sights now firmly set on the future, Punungwe wants to take Fashion Toucheé beyond retail and into manufacturing.
“In the next three to five years, I see myself growing tremendously, especially within the fashion industry. My vision is to expand even further and establish my own clothing manufacturing factory right here,” she said.
