by Innocent Mujeri

Undisputedly, Zimbabwe is home to a highly educated and skilled manpower, one of many attributes that make them much sought after beyond the national frontiers.

Since independence, Zimbabwe has invested heavily in the education sector, resulting in it being a training ground for skilled manpower for the African continent and beyond. The exported skilled manpower has become economic pillars of various governments and private companies alike.

Zimbabweans occupy top posts across a spectrum of fields, be it finance, engineering, the academia or sport, to mention just but a few.

Business

Zimbabweans are doing very well in the field of business in other countries. One such example is Tavaziva Madzinga, who in 2019 was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Swiss Re, the second largest reinsurer in the world. Madzinga will be Chief Executive for Swiss Re’s United Kingdom and Ireland business. Previously, Madzinga worked for Old Mutual Kenya since 2007 as the Strategy Executive, before becoming the Deputy Chief Executive of Old Mutual Life Assurance Company from 2008. Madzinga’s good track record at Swiss Re saw him being appointed as a Board member of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), this year. ABI Board Chair Jon Dye acknowledged that Madzinga’s “experience, expertise and insight across the market will be invaluable as the insurance and long term savings sector navigates some very challenging times over the year ahead”.

Tavaziva Madzinga- appointed CEO Swiss Re in 2019

Madzinga’s achievements in foreign countries are a testimony of how skilled and hardworking Zimbabweans are. Wherever they go, Zimbabweans have the ability to turn around the fortunes of any company or organization because of their industrious work ethic, honesty and unquestionable knowledge in various sectors.

 Another example is Peter Moyo, who has established himself outside the country and is doing well in his field. Until recently, Moyo was the Old Mutual Emerging Markets’ Chief Executive Officer. Previously, he was South Africa’s Vodacom Group Chairman from 2009. He also worked as Deputy Managing Director of Old Mutual South Africa from 2000 to 2005. The appointment of a Zimbabwean at the helm of a multi-national company like Old Mutual is a confirmation that Zimbabweans are highly regarded globally as they can bring the Midas touch needed for any company to do well.

Ben Magara is another Zimbabwean who has been raising the country’s flag across the World. Magara is the Chief Executive Officer of the London listed, South African platinum giant, Lonmin. He picked up the reins in 2013, within a year of the fatal 2012 Marikana Mine shootings, where 34 miners were gunned down by the police following a strike. He has done extremely well since his appointment. Magara took over a company that had a baggage of bad publicity and strained relations with its workers, and turned it into a profit making company. Magara’s leadership in handling the victims of the Marikana shootings literally saved the company from eventual collapse.

International Organizations

The influence of Zimbabweans has also been felt at various international Organizations such as the United Nations and African Union, among others. One Zimbabwean, Fayaz King, worked as Deputy Executive Director, Field Results and Innovation for UNICEF. On their website, the UNICEF commended King as a hard worker who is a passionate driver of youth development and empowerment.

Zimbabwean Fayaz King worked as Deputy Executive Director, Field Results and Innovation for UNICEF

In 2015, a Zimbabwean national, Dr Fadzai Gwaradzimba, was appointed to the position of Assistant Secretary General for Safety and Security at the United Nations. Former Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Ban Ki-moon once described Dr Gwaradzimba as a woman with a wealth of experience in strategic management and leadership, coupled with in-depth knowledge of international development, crisis prevention and recovery.

This year, a Zimbabwean diplomat, Hilda Suka Mafudze, was appointed the new African Union Ambassador to the United States. She replaced another Zimbabwean diplomat, Arikana Chihombori, who served in the same position.The appointment of these Zimbabweans to influential positions, is a sign of global confidence in the people of Zimbabwe’s ability to deliver tangible results. Zimbabweans have been and continue to be vital cogs in the fulfillment of the mandates of the international organizations.

Academics

Zimbabweans have also excelled in the academic field. The youngest ever PHD holder in Africa is a Zimbabwean, Musawenkosi Donia Saurombe, who is now a senior lecturer at South Africa’s University of the Free State, graduated with a PHD in industrial psychology at the age of 23.

Musawenkosi Donia Saurombe-The youngest PHD holder in Africa

Another Zimbabwean, Dr Emmanuel Mutambara is a senior lecturer and academic leader for Research and Higher Degrees at the Graduate School of Business and Leadership at the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. He has collaborated with other scholars from other countries to write and publish more than 15 academic papers.

Professor Tawana Kupe, another Zimbabwean, currently works at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, as the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. Before moving to the University of the Witwatersrand, she spent two years working in Grahamstown as a Lecturer in Media Studies at Rhodes University.

Professor Norman Rudhumbu also raised the Zimbabwean flag high when he worked at Botho University in Botswana as a Department Chairperson and rose through the ranks to become the acting Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

Professor Arthur Mutambara is another prominent Zimbabwean academic who has written many academic books currently being used around the world. There is also Mashoko Dzimiri who is raising Zimbabwe’s academic flag at the University of Botswana. Many other Zimbabweans are also doing wonders in the academics field. It would take a whole chapter to fully list them

Sports

In the field of sports, Zimbabweans dominate wherever they go. It is general knowledge in soccer; Zimbabwean players have led the way for Africa. Bruce Grobbelar was the first Zimbabwean and African player to feature in the English Premier League. His shattering record was replicated by another Zimbabwean that Peter Ndlovu, whose skills illuminated the EPL before the likes of Didier Drogba, Samuel Etoo and Yaya Toure. Ndlovu was recently applauded by Drogba as an African pioneer who should be respected and honored. Ndlovu is currently the Team Manager at South Africa’s Sundowns Football Club, where he has won many accolades with that team including the CAF Champions League and Absa Premiership Cup, among many others.

Peter Ndlovu-The first African to play in the English Premier Soccer League

In South Africa, Kaitano Tembo recently won the MTN8 Cup as the coach of Supersport United. Tembo is credited for transforming Supersport United from an average team to what it is today. I will not mention how Khama Billiat has set the South African league ablaze and won the player of the season award in 2018. I will also not mention how Marvelous Nakamba has been rubbing shoulders with world football greats in England.

I cannot fail to mention Benjani Mwaruwari who played for Manchester City Football Club and Nyasha Mushekwi who was once the top goal scorer for his former Chinese club, Dalian Yifang, for three consecutive seasons. The list goes on and on.

In cricket, Andy Flower, a former Zimbabwean cricket player and now England coach, has been credited for transforming the England Cricket team to become one of the best in the World. Sports analyst, Alan Gardner of Cricinfo said, “Flower deserves to be recognized as one of England’s most successful coaches”.

All these achievements, and many more clearly demonstrate that Zimbabweans have indeed raised the country’s flag very high, with indications that the best is yet to come.

In the field of boxing, Derick Chisora has continued to make headlines across the world. He has won multiple heavyweight titles including the British, Commonwealth and European titles.