When Bulawayo-based mining magnate Bekezela Moyo founded Allied Security in 2022, his goal was simple: to protect his business empire. Like many entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe, Moyo had grown increasingly alarmed by a surge in violent armed robberies that put both lives and assets at risk. While many business owners relied solely on law enforcement, he took a different path, choosing to take matters into his own hands.
What started as a private operation guarding the Carrymine Complex in Douglasdale quickly proved effective. Moyo soon expanded Allied Security into a fully-fledged company. By 2023, Allied Security had grown into one of Zimbabwe’s most recognizable new players in the sector, competing with long-established firms.
Today, the company secures gold and lithium mines, as well as large parts of the Bulawayo Central Business District (CBD). Its reach now extends beyond the city, protecting operations at Good Days Mine in Mutoko, Feather Mine in Filabusi, and Magara Mine in Gwanda, among others.
For Moyo, Allied Security is more than just a business; it’s a vehicle for economic empowerment. “We have always stated that we want to employ enough people to feed 1,000 families by the end of this year, and we are on course to achieve that,” he says. “We’re taking the sector to a new level, with state-of-the-art equipment, weaponry, and the best human resources.”
Moyo admits that while others saw the rise in armed robberies as discouraging, he saw an opportunity. “The reception has been incredible because of the quality service we’re offering,” he explains. “There are thousands of security companies out there, but not all can penetrate a certain clientele. We’ve managed to break through and secure that trust.”
Beyond protecting clients, the company is also tackling broader community issues. “There have been a lot of electricity cable thefts, and we’ve actually made inroads and caught a number of them,” Moyo notes. “We recently caught one in Hillside and took them to the police station. It’s something that doesn’t happen very often because cable thieves are difficult to catch and they’re usually armed, but we’ve arrested a few of them during our neighborhood watch patrols. We’re offering a service that the community is benefiting from.”
A seasoned mining executive with over 15 years in the gold industry, Moyo believes that robust security is a cornerstone for Zimbabwe’s broader economic ambitions. “The Ministry of Finance has set ambitious goals under National Development Strategy 1, including a US$12 billion mining industry,” he states. “At Carry Mine, we are doing our part to ensure this target is realized. Without strong security systems, those targets remain at risk.”
From a private security initiative to a nationwide operation, Allied Security’s rise reflects both the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Zimbabwe today. It proves that even in the face of crisis, innovation and resilience can thrive.