Delma Lupepe Zimbabwe Entrepreneur

Today we feature Delma Lupepe, one of Zimbabwe's successful businessman who has helped create employment and sustain the livelihood of fellow Zimbabweans.


He is one of the richest men in Zimbabwe and “he has seen it all and done it all”, but the now repentant and God fearing Delma Lupepe, revealed that he would rather have God than money because at the end of the day, all his riches are vanity.

In an exclusive interview, Lupepe who is a devoted Seventh Day Adventist revealed that his money never brought him peace and a comfortable life until he accepted Jesus as his personal Savior.

“I have money, not that I am boasting, I am only stating a fact and through my money I have seen and done it all, there is nothing you can tell me about life. There is nothing that I have not done but I am not proud of it. I have been all over the world, stayed at the most expensive hotels, some of the suits I have cost me 30 000 to 40 000 Rand. I have driven almost every version of the Mercedes Benz and almost every car. Right now I have two Porsche models, a Boxster and a 911 which if I am not mistaken is the only one in Zimbabwe, but its all nothing and it does not give me joy.

Right now I have two Porsche models, a Boxster and a 911 which if I am not mistaken is the only one in Zimbabwe 

“And I have dated numerous beautiful women but I can tell you I never got any peace or satisfaction from that. I want people out there to know that all that glitters is not gold. It is better to live a humble and sinless life than to have riches that will lead you to death,” said Delma.


Lupepe, who is the owner of Maydeep Investments, which incorporates Merspin, Gloweave and Ascot Clothing Company, likened his life to that of the Biblical prodigal son who asked for his inheritance from his father and went away to a far-away country to squander it all.

“Just like the prodigal son, I was a youth with money and I used it wrongly. I was a slave to sin and like many youths of to day I believed that life was one big party but its more than that. So I am saddened by what the youth aspire to be. Frankly they should know that quality life is not in money, money does not bring any peace – peace comes from knowing God. All the other things are vanity, Solomon was one of the richest and best-dressed men but he admitted that the lilies on the ground were better than him.

“Don’t misunderstand me, God wants us to be prosperous and rich, he has plans for us, plans of prosperity not of harm. But we should know that riches come with responsibility, the prodigal son was irresponsible and I was irresponsible but I am glad that like him I found my senses.”

Delma believes that God gave him money not to buy cars and other worldly material but to use it as a vehicle to preach the gospel.

He said: “I used to hire a private jet from South Africa to come and pick me up for a shopping spree in Johannesburg. I had money but just like the prodigal son, my riotous spending meant I was eating with pigs. That was foolish, now that I am back in my father’s house. I use my money to spread the Advent message and to build churches. Not to buy worldly things, which are worthless at the end of the day.

He said: “I used to hire a private jet from South Africa to come and pick me up for a shopping spree in Johannesburg. 

“Whatever we do in life we must put God first. I thank God for knocking sense into my head before it was too late.”

Asked to reveal the event that led him to repent, Delma refused to divulge his life altering experience, but said: “I repented when I found myself in a situation that made me realise that God does exist.”

However, it is believed that one of the reasons why Delma sought God was an incident in which he escaped a kidnap and car-jacking attempt by a group of armed robbers in North End in 2002. He was also involved in a number of car accidents in which he believes that he was lucky to survive.

Delma added that God always had good plans for him that hinged on his repentance, revealing that one of the blessings he has received is his wife Abigail Lupepe who is a dentist.

“Some people are unfortunate that when they were wild, diseases such as AIDS and even death caught up with them. But God smiled on me even when I was still in the wilderness and he gave me a beautiful wife who I love dearly. A good wife comes from God and I encourage the youth to wait on the Lord and he will definitely send them the showers of blessings.”

He reiterated that God is always “looking for an excuse to do good things for us but we have to come back home for that to happen. If you want an education or employment it all belongs to you the secret is to accept God. And after accepting God you have to give him his tithe and offering. People think it’s a form of extortion but in reality it is a way of recognising that everything you get is from God. And if you are faithful with that he will look after you, at the end of the day tithe is only 10 percent of your earnings.”

Delma also took time to urge the youth to respect their parents and elders, unlike the prodigal son who disrespected his father by asking for his share of the inheritance before his father’s, because “failure to respect parents is a sign that you do not respect God.”

Lupepe is famous for his role in turning the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League (PSL) into a semi-professional league. He introduced incentives for Amazulu Football Club players such as monthly salaries, medical aid, bonuses, training and camping allowances at a time when most clubs just paid winning allowances or salaries based on the number of games played per month.

Charles Nyakurwa Social Entrepreneur

Charles Nyakurwa, founder of Deaf Hands @ Work, is recognised for his training and job creation programme with the deaf community.

Imagine living in a world where you are silenced and outcast – with no common language, limited means of income, and no way to connect with your peers. According to Charles Nyakurwa, this is the reality for many deaf people living in South Africa today.




Training and job creation for the deaf


Charles has been chosen as the latest UnLtd South Africa award winner for his social enterprise, Deaf Hands @ Work based in Masiphumelele, Cape Town. His project offers training and job creation for the deaf community using South African Sign Language (SASL) to bridge the communication gap. Alongside creating employment opportunities, Charles’ dream is to promote community awareness and break down social barriers for people living with disabilities.


UnLtd South Africa has recognized Nyakurwa for his determination to make a powerful social impact in the deaf community. The award consists of a package of financial and non-financial support to the value of R50 000. UnLtd South Africa’s latest competition, which was launched earlier this year, saw a variety of promising applicants causing the judging panel to deliberate long and hard before choosing Charles – proof that the social enterprise sector is growing and gaining momentum in the Western Cape.


According to Louise Willington, CEO at UnLtd South Africa, Charles was given the award by the judging panel because of his passion for his cause and because he is doing something practical to change the world for the deaf community. “Charles is extremely enterprising, you can see that throughout his life, and his experiences growing up have created his desire and commitment to change mindsets around disability. We look forward to supporting him and seeing Deaf Hands @ Work blossom into an established social enterprise,” says Willington.


Unlimited Support


UnLtd South Africa is a nonprofit organisation that finds, funds and support social entrepreneurs, using a model developed in the UK that has spread to India and Thailand. UnLtd South Africa seeks to help early stage social entrepreneurs on their journey by providing financial grants, mentorship, training and networking opportunities. Charles is the latest of a series of award winners who are celebrating success in the Western Cape thanks in part to UnLtd South Africa’s support.


A born entrepreneur


The definition of a self-made man, Charles grew up in Zimbabwe and had a successful academic career despite being orphaned at age 7. Through his youth he was involved in entrepreneurial endeavours and ran a small shop to put himself through school.


Growing up with his younger brother, who is deaf, had a major influence on his outlook on the world and his attitude towards business. The family did not have access to the appropriate equipment to measure the full scale of his brother’s hearing loss that made it impossible for him to get the quality of care and education needed for a young child with a disability.


Frustrated by the fact that his younger brother, a bright boy who is full of hopes and aspirations just like him, was ostracized purely based on being deaf – Charles made it his mission to break the silence and affliction of the Deaf Community.  Unfortunately, a lack of resources and care for the disabled is not uncommon. Nearly 1.8 million South Africans are deaf or hard of hearing and a shocking 75% of deaf people are illiterate. Charles’ background in economics gave him the vision to create a business that could begin to solve the problem.


Mission


Deaf Hands @ Work was officially launched in December 2011. Its mission is to create employment for skilled and unskilled deaf individuals, irrespective of racial denominations and nationality. The long-term goal is to create a strong, motivated, qualified workforce from previously unskilled and semi-skilled people with disabilities. Charles aims to eventually achieve prime status as a disability brand with DHW offices spreading throughout South Africa’s nine provinces.


According to Charles: “Just one employed competent deaf individual can change the entire community reframing how people perceive disability as an inability. He or she can be a role model to a deaf child and a source of valuable inspiration.”


For more information go to www.unltdsouthafrica.org

Meddy Matshalaga Three Gem Gold Mines

Mining has been identified as one the key drivers of the local economy and Meddy Matshalaga is one of the few women operating a mine. 


She is the executive director of Three Gem Gold Mines in Zvishavane and chairs the Licensed Gold Buyers’ Association of Zimbabwe. 


ND: Can you give us a brief background of your company?


MM: Three Gem Gold Mines started at the end of 2007. We started serious operations in 2008 when things were really tough during the Zimbabwe dollar era. The mine started with what you call custom milling (stamp mill) for small-scale miners in Zvishavane where we provided a service to small-scale miners who brought their ore for grinding to produce gold. We began to do mining at very low scale and, later, we received a buying and selling licence. 


The company was established with $40 000 savings from my Development International consultancy business. I used the money for construction, bought transformers and a stamp mill.


ND: What motivated you to get into this line of business?


MM: I think two things happened. Initially, it was because I just wanted to have another business in case I got tired of working formally, but the real thing that really motivated me was some time back, I think in 2007, the Ministry of Gender and Woman’s Affairs hosted a field day in Zvishavane where I participated. 


It was at that time the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe used to do a lot of mining in Zvishavane and worked with rural women, pounding and processing gold. So it was mainly woman labour. I loved seeing women participating, but I felt it was too much work for them on one hand, but on the other, I realised women could contribute to the economy in a positive way.


ND: How have you managed to get to where you are today?


MM: It has been a long story, I guess. I don’t know whether I can call myself somebody who has made it. But I think it is through hard work by somebody who had a passion for the sector. The sector is very active once you are in it, so you want to continue. However, I think the most important thing is to put some professionalism into the work. 


ND: What is your opinion on the mining industry and general performance of the gold sector?


MM: I would say the mining sector is one of the key drivers of the economy. Gold is also one of the major minerals contributing to the export market and I am sure the gold sector will surpass the target of 13 tonnes anticipated by year-end.


We have had a favourable environment given Europe is struggling and prefers keeping its wealth in gold. This has encouraged a lot of production in the sector, but again I think the sector is not really being fully maximised. There is need for more resources and technological know-how on gold extraction.


ND: Given that there are very few women in mining, what are some of the challenges you face?


MM: The mining sector is heavily dominated by men even in extraction itself. Women need to be educated even in little things such as how to register a mine and how to handle labour issues. At times women get cheated to get some of their work done. There are, however, a number of women working hard and doing well.


ND: What advice can you give to other entrepreneurs who are in your line of business?


MM: The secret to running a business successfully for a long period of time is by running it professionally.
Such issues as employees and banking are critical for a successful business.


The most important thing is to comply with the regulations of the country. If you are playing football understand what is wrong and what is right. Comply with the laws, labour law and Zimra (obligations). Just comply from A to Z. When you comply you don’t need to worry. You get visitors at your premises.
Let us toe the line in all respects 


ND: What do you think should be done to improve mining in Zimbabwe?


MM: Small-scale producers need support so that they can maximise their potential. They need access to compressors and education on how to grow their businesses.


If all miners could comply and contribute the relevant taxation they owe, then the economy will do very well. Look next door in Botswana, they are doing well as a country as their revenues are being channelled towards development through the construction of schools, roads and hospitals, among other infrastructure.


ND: What are your future plans?


MM: My future plan is to add value to the Licensed Gold Buyers Association of Zimbabwe (LGBAZ). We want to make it efficient and grow the association to enable it to provide services to its members so they can run their businesses professionally.


The growth of good practices by members will enable a significant contribution to the fiscus. We recently made an application for LGBAZ members to be allowed to export their gold so they could enjoy benefits of economic liberalisation.


(c) Newsday

Tawanda Nyambirai TN Holdings

A person must be motivated by the joy to provide good services and be inspired by the importance and relevance of their job or business towards the betterment of their country. This is the same kind of desire that drove one of the movers and shakers in the corporate world to become one of the top achievers in the banking and corporate finance sector. It brings to mind the words of the Nigerian Christ Embassy Pastor Chris Oyakhilome who said: "You may be a trader, cleaner, teacher, civil servant or a chief executive, no matter the job or business you do, let your goal be to render service. And that way your greatness will be inevitable."

At 40, Mr Tawanda Nyambirai the TN Holdings boss has managed to achieve what most could have considered impossible for someone who is a lawyer by profession. How can a lawyer make a breakthrough in the complex banking sector? His secret is that of treating his customers as kings as he makes it his business to know what customers need and then reaches out to meet those needs.

He is the major shareholder in TN Holdings through his investment vehicle Nyambirai Associated Trusts. TN Holdings is the holding company for TN Financial Services (Pvt) Ltd, TN Asset Management (Pvt.) Ltd, TN Microfinance and TN Harlequin- a furniture division.

To meet people's needs, Mr Nyambirai saw it fit to bring the banks to the people and not the other way round. That is the reason why he places most of his banks in clothing shops, furniture and grocery outlets like Greatermans and Meikles to make it more convenient for the customers. The down-to-earth father of eight would rather describe himself as " a sinner saved by grace" as he is human and makes mistakes like any one of us. "I usually don't like talking about my personal life as there is a temptation to talk about the good and leave out the bad. "Mostly when I say I am a Christian people tend to build an image of me and half the time they forget that I am also human like anyone else who makes mistakes." he said. A staunch Warren Buffet fan, the TN Holdings Limited chief executive is inspired by the billionaire's investment principles.

He however, does not believe in having a mentor because he says it tends to elevate an individual and model someone as an example that is worth being followed. "I believe in genuine friendship and fellowship from whom I can learn and who can learn from me as well. Friends do not speak down on me but they are there to encourage me," he said. The Apostolic Faith Mission follower is motivated by the desire to change lives and assist the less privileged and make others avoid the pitfalls he fell into. Mr Nyambirai is motivated by love and focuses more on what he wants tomorrow to be like.

"I'm not building a business for today but I am modeling it in what I want to see it being tomorrow. As other banks are retrenching I am actually going against the grain as I am recruiting people because I know that the future of banking needs one to have skilled staff," he said.

Challenges are not meant to destroy you, they are meant to groom you and it takes self-confidence, discipline and focus to be an achiever, said the staunch Dynamos supporter.

Mr Nyambirai said that during the hyperinflation era many Zimbabweans lived like there was no tomorrow but on their part they remained conservative and knew that there was a tomorrow that required them to work hard. The lawyer-cum-businessman who was born in the farming community of Lalapanzi did his primary and secondary education in Chiungura in Gutu and A-Levels at Chibi High School. He went on to attain a law degree at the University of Zimbabwe in 1992 and he also holds a certificate in International Conflict Resolution studies from the University of Uppsala in Sweden. Mr Nyambirai comes from a broken family of 16 and is happily married to Ketty Nyambirai.

Mr Nyambirai described 2010 as a "good and blessed" year for him and his organisation as he was named the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Harare regional and national businessman of the year award. His company was also awarded the best commercial exhibitioner at the Harare Agricultural Show. In December last year, Mr Nyambirai won an international prize in Geneva, Switzerland, known as the Platinum Technology award for quality and best trade name.

He also got a "special award" from Tsitsi and Strive Masiyiwa for being an individual who was most supportive of the charitable activities they carry out. The successful businessman reflects with a lot of pride to the law practice that he built since it delivered value to his clients who still have fond memories of him.

Mr Nyambirai said he was particularly proud of his achievement as part of the legal team that successful led NMB Bank to dually list on the Zimbabwe and London Stock Exchanges.

He said that he managed to create a thriving bank because he had been patient for eight years since 2001 and put all his strength in building a bank that will not be short of capital.

"From humble beginnings in 2001 TN Financial Services offered advisory services and we used it as a platform to build capital to start a bank. "We preserved the capital and kept little in cash therefore suffered little losses during hyperinflation," he said. TN Bank was among some of the banks that satisfied Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe minimum capital requirements way before the deadline last year.

He added that in a few years his bank expected to have one of the largest branch networks in the country as they were expecting to have more than 32 branches and most of these will be in Econet and Meikles shops by June this year.

I'm no Masiyiwa front

TN Holdings founder and chief executive, Tawanda Nyambirai has insisted that he is “his own man”, dismissing speculation that he was a front for thenon- telecoms business interests of South Africa-based mogul, Strive Masiyiwa.

Nyambirai founded TN Financial Holdings in 2001 and engineered the group’s listing on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in 2010 through the reverse take-over of furniture manufacturer and retailer, Tedco Limited.

In addition, Nyambirai also chairs the Zimbabwe operations of Masiyiwa’s Econet Wireless while the telecoms entrepreneur has also become a key shareholder in the fast-expanding TN Holdings.

However, while admitting that it would be an honour to be a “front” for Masiyiwa, Nyambirai insisted that this was not the case.

“If there is anybody I would love to front for it is Strive Masiyiwa … it would be an honour,” Nyambirai said in an interview.

“Masiyiwa (is) an honest, generous, kind and humble man. He declared that his first (Econet Wireless) dividend after profit would go to charity and when he realized it he did just that and I personally distributed the money and would manage it for him and give it to charity so I know he kept his word ... he has educated over 40 000 orphans in Zimbabwe.

 “So for people to say I am a front for him is a compliment and a privilege! But he is a shareholder and he is known and cited everywhere in the records as a shareholder at TN.

“People who do fronting deals do not do that. They are unknown in the background as the fronts play the role of owner. He would have been in the shadows.”

Nyambirai said Masiyiwa became a key shareholder in TN Holdings after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) ruled that bank executives could not be controlling shareholders of institutions they are supposed to be running.

“When the RBZ said I should dilute my shareholding I asked myself who the best person to partner with would be and I thought ‘Strive!” Nyambirai said.

 “I was humbled and honoured when he had the confidence in me and my business to buy the shareholding. I am my own man and I have a shareholder in Strive whom I greatly admire!”

He also said TN Holdings was awaiting regulatory approval for the establishment of a cattle bank, a first for Zimbabwe. The proposed bank would allow farmers and individuals to use their stock as collateral when accessing credit.

“At the moment we are moving through the regulatory corridors,” he said.

“Steps are being taken, we have people all over the country talking to people, telling how they view it if we launch a cattle bank and the outcome is amazing.

“What is overwhelming is that it is not only rural people who are enthusiastic about the idea but also urban people.

“We have people living and working in the city who also have cattle in their rural homes as wealth and assets and they are very interested in the concept.”

Nyambirai said although significant progress had been made in improving operating conditions for business, the lack of liquidity remained a huge challenge.

“We operate in an environment and the major characteristic is illiquidity. We are operating in an illiquid market and whatever we do, we have to deal with that challenge,” he said.

“The way it affects us is there is more demand for credit than cash and very little cash is available. We have had to come up with strategies to deal with that problem and we seem to be winning.”

Sam Levy Zimbabwe Businessman

Sam Levy was born in Kwekwe on October 9, 1929.

There were a few simple things that made Sam Levy the extraordinary man that he was.

He was a complex man, but his principles were simple, and they translated into every aspect of his life, from family to business to friends.

He touched so many people's lives from all walks of life, and yet we all recognise the same things about Sam Levy. Sam Levy's Village in Borrowdale, Harare

Sam Levy was a very principled man, tough but fair. He had a very strong sense of right and wrong.

He was given the name "Kanyuchi" which is the Shona word for a honeybee: If you were good and fair, he gave you honey. If you were not honest or did wrong you faced getting stung.

He was a generous man. He gave without asking, and never asked for a thank you, or expected something in return. His reward and pleasure was to see those around him enjoy what he gave.

Sam Levy was a humble man. Despite his achievements in life, and the status and respect he earned as a successful businessman, he treated all people equally no matter their status in life, no matter the colour of their skin.

Whether a prominent business person, a Government official, the guy who cut the lawn or a stranger that he had never met before, he was always approachable, receptive and had time for you. He touched so many lives that way. He gave advice to anyone, and listened with patience and attentiveness. He had the ability to put himself in your shoes and see things clearly.

One thing Sam Levy was known for was his ability to see things that others didn't see. His insight and understanding were so vast that there was nothing he could not help you with. As long as you "put him in the picture" he was able to step into your shoes and "sort it out".

He was family oriented and his life revolved around his children. He loved passionately and deeply, and was very protective. No one could touch anyone he loved, and he made everybody know it.

Sam Levy's Village Borrowdale, Harare, Zimbabwe

In times of need, he was always the first to phone and always the first one to take action.

He reminded everyone he met: "Respect and honour your parents and don't fight with your brothers and sisters. Family is family and blood is thicker than water".

He was a good friend. No matter what he was doing, or how important it was, if he was needed, he made time. If there was a problem, he would help.

If they needed strength, he was supportive. If someone was nervous, he gave them courage. If someone was stumped, he gave them a strategy.

He was a man of his word. If he said he would do something, consider it done, no matter how large or small the task. He forgot nothing. If you told him anything, no matter how trivial, he never forgot. He amazed people by reminding them of something they did or said that would otherwise be long forgotten.

Sam was a very wise man. Not only because of his vast experience in life and business, but because he had the ability to sit back and evaluate things, break them down into simple elements, and be objective.

He was known to say, "If you have a problem, come to me", and he was always there as he said he would be.

The man was a doer. His motto was "Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today". If something needed to be done, his attitude was "do it". If he wanted something done, he did it. It was that simple!

His tenacity was obvious in everything he did and he never gave up on anything or anyone. He was a very logical and practical man. He simplified the most complicated situations and made them easy to follow. If it could be done, it would be done, and it would be done right. He looked at obstacles as challenges, solved them and moved forward. He also knew when "enough is enough".

Sam was a very positive man. He "took the bull by the horns" and carried on. He was always optimistic and gave people hope. He made daunting situations approachable and was happy to lead through anything. No matter what happened, he always moved forward with a positive attitude, and it was infectious. He made all those around him feel safe and secure.

The businessman was a passionate man in everything he did. He loved every project, and he immersed himself into it and saw it through to fulfill it into the dream he wanted it to be. He loved deeply and fought fiercely. There was nothing he ever did that did not get everything right from his heart.

A visionary he was and this made him a pioneer for Zimbabwe. He spent a lot of time overseas looking for ideas and products to bring back to Zimbabwe.

The mogul can be credited with many astute initiatives, from creating supermarkets to better serve customers at cheaper prices, despite the resistance he got in doing so, to introducing a new breed of cattle to Zimbabwe, and creating a shopping centre which had something for everyone.

He always sought and appreciated new and clever ideas. He always said: "When I see a good idea, I take it and bring it back to Zimbabwe." His intention was always to let people here get a taste of what was only available overseas. He had so much pride in bringing new things to the country!

Most of all, he loved his country, his home. Everything he did in his life he did in the place he loved the most. Despite the challenges and the changing environments he persevered. When people were giving up, he invested more.

When things looked bleak, he kept building. He never gave up on the country or its people, and he made it known that he was here to stay.

He created a legacy in this country for the country. He made it very clear that he was a part of the team to carry this country forward, and he did so proudly and loudly.

It was called "Sam Levy's Village" for a reason. He wanted his legacy to be there for the people and he was proud to be a part of it, and wanted it to continue even after his death.

When he got sick, as soon as he was able to travel, he wanted to come home. He asked the doctors every week, "When can I go home to Zimbabwe?" and as soon as he was well enough to travel, he came home.

Zimbabwe inspired him, and was his anchor. Even when he was ill, he was always energised when he came home.

As he would always say when he was making a point or conclusion, "at the end of the day" he was a great man, an inspiration to us all.

We have a lot to learn in looking at his life, not for what he achieved, but for why he achieved. Simply, it was for his family, and his country. And he lived for both with passion, conviction, determination and love.

From the Levy family, we are proud to be his family. We will continue to have him live through us with everything he stood for. We as his family, and we as his country lost a pillar, but it's a pillar which will remind us everyday that he is still with us.

Thank you to a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend. We will miss you very much, but we will never forget you, and you will continue to live in our hearts forever.

Levy, the owner of the multi-billion-dollar Sam Levy’s Village in Borrowdale, among other business empires in the country, was born on October 9 1922 in Kwekwe and went to Prince Edward School.

In the 1960s, he was the founder and chairman of a large supermarket group, Macey’s Stores Limited, and by then he lived in Waterfalls. This saw him earning the nickname “Cut-price king”, when he started the supermarket business.

During that time, he also owned a fruit farm in Nyanga and a farm near Lake Chivero, where he was a pioneer breeder of beefmaster cattle. In September 1973, Levy bought Duly’s Angwa Street property from London County Properties for $1,5 million, which was reported to be the biggest property deal then.

The premise (now called Ximex Mall) was redesigned along American lines and it included a Macey’s discount store, butchery, bakery and other departments. Ximex Mall was bought by the National Social Security Authority about two years ago.

In 1975, Levy stood in the then Salisbury council elections and was elected councillor for Ward 8. During the same year, he introduced a new American cattle breed for the first time in Africa.

He once represented the then Rhodesia in three clay pigeon shooting internationals and won with national colours. In 1980, Levy won all the top prizes in the National Carcass competition during the four agricultural shows held at that time.

Dr Hope Sadza Founder of Women's University in Zimbabwe

Women of substance - Dr Hope Sadza making dreams come true for women

Dr. Sadza is Vice Chancellor and founder of the only Women's University in Africa: opened with 145 students in 2002, now has a student population of 1,500, staff of 90, a farm of 285 hectares for commercial dairy (serves as the growth engine of the University).  She is an eminent educationist who had a vision for opening a university for mature women who failed to access university education. The vision seeks to be the best African University in the promotion of gender equity and equal opportunities in tertiary education. The numerous awards the applicant has won nationally, regionally and internationally prove her unwavering interest in research and education for women. At the level of a Vice Chancellor, the result of her publications, research papers have cascaded in Africa to help mature men and women, especially in stamping out poverty through education for sustainable development - a theme that runs throughout her publications.

Dr. Sadza obtained her M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Missouri and her Ph.D. from the University of Zimbabwe in 1997.

IT has never been easy for the girl child to make it in the conventional "men's world". This
woman has been through it all, and the adage that "success is not a tree to be climbed with
one's hands in the pocket" rings true of Dr Hope Sadza, the woman at the helm of Women'sUniversity in Zimbabwe. 


Born in a family of six children to Mr Bakasa, a businessman who owned a fleet of taxis and Mrs
Bakasa, who was a teacher, Sadza says she grew up in a "very loving environment which I
think contributed to my love for people". 
Says Sadza: "My mother always used to tease me about my hobby of collecting friends." 
From a tender age, Sadza always wanted to be a teacher, and it did not take her long to realise
her dream. 
"I did my primary education at a school that still exists called Chirodzo Primary School.
Incidentally after my teacher training I went back and taught at that school," Sadza said. 
"I attended Goromonzi Secondary School and then went on to Waddilove for my teacher
training. My first love is teaching so I went further and did teacher training to teach secretaries in England." 
She went abroad to further her studies. 

"I then went to the University of Missouri in Columbia in the United States of America where I
did my first degree (BSc) and second degree (masters in Public Administration)." 
"When I came back I studied for my PhD with the Universityof Zimbabwe. I also taught for a
1 / 4Women of substance - Sadza making dreams come true for women  while at the Evelyn Hone College in Lusaka, Zambia." 

Her passion for teaching extended to assisting those financially unable to attain education. 

"My dream has always been to help, particularly in the teaching field, those not economically
endowed. I have always felt for the downtrodden, those who, for some reason or other, have
missed out on school," Sadza says. 
"I feel that women, especially in Africa, have a raw deal. In our household every child, male or
female, was treated the same but I watched with concern how other girls had to do chores and
drop out of school because parents preferred to invest in male children, education-wise." 
Says Sadza: "That really hurt me and gave me the urge to want to help in changing that culture
and offer the girl-child and woman the opportunity to be enlightened and educated." 
Sadza served in the public service for at least ten years before retiring to start the women's
university. 
"I was introduced to commissions when I was appointed chairperson of the Parastatals
Commission that is now defunct and then I served in the Public Service Commission for ten
years," Sadza said. 
"I took an early retirement to realise my dream to start the Women's University with my
co-founder, Fay Chung." 
The Women's University offers courses for mature women from the ages of 25 to 60, who
missed out on school, either because of lack of finance or because they got married and were
engaged in rearing families. 
"We offer women a 'second opportunity' as we call it, to go back to school away from the
2 / 4Women of substance - Sadza making dreams come true for women
Friday, 07 July 2006 02:00
ordinary university where a woman would feel like she is attending with her own child," the
veteran educationist said. 

The Women's University is "user friendly" because women can attend in the evenings, on
weekends and during holidays and does not interfere much with family concerns. 
There is also ample opportunity to network with other like-minded women. 
The vision of empowering women is critical to their lives and that of their families, especially
children. 
Before the university opened, research was done to establish the most critical areas, and came
up with four main fields namely: 

Agriculture 
Women are the tillers of the land, yet because of lack of education in that field, they remain
poor. 

Reproductive health 
Women are not in control so there needs to be some formal training so that they can fill the gap
between the nurse and the doctor. 

Gender story 
Women should be taught at an early stage the technicalities of gender issues and the
sociological connotations. 
3 / 4Women of substance - Sadza making dreams come true for women
Friday, 07 July 2006 02:00

Management 
This aims at empowering women who have become stuck in middle management by virtue of
being female. This is a popular course. The aim is for women to rise above diploma level and
get to the highest level, which is degree level. 
This is Dr Hope Sadza's dream unfolding. 
Besides her busy schedule at the university, Sadza also sits on a number of boards. She chairs
Rufaro Marketing and the National Art Gallery, to mention but a few. 
She loves reading, knitting, cooking - but hates house work and she makes no excuses for that. 
She loves travelling but at the moment she is unable to do so because of her commitment to the
university. Whenever she travelled in the past, Sadza was always struck by the plight of women
which she says is identical in Malawi, Zambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe. 
Sadza says the story of women is always about lots of brains but lack of opportunity. 
Her appeal is if you have any books, second hand computers which can be upgraded, they are
welcome at the Women's University. 
Sadza is married and her husband is the chief executive officer of Premier Medical Aid Society.
She has two children - a son aged 23 and an 11-year old daughter.


http://www.theindependent.co.zw/business/14065.pdf

Professor Hope Sadza looks beyond Zimbabwe
BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
Hope Sadza (Pictured) is on a mission to share her dream with all African women. As founder and Vice Chancellor of the Women’s University of Africa (WUA), she now wants to roll out her successful programmes beyond Zimbabwe and Zambia and in to Namibia and Malawi.

“The target now is to go through the whole of Africa and pick on the women who have been left behind,” said Sadza. She is the first woman in Africa to create a tertiary institution that allows ordinary women to advance themselves and improve their way of living.

"We call it the second opportunity university; it allows women the chance to start all over with their education. We help them achieve their dream and live a life they have always desired,” she said. WUA offers women Bachelor of Science degrees in areas of management, agriculture, entrepreneurial skills, information technologyand education. The university gives a flexible schedule as women take their classes in the evening, on weekends and in block releases.

WUA has produced 1 000 graduates since its establishment in 2002. The shortest programme runs for three years with the longest taking four. It gives first preference to employed applicants aged 24 and over. The oldest student the institution has empowered so far is Tsungi Hungwe-Chimbunde, who at the age of 64 graduated after a three-year degree programme in reproductive health in 2005.

According to Sadza, students have not found problems getting employment after years of empowerment with the university. She told The Zimbabwean ***** that the expansion into Namibia and Malawi should be up and running by 2011 and 2012.

“We will sign an MOU with their universities as we have done with the University of Zambia. We propose to start with 25 students and this time these mature students will pay for themselves or can be supported by their employers,” she said.

“We currently have 20 Zambian women with us. Since we are an opportunityuniversity accommodating married women who are also the working class with lots of responsibilities, we have given them a flexible programme that allows them to manage their social life as well. They (Zambians) are here for three months and theygo back for three months. While they are in Zambia they will also be doing open distance learning with the University of Zambia, using modules prepared by WUA.”

Since there are no hostels that accommodate foreign students, the University has a house in Harare’s low density suburb of Mount Pleasant. The institution has survived on funding from African Capacity Building Foundation, with scholarships from Econet Wireless and Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Networking (ZWRCN).

African Capacity Building Foundation donated a bus to the university and has committed itself to paying tuition fees for the foreign students from Zambia. Econet funds the top 20 outstanding students, while ZWRCN caters for four of the brilliant but poor students.

“Our lecturers are committed and have a passion for working with women. Lecturers have to be people who share the same dream of empowering women because a lot of patience is needed with them.”

It is the joy she has seen in the university’s graduates during past graduation ceremonies that continues to inspire Sadza to keep working with mature women.

“When I came up with the idea of establishing a university many people asked whether as a woman I could do it. But making it this far has proved to them that it is possible not only for me as a woman but for them as well. They have come to accept that everything has a beginning,” she said.

The university has registered a total number of 1500 students. “We want to go up to 4 000 students and we need more women in areas like law and sciences, I have realized that the women who graduate become more and more hungry for education. So we have opened an MBA and Masters in Development Studies as well,” explained Sadza.

Due to the economic challenges that have faced the country in recent years, WUA have seen over 200 dropouts. “It is a sad situation that we don’t have enough scholarships, but we have tried to make it easy for our students allowing them to write the exams and pay their tuition fees on collection of their results.”

Sadza began her career as a primary school teacher, became an officer in government and ended up as a Public Service Commissioner in 1989 resigning in 2000 to open WUA. She followed her dream to attain her PhD with the University of Zimbabwe.

“Before I did my PhD, the time management was a challenge. People had suggested I go to England for my studies but I could not because I had a family to look after. Then I just thought of how many women could be in my situation,” she said.

“Women fail to get the opportunity to go to university once they get married, it is difficult for them to manage the time. But we give them education with flexible timetable. In Africa 85% of the economy is based on Agriculture and 80% of the food is produced by women. Women know how to produce food but they don’t know how to manage, process it and add value as a finished food. We want to give them the knowledge to manage business and be leaders in society.”

Sadza and WUA were awarded winner of the 2007 "Empowering Gender through Tertiary Education" Award at the International Business Women's Conference, in Washington D.C. At the Women Entrepreneurs and Achievers Network (WEAN) awards held in Lagos, Nigeria the same year; she was named Africa's most influential woman in education.

Sheila Portia Tshuma
Regency Casino Operations Manager, Sheila Tshuma (44), believes without the knowledge she got from the Women University in Africa she would not be where she is today.

Tshuma co-owns one of the top of the range Casinos in Zimbabwe with her husband. She was one of the pioneers of WUA, where she attained a degree in General Management in Entrepreneurial development.

“I found the programme very inspiring, the entrepreneur development programme inspires you to take up the challenge of starting your own business, you learn everything how to make a business plan and how it could fail. One of the errors some small business owners make is being everyone in their companies. You would find that in most companies the owner is the seller, the driver, the secretary and this programme just teaches one how to run a business properly by having to employ people with the right skill.

“A lot of the women we went to school with are actually running their own businesses now, I recommend that degree to anyone planning to start their own business.

“The University has given an opportunity to us mature women. When I finished my A levels I didn’t have the requirements points to go to UZ but with the opening up of the Women’s University one didn’t necessarily have to have such requirements as they only require one’s working experience.

“So I like that idea about Women University where they are saying anyone can go to University. From there on I went to Chinhoyi University to do my Masters in Strategic Management but when I compare my programme from my undergrad and postgrad, I still think I learnt more from WUA; no disrespect for Chinhoyi. It has changed my life even at a social level; you get to view everything with a critical mind.”

Tsungirirai Hungwe-Chimbunde (Pictured)
Tsungirirai Hungwe-Chimbunde (68) is a holder of BSc Honors degree in Reproductive Health and Family Sciences with Women’s University in Africa. She registered to embark in this degree at the age of 60 in 2002, the year the university was established.

She was awarded the Ndoro Shield in 2005. The Shield is awarded to the model female student who has shown the embodiment of the university values, hardworking, determination, dedication to studies and a source of inspiration to the African Women.

Chimbunde was the deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs back in 1990 and a former Deputy Minister for Health and Child Welfare.

“Anything good does not come on a silver platter, it is through determination and perseverance, which are the characteristics of an African woman,” she said.

“During our time, not many girls were accessing secondary education, let alone university education. I only enrolled for my university degree at 60. I could not do it at a tender age. Having acquired my diploma in nursing, the traditional profession for a black woman person, I got married and had three children. The marriage did not see us through our lives and we parted ways. I took responsibility to look after my three children. Then it was not easy. However, with that load I did not lose hope, deep down I had that desire to acquire a degree.

“The establishment of WUA and its target group answered my prayer. I quickly grabbed the opportunity. My grandchildren now do not have an excuse not to be graduates. All other women should know that age is just a number.

“Being educated opens someone’s mind. One is able to think outside the box, get a confidence boost and earn respect. I’m now able to express myself much better and understand issues and interpret them better. I wish I had such qualifications during my time as Minister, I always look back and say I could have done better.”

http://genderwithgracey.blogspot.com/2010/04/professor-hope-sadza-looks-beyond.html