News / National
Masiyiwa's wife to be honoured at Zim Achievers
06 May 2016 at 12:15hrs | Views
Tsitsi Masiyiwa
African philanthropist and social entrepreneur Tsitsi Masiyiwa will this year receive the Chairman's honorary award at the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (ZAA), for her contribution to charitable causes and children's welfare.
Masiyiwa, co-founder and chair of the Highlife Foundation has devoted much of her life to empowering disadvantaged children through education and harnessing technology to create employment opportunities for young people.
Married to telecoms magnate Strive Masiyiwa, Tsitsi has for nearly two decades dedicated her life's work to orphaned and vulnerable children, overseeing five trusts that include Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Burundi and South Africa.
Through her foundation, she has supported the youth with basic education and created opportunities that have enabled many of them to go on to college and vocational training.
Masiyiwa has also been involved in identifying and nurturing young talent by selecting hundreds of gifted African students, and offering them scholarships that cover a broad scope, from high school right through to university, including top Ivy League colleges such as Harvard and Yale.
"Tsitsi Masiyiwa is the personification of a woman using the resources she has at her disposal to help those in need, and we salute her for her incredible philanthropic work and her personal commitment to promoting and fostering change," said ZAA Chairman Conrad Mwanza.
"She is a credit to the community and a great ambassador. Her unyielding efforts in empowering children through education and giving them a hope for the future is admirable, and this year we are celebrating the wonderful work she has done and that she is still doing," Mwanza added.
In the last 17 years the Higherlife Foundation has invested time, money and resources in sending tens of thousands of children to school in Central and Southern Africa. Through the Capernaum Trust that she set up with husband Strive, the trust pays fees for over 40,000 students across Primary, High school and Tertiary levels.
They have also established the Andrew Young Scholarship, a $6.4 million dollar fund that sends African students to attend, among others, Morehouse College in the US.
Three other individuals have also made it on to the honour's list. The recipients include Diaspora Funeral Cash plan founder, Jeff Madzingo, former Dynamos and Warriors Goal keeper, Japhet Mparutsa and Deloitte's Debbie Thomas.
"We have so many outstanding men and women who are, on a daily basis, working to strengthen and build our ever growing community in the UK."
"The work these individuals are doing, their vision, determination and persistence to bring about positive change in the society we live in is truly an inspiration to us all," said Mwanza.
Jeff Madzingo is to be honoured for his pivotal role in business and services to the community. Madzingo, who founded the bespoke funeral cash plan company which pays cash immediately on an individual's death, has helped transform the realities of so many Zimbabweans and other African nationalities worldwide. Madzingo is also the CEO of New Zimbabwe, one of the leading online newspapers.
Football legend, Japhet Mparutsa, well known as the Shortcat, is to receive the Legend's Award for services rendered to sport. Mparutsa, who played for Dynamos, Black Rhino's, South Africa's Bloemfontein Celtics and Darryn T, overcame a series of challenges during his career that spanned 17 years to emerge as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Mparutsa also broke several records during his illustrious career.
At 19, Mparutsa made history when he became the first goal keeper to win the Soccer Star of the Year award while playing for Dynamos. He also helped the Black Rhino's win the League and Cup double in the same year. In 1985 he won the Vaseline Blue Seal Goalkeeper of the year accolade.
Mparutsa has since released an autobiography that centers on his journey into football and his persistence and determination in the face of adversity to become one of the most sought-after goalkeepers.
Debbie Thomas of Deloitte is to be honoured with the Friend of Zimbabwe award for her continued support and contribution to initiatives in the Zimbabwean and African communities in the UK. Debbie, who is a Partner in Advisory and heads the Africa Services Group at Deloitte, has over 20 years experience assisting African companies to enter the UK and UK companies to enter Africa. She has lead the UK firm's relationships with 51 African firms to deliver cross-border services across industries for several years. She also sits on the African Taskforces UKTI and TheCityUK, the South African Chamber of Commerce board and chairs the UK chapter of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
The Zimbabwe Achievers Awards are being held this Saturday, 7th May, 2016 at the prestigious five-star Royal Garden Hotel in London. The hotel has become home to the annual gala since 2014.
Now in its sixth year, the ZAA's recognise excellence in areas that include business, the arts, literary and academic, as well as community initiatives.
Running under the theme Celebrating Women in Media and the Arts, the awards will this year give recognition to women excelling in various sectors of the media and arts industry.
First held in the UK in 2011, the brand is now established in other parts of the world including South Africa, and will soon be launched in the United States. There are also on-going talks of expanding the brand to Australia, Canada and Zimbabwe, and according to organisers, this plan could be executed in the next 24-36months.
This year's event is sold out for the sixth year running. However, organisers have announced that there are a limited number of after party tickets being sold exclusively at zimachievers.com for £30.
Masiyiwa, co-founder and chair of the Highlife Foundation has devoted much of her life to empowering disadvantaged children through education and harnessing technology to create employment opportunities for young people.
Married to telecoms magnate Strive Masiyiwa, Tsitsi has for nearly two decades dedicated her life's work to orphaned and vulnerable children, overseeing five trusts that include Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Burundi and South Africa.
Through her foundation, she has supported the youth with basic education and created opportunities that have enabled many of them to go on to college and vocational training.
Masiyiwa has also been involved in identifying and nurturing young talent by selecting hundreds of gifted African students, and offering them scholarships that cover a broad scope, from high school right through to university, including top Ivy League colleges such as Harvard and Yale.
"Tsitsi Masiyiwa is the personification of a woman using the resources she has at her disposal to help those in need, and we salute her for her incredible philanthropic work and her personal commitment to promoting and fostering change," said ZAA Chairman Conrad Mwanza.
"She is a credit to the community and a great ambassador. Her unyielding efforts in empowering children through education and giving them a hope for the future is admirable, and this year we are celebrating the wonderful work she has done and that she is still doing," Mwanza added.
In the last 17 years the Higherlife Foundation has invested time, money and resources in sending tens of thousands of children to school in Central and Southern Africa. Through the Capernaum Trust that she set up with husband Strive, the trust pays fees for over 40,000 students across Primary, High school and Tertiary levels.
They have also established the Andrew Young Scholarship, a $6.4 million dollar fund that sends African students to attend, among others, Morehouse College in the US.
Three other individuals have also made it on to the honour's list. The recipients include Diaspora Funeral Cash plan founder, Jeff Madzingo, former Dynamos and Warriors Goal keeper, Japhet Mparutsa and Deloitte's Debbie Thomas.
"We have so many outstanding men and women who are, on a daily basis, working to strengthen and build our ever growing community in the UK."
Jeff Madzingo is to be honoured for his pivotal role in business and services to the community. Madzingo, who founded the bespoke funeral cash plan company which pays cash immediately on an individual's death, has helped transform the realities of so many Zimbabweans and other African nationalities worldwide. Madzingo is also the CEO of New Zimbabwe, one of the leading online newspapers.
Football legend, Japhet Mparutsa, well known as the Shortcat, is to receive the Legend's Award for services rendered to sport. Mparutsa, who played for Dynamos, Black Rhino's, South Africa's Bloemfontein Celtics and Darryn T, overcame a series of challenges during his career that spanned 17 years to emerge as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Mparutsa also broke several records during his illustrious career.
At 19, Mparutsa made history when he became the first goal keeper to win the Soccer Star of the Year award while playing for Dynamos. He also helped the Black Rhino's win the League and Cup double in the same year. In 1985 he won the Vaseline Blue Seal Goalkeeper of the year accolade.
Mparutsa has since released an autobiography that centers on his journey into football and his persistence and determination in the face of adversity to become one of the most sought-after goalkeepers.
Debbie Thomas of Deloitte is to be honoured with the Friend of Zimbabwe award for her continued support and contribution to initiatives in the Zimbabwean and African communities in the UK. Debbie, who is a Partner in Advisory and heads the Africa Services Group at Deloitte, has over 20 years experience assisting African companies to enter the UK and UK companies to enter Africa. She has lead the UK firm's relationships with 51 African firms to deliver cross-border services across industries for several years. She also sits on the African Taskforces UKTI and TheCityUK, the South African Chamber of Commerce board and chairs the UK chapter of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
The Zimbabwe Achievers Awards are being held this Saturday, 7th May, 2016 at the prestigious five-star Royal Garden Hotel in London. The hotel has become home to the annual gala since 2014.
Now in its sixth year, the ZAA's recognise excellence in areas that include business, the arts, literary and academic, as well as community initiatives.
Running under the theme Celebrating Women in Media and the Arts, the awards will this year give recognition to women excelling in various sectors of the media and arts industry.
First held in the UK in 2011, the brand is now established in other parts of the world including South Africa, and will soon be launched in the United States. There are also on-going talks of expanding the brand to Australia, Canada and Zimbabwe, and according to organisers, this plan could be executed in the next 24-36months.
This year's event is sold out for the sixth year running. However, organisers have announced that there are a limited number of after party tickets being sold exclusively at zimachievers.com for £30.
Source - Tidi Kwidini
