The Sporah Show in its bit to promote talent from the Motherland, had opportunity to Interview Kiki Zimba, a Tanzanian born business lady and a Fashion Designer determined to make a brek-through in the Western Fashion Industry.

Beautiful, talented Kiki Zimba is becoming a new Fashion and Style icon. The Sporah Show was privileged to have an Exclusive Interview with her.

SPORAH: Tell us something interesting about yourself?
KF: I am a hard working individual dedicated and business oriented. I am a string minded woman who juggles business and mother-hood. I have also started my Clothing line which is looking good at the moment.

SPORAH: Name 3 words that describe KIKI and explain why they describe you.
KF: Fun, Friendly and Patient. Am fun to be around with because i always light up the room lol,. Very patient because in business this essential especially in Tanzania. Lastly friendly, I love good people and hanging around with friends.



SPORAH: You have a long history in fashion; can you talk a bit about how you got started Kiki’s Fashion?
KF: I started Kiki’s fashion when I was 26 years old, 7years ago, it was like a joke, i was a shopaholic, I used to shop like crazy, so my friends were like why don’t you start your own shop! I was like really? do you think I can make it? they were like yes you can, coz you know Fashion so it will be easy for you to do it, so I started from there, I started with a very small capital, I use to go bring my stuff from South Africa and Dubai only, I don’t believe am here like now, thank God, by the way am a journalist by professional, but it was a hard work for me and I was not interested, so I decide to work for myself and I love my job.

SPORAH: When someone hears Kiki’s Fashion, what do they think?
KF: What come to mind will be elegance, sophistication and chic. I consciously try my best to put my clients in my shoes. I always want my client to feel special when they walk into my store.

SPORAH: Let’s talk business for a second, how do you market yourself? What is your strategy?
KF: Initially i took the opportunity of sponsoring beauty pageants offers you. This opened doors for me, it made people get to notice what i was all about and my intentions. I also used some local Magazines like Bang Magazine, Shear Illusion and I also have my own fashion blog called www.kikisclothingstore.blogspot.com.

SPORAH: What do you find most challenging about running a business in Tanzania?
KF: The problem is people normally would rather go to low quality store to buy their cloths which is totally understandable, but the way i see things is you can’t substitute quality with mediocracy, my core target market recognise this and that is why they still come to KIKI’s and i fully appreciate their custom.

SPORAH: Some people complain about customer service in most shops in Tanzania, what do you have to say about this?  And what are Kiki’s Fashion disciplines?
KF: I take customer service very serious. This is what will make a business thrive. We in KIKI’s have always continuously tried to improve and get feedbacks from customers. i see customers as client rather than just customers. we arrange sales parties for our Gold customers and recently we had a Cocktail sales party, Grey Goose Shopping Party and the other one is coming, I like to see my customers happy.



SPORAH: How do you think young Tanzanian women influence fashion trends?
KF: I see young women mixing Western and African fashion together which is very impressive this really influence fashion trend and i put this in consideration in my selection of my clothing range.

SPORAH:What are your tips to a young woman looking to dress well on a tight budget?
KF: I don’t have break the bank in order to look good!  That the brilliant thing about fashion. yes you can spend money on a pair of jeans but when it comes to tops you can get lots for affordable price, wait for sale if you can, shop around and grab bargains…the best thing is to mix and match different colours.

SPORAH: What are your fashion must-haves for this spring?
KF: We don’t have spring in Tanzania, but my fashion must have this season is Colourful separates, tribal choker, bold shades, white flares, bright bag, coral polish and snakeskin.

SPORAH: Is there anyone who inspires you in Fashion industry?  and why?
KF: A lot of people inspires me, like Mustaffah Hassan Ali, Chichia London, Ally Mutullah, but most is Khadija Mwanamboka, She is very hard working and she has a golden heart..am proud of her.

SPORAH: What is the most elegant thing a woman can wear every day?
KF: It depends on your career,at the office u can where a pencil dress or skirt with a shirt, as for my career i can wear jeans every day..:)

SPORAH: What shoes do I “SPORAH”" wear with a yellow cocktail dress?
KF: For this season, you can where it with purple Shoes or green”colour blocking”



Top Model Flaviana Matata

SPORAH: What has been the biggest disappointment in your life? Why?
KF: There are so many disappointments in life and I always handle them but my biggest disappointment is what happened to my marriage, I can’t explain much but I didn’t expect it! But God is protecting me, no matter what I will still be who I am and I will always respect people who respect me!

SPORAH: What intimidate you?
KF: Nothing intimidate me as i am a strong woman!

SPORAH: Who is the most important person in your life?
KF: The most important person in my life is my mother, I love her to death, she is my role model, she is the strong woman, very hard working  and she raised me with good manners, am so proud of her, I thank God to have her as a mother.

SPORAH: Tell us about one life-changing experience in your life.
KF: Its the motherhood experience, am so proud to be a mother and am enjoying every moment of it, now am a very happy woman than before, my son makes me feel  alive and makes me work hard for his future. I love him so much.


SPORAH: More than half of women who suffer abuse do not seek help, with the majority believing that family matter should not be discussed outside the family. This being the case, How did you feel during and after your divorce?
KF: Its kinda harder, especially when it comes to our son, but am not divorced yet, we are just separated and may be we’ll sort out our differences, who knows..)

SPORAH: Do you think a lot of women are leaving in a denying the fact that their relationship or marriage is over..! And why?
KF: In our culture we believe marriage’s a sacred commitment and for that reason i will always encourage marriage couple to always work things out but if its not working out and its affecting the kids then there is no point in trying…that’s when you come to point of accepting its over and move on with your life

SPORAH: What can women learn from men?
KF: Is the same thing men learn from women. They can always learn from each other…cause we learn everyday.

SPORAH: What are the three things you would never do to the person you love?
KF: Cheat, hurt, makes them unhappy! But you have to do the same, otherwise!

SPORAH: What makes you confident?
KF: Having went through a lot of hard times, making it through, and finding out that I can stand on my own two feet.

SPORAH: Are you smart or sexy?
KF: Am smart and Sexy too…I’m both

SPORAH: Who do you think is the sexiest man alive? why?
KF: I don’t look at people’s body, I like man who has a good heart and respect, that is sexy to me.

SPORAH: What would you do if your boyfriend leaves you?
KF: What else can I do, that’s life, it hurts so badly but I will move on with my life, he is not the first one and he will not be the last! At the end of the day we have to forgive and forget.

SPORAH: Life begins at…………………
KF: Life begins at thirty rights? Lol


SPORAH: What do you think money can buy?
KF: Money can buy just about everything, as we all know it cant buy happiness but then again it depends on what makes you happy.

SPORAH: Do you think plastic surgery is an option for those less fortunate in the looks department? Why?
KF: “beauty lies in the eyes of beholder” but then again if one feel that they would improve their chances in life by doing plastic surgery then why not.? everybody has a reasons why they do what they do when it comes to plastic surgery.

SPORAH: What kinds of people do you surround yourself with? Why?
KF: I surround myself with different kinds of people; It’s just good to know different types of people.

SPORAH: When was the last time you cried? Why?
KF: I cried few days ago, coz i was just emotional.

SPORAH: Sell me your most favourite product from Kiki’s Fashion.
KF: I have got many of them, I have got good quality stuff for a reasonable price like clothes, shoes and handbags, accessories, I just love my choice.

SPORAH: Thank you Kiki for your time and i hope to have you soon LIVE on The Sporah Show.
KF: Thank you Sporah for having me.

Source: The Sporah Show