About us
Three founders, one conviction.
Varichem was founded on July 1, 1985, by three entrepreneurial colleagues — Tobias Dzangare (pharmacist), Celestine Gadzikwa (finance manager), and Glory Zata — sparked by a shared conviction to produce cost-effective, high-quality healthcare products in Zimbabwe.
The founding trio recognized a gap in Zimbabwe's pharmaceutical landscape and decided to harness complementary skills — Dzangare's technical expertise, Gadzikwa's financial acumen, and Zata's operational drive — to build their own venture. Lacking the capital for pharmaceuticals, they initially registered a small business to manufacture automotive brake fluid and lubricants. This permitted them to generate seed capital and prove their operational capabilities in a less regulated market.
Our Vision
To be a trusted leader in African pharmaceutical manufacturing — driven by innovation, accessibility, and impact.
Our Mission
To manufacture safe, affordable, and effective medicines that support better health outcomes across Zimbabwe and Africa.
Our Values
The principles that guide every formulation, partnership, and decision.
Milestones
Moments that shaped us.
Four decades compressed into four turning points — scroll through the years that made Varichem what it is.
Milestone 01 — 04
Varichem is established
Milestone 02 — 04
Opening of Greenwood Pharmacy retail chain
Milestone 03 — 04
Completion of Gleneagles manufacturing plant
Milestone 04 — 04
Granted compulsory license to produce antiretroviral drugs (ARVs)
Field notes
