Zimbabwe’s Top 20 Inspirational Youth in 2015
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Takunda Chingonzo
Takunda was the youngest of 500 Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellows selected continentally. Hewas also selected for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Youth Foundation, where he received training in entrepreneurship and life skills. Upon graduation Takunda went on to win “most outstanding startup venture” at the Boost Fellowship’s SME Awards, and mentor other beneficiaries. His Neolab Technology P/L, an award-winning startup working to bring free Internet access to the Zimbabwean public, and co-founded NeoEffect, a social venture aimed at empowering underprivileged youth in southern Zimbabwe through IT literacy. He is also the founder of three IT start-ups
Verengai Mabika
The Development Reality Institute (DRI) is a youth based organisation that has designed the first virtual school on climate change in Southern Africa run and managed by youths for youths. DRI has partnered with United Nations Volunteer Programme (UNDP/UNV), Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Ministry of ICT, ZERO Regional Environment Organization, YETT and SIDA so as to add value to the project. The four week virtual programme aims to raise awareness on the effects of climate change to development in Zimbabwe. It also aims to build the capacity of development partners to interpret, comprehend and mainstream climate change in development issues within their communities. The course is targeted at youths in programming and development, community based leaders, opinion leaders, researchers and the general public. DRI provides grants to cover the course expenses to youths in Zimbabwe and the region. DRI has also integrated the cell phone technology to remind participants when assignments are due.
Tendai Tambudze
Tendai Tambudze is the Business Manager for Tambudze Tanning, a tannery that currently produces wet blue leather. She is responsible for steering the company’s operations as it targets full capacity utilization and a strong presence on the local and international market. She sits on the executive committee of the Leather and Allied Industries Federation of Zimbabwe where she represents the interests of leather manufacturers and is also involved in implementing the Zimbabwe leather sector strategy. Tendai holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town. She was one of the Zimbabweans selected for the Washington Fellowship
Sidumiso Tshuma
Shadow By Sidumiso is a clothing label established in 2004 and founded by Sidumiso Tshuma. The name Shadow comes from Tshuma’s school days when he used to be called by such because of his dark complexion. Instead of mopping around and losing his self esteem, Sidumiso took the name as his brand and demonstrated how one can embrace their uniqueness and sale it to the rest of the world.Shadow by Sidumiso which has became a household name in the Fashion circles of Zimbabwe, has gone as far as being appreciated by Zahara , Miss Earth Zimbabwe 2012 at the International finals, worn by Zahara, ZiFm’s Loch Nation, Miss Zimbabwe 2010 – Samantha Tshuma, Global Citizen/Public Personality – Gilmore T. Moyo and 5fm & GoodHope FM Playlisted Dj – Sonny Jermain, amongst many. Shadow by Sidumiso has featured at many different platforms such as the Jewel Magazine Designer Pop Up Party, Vic Falls Carnival 2012, ECCT Fashion Show 2012, The CoFFashion Event 2012 and many more. The brand has been growing from strength to strength and will continue representing Bulawayo and Zimbabwe at all levels.
Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa
Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa is the founder and Director of Shine On International Trust, a humanitarian organization registered in 2012 and aimed at empowering the blind in Zimbabwe and across borders. His focus is on lobbying and working for disabled people in Zimbabwe, especially the blind community. As Director of Shine On, Tafadzwa has trained the blind on the unaided use of computers, disseminated HIV/AIDS information with an emphasis on how it particularly affects the disabled, and taught the blind life skills. He is committed to expanding the project to all ten provinces of Zimbabwe. After completing the Washington Fellowship
Zandile Lambu
Zandile Lambu currently serves as an Account Executive for Econet Services at Econet Wireless, where she focuses on prospecting and establishing new trade channels mainly for mobile money products. She recruits entrepreneurs to partner with the business in providing mobile money services to the local communities. She has been a volunteer mentor, teacher, and judge for the Techwomen Technovation challenge 2014, an entrepreneurship program and competition that teaches young women to design and develop mobile apps. Zandie is also an alumni of Start-up bus Africa (now known as FounderbusAfrica) where her team won first place for the startup they founded in five days. Zandile holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe
Sharleen Mabisa Moyo
Sharleen Mabisa Moyo has over eight years of experience in youth development in Africa. She currently works with UNICEF Zimbabwe and serves as the Project Manager for a Technology for Development (T4D) initiative called UReport, an SMS based platform that encourages youth participation. She previously worked for Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA) as a Regional Associate and currently sits on the international executive committee. Sharleen is also the founder of The Brand Group, a company that provides brand management, business development, and technical assistance for startups. She graduated with an honors degree in English and Communication from Midlands State University where she focused on strategic communication for business, market research, and media studies.
Nicholas Fallon Monro
Nicholas is the founder of Magamba a youth and cultural activist network using the arts since 2007 as a vehicle for expression under the highly restrictive conditions currently affecting Zimbabwe. Magamba started the B the Media campaign in 2011, to promote free expression and demand accountability through new forms of media activism. Through workshops, young people gain skills in blogging, podcasts, video blogging, and newsletter writing, to cover both events that they organize themselves, as well as other social, cultural and political events. By providing a space where young Zimbabweans can express themselves, B the Media makes it possible to discuss the MDGs and improve life for people, while engendering further debate using the social media. In 2013, the B the Media team started the online e-newsletter Kalabash as an alternative space for the next generation of male and female Zimbabweans to share their views, whether personal, social, political or cultural.
