Zimbabwe generates approximately 1.7 million tonnes of solid waste annually, of which nearly 90% could be recyclable—but only a fraction actually is. Paper makes up a significant part of this waste stream, yet most of it ends up being burned or dumped in open landfills. In Harare, for instance, the city’s average recycling rate hovers around 5%, leaving enormous potential untapped.
This is where Fungai Edna Masunzambwa, #E4ImpactEntrepreneur from the Global MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship in Harare in 2023, is making a tangible difference. She is the co-founder of Cotmatech Waste Collections, and through her enterprise, she transforms Zimbabwe’s mounting paper waste into valuable resources—producing recycled paper products and affordable egg trays while creating employment, empowering communities, and championing environmental sustainability.
“The E4Impact program became a turning point for both personal and business growth. Through its mentorship and capacity-building modules, my team and I learned to refine our business model canvas, sharpen our value proposition, and align the enterprise with both social impact and commercial viability. The program also connected Cotmatech to industry leaders and business coaches who provided guidance on growth strategies, financial management, and protecting the company’s market position. It offered a broader perspective on entrepreneurship—how to balance innovation, ethics, and social responsibility in a competitive industry.”
Let’s learn more about Fungai Edna having a look at the interview we conducted with her.
1. How was your business idea born?
Cotmatech was born out of a mix of necessity, experience, and vision. After being retrenched from my previous position, I decided to invest my savings and financial expertise into something that could make a real impact. Together with my co-director—who had years of experience in the waste management sector—we combined our knowledge and resources to start a company that could transform how Zimbabwe manages its paper waste.
The business began with modest savings and a big dream: to turn waste into opportunity. What started as a small recycling initiative has grown into one of Zimbabwe’s most respected wastepaper and recycling operations, with two branches in Harare, one in Bulawayo, and a network of agents across the country.
2. Could you share a general framework of the services, activities, solutions and/or benefits that your business has provided over the last years?
Over the years, our work has focused on turning paper waste into something valuable. By collecting wastepaper and recycling it into new products, we help ensure that resources are used efficiently and that less waste ends up in landfills.
Our impact goes beyond just recycling — it’s also about people and the planet. We directly employ around 76 people and work with more than 100 others indirectly through our wastepaper network, plus 16 employees at our egg tray plant. That means dozens of families benefit from what we do every single day.
Moreover, through our activities, we contribute to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
3. Which are the main achievements in the last 3 years and the main desired goals in the next 3 years?
In the past three years, one of our biggest achievements has been setting up and launching our egg tray plant, which now runs alongside our wastepaper division. It was a major step in expanding our recycling operations and adding value to the materials we collect.
Looking ahead, our goal is to increase egg tray production. To do so, we need to complete the warehouse, install a dryer, and add more stands for sun drying — all steps that will help us meet growing demand both locally and across the region.
4. Which main challenges were you experiencing in your business, if any?
Access to capital has been one of our biggest challenges. When we opened the egg tray plant in Ruwa, we quickly saw that our production potential was much higher than our funding — the plant can produce 3,500 trays per hour, but we currently make about 200,000 a month. Managing logistics for our ten trucks and keeping consistent paper quality from different suppliers has also been demanding.
Competition in the wastepaper sector is intense, so we focused on structure and reliability — signing service-level agreements, maintaining strict quality control, and building strong customer relationships. Those steps have helped us stay stable and competitive despite the challenges.
5. Could you tell us a particular satisfactory moment you had in your entrepreneurial activity?
One of the most memorable moments for me was when we took part in a business pitch competition at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe. When Cotmatech won Best Business in the Established Category, it felt like a true validation of all the hard work and sacrifice that had gone into building the company.
Not long after, we also received the Presidential Award for Best Innovating Private Sector (Second Runner-Up), along with a certificate, a shield, and USD 2,000 in prize money. Those recognitions reminded us that running a sustainable business isn’t just good for the environment, it can also be profitable and deeply fulfilling.
6. What impact have you seen in your environment, and what impact do you aim to create for your beneficiaries in the future?
The business has generated meaningful impact across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. By collecting and recycling paper, Cotmatech diverts tons of waste from landfills, reduces air pollution from open burning, and contributes to lower carbon emissions associated with virgin paper production.
Socially, the company has created jobs for over 190 people—around 76 directly and over 100 indirectly through local collectors and cooperatives. The model supports inclusive employment and promotes a circular economy where resources are reused instead of wasted.
Looking ahead, I hope to expand the company’s footprint nationwide by 2030, strengthening partnerships with recyclers in Zambia, Malawi, and South Africa, and scaling operations to meet rising demand.
7. In your opinion, what are the main qualities an entrepreneur should have?
An entrepreneur must be ethical, trustworthy, resilient, and purpose-driven. It’s not just about profit—it’s about building something meaningful. Vision, adaptability, and integrity are what sustain a business through challenges.
8. Is there a person you are inspired by, i.e. an entrepreneur or a particular mentor?
I’ve always looked up to Strive Masiyiwa. His ability to combine innovation, integrity, and purpose inspires me. He’s proven that entrepreneurship can change not just businesses, but whole communities — and that’s the kind of impact I want to make too.
9. Finally, what would you suggest to a new-born entrepreneur?
Dream it. Believe it. All things are possible.
My advice to young entrepreneurs is simple — stay ethical, stay persistent, and never lose sight of your purpose. Entrepreneurship isn’t just about personal success; it’s about creating value, empowering others, and making a positive difference. And as I always say, if God is for us, who can be against us?
