By 
By Ross Moyo
*HEALTH, HUSTLE & HERITAGE: How Yanaya Is Rewriting Zimbabwe’s Wellness Narrative – One Smoothie at a Time*
At this year’s Econet Victoria Falls Marathon, amidst the pounding feet and cheering crowds, something refreshing stole the spotlight—not a record time, but a revitalizing gulp of baobab smoothie from a Zimbabwean brand reshaping the country’s wellness culture.
Yanaya, a rising force in the local health food industry, brought its signature plant-based energy and Afrocentric philosophy to the marathon in the form of a Lifestyle Refueling Station, an innovative, pop-up wellness hub that offered smoothies, millet energy bites, herbal infusions, and real-time nutritional inspiration to runners and spectators alike.
“We weren’t just here to serve smoothies,” said Mrs. Nyaradzo Dhliwayo Moyo, Founder and CEO of Yanaya.
“We were here to prove that our traditional ingredients—baobab, nyemba, moringa—can power performance, fuel recovery, and inspire pride in who we are. This is what wellness looks like when it’s local and unapologetic.”
*A New Chapter in Zimbabwean Wellness*
In a country where rising health concerns, like diabetes, hypertension, and stress—are taking center stage, Yanaya is providing an alternative that feels both modern and ancestral. The brand is reframing wellness not as a foreign import or elite fad, but as a return to roots.
With its vibrant smoothie bars, clean food offerings, and detox programs, Yanaya has become a go-to for urban Zimbabweans seeking balance, energy, and flavor. But the company’s growing influence goes beyond menu items, it’s an entrepreneurial movement grounded in purpose.
“We saw a gap in the market, yes,” Mrs. Dhliwayo Moyo reflects.
“But more importantly, we saw a cultural opportunity to reconnect people with the foods of their land and the vitality of their bodies.”
Wellness Meets Hustle
Mrs. Dhliwayo Moyo’s story is as compelling as her brand. Trained in South Africa and inspired by her own transition to a plant-based lifestyle, she returned to Zimbabwe with a simple yet bold idea: to make healthy food easy, accessible, and proudly African.
With a few staff members and a lot of conviction, Yanaya was born hustling its way from one outlet to a growing network of locations that now serve everyone from fitness buffs to business executives, students, and stay-at-home parents.
The brand’s entrepreneurial rise in a challenging economic environment has turned heads in business circles, with many pointing to Yanaya as a case study of what it means to scale purposefully in Zimbabwe.
“This is entrepreneurship with soul,” says one Harare-based dietitian.
“She’s not just building a food business she’s building a lifestyle brand that’s truly ours.”
*Victoria Falls Marathon: More Than a Race*
At the Victoria Falls Marathon, Yanaya’s impact wasn’t just in the products served—but in the conversations sparked.
Runners asked about moringa benefits. Spectators took notes on millet snacks. Athletes swapped sugary drinks for smoothie refills. It was a wellness masterclass in motion energizing both bodies and minds.
“This was the most memorable stop on the course,” said a runner from Gweru.
“It wasn’t just fuel it was a reminder that we can run on what’s ours.”
Yanaya’s presence at the marathon reinforced a powerful national message: Zimbabwe can lead Africa’s wellness revolution using its own ingredients, its own people, and its own stories.
As more Zimbabweans embrace fitness, mental wellness, and clean eating, Yanaya is poised to scale even further, introducing wellness vending concepts, expanding its delivery model, and partnering with schools and corporate wellness programs.
But at its core, the mission remains the same: to nourish a nation physically, culturally, and economically.
“This is just the beginning,” Mrs. Dhliwayo Moyo says.
“Our vision is to see wellness become a way of life for every Zimbabwean not something extra, but something essential.”
In a world of noise, Yanaya is offering something timeless: a smoothie-powered reminder that health, hustle, and heritage still make the perfect blend.
*FACT BOX:* *Why Yanaya Stands Out*
✔ 100% Zimbabwean-owned and female-led
✔ Uses traditional ingredients like baobab, millet, moringa, and nyemba
✔ Focused on clean eating, plant-based meals, and wellness education
✔ Active in public events and marathons to promote healthy lifestyles
✔ On track to expand regionally with Afrocentric wellness at its core
*About Yanaya*
Established in 2019 by wellness entrepreneur *Mrs. Nyaradzo Dhliwayo Moyo*, Yanaya is Zimbabwe’s leading plant-based food and lifestyle brand. With a mission to make healthy eating accessible, delicious, and rooted in African traditions, Yanaya operates multiple outlets offering smoothies, vegan and vegetarian meals, cold-pressed juices, and nourishing snacks. The brand is transforming eating habits one bite at a time—celebrating six years of vibrant health in 2025.
//// ENDS ////
*For media inquiries or interviews, please contact:*
*Email:* [email protected]
*Phone:* +263 77 123 4567
*Website:* http://www.yanaya.co.zw
*Instagram/Facebook/Twitter:* @yanayalifestyle
Comments