A woman with a heart that knows no limits

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She is the director of the Regional Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (RCSR).

But what is Corporate Social Responsibility, anyway? Traditional definitions typically range from a philanthropic model in which companies are required to donate a certain share of their profits to charitable causes and one which is more focused on operating the core business in a socially responsible way.
However, Mrs Nyoni-Mpofu is of the opinion that corporations have a key role to play in the development of the country and its citizens.
To this extent, she says, the centre was formed to bridge the gap between the private sector and development sectors.

“As one looks around one has a sense that as a people we deserve better and surely can do better for ourselves.”
For Mrs Nyoni-Mpofu these are not just words, but beliefs embedded in her character.
“Born in the 1960s in Mzilikazi Township, I saw some of the segregation in benches in parks and at the bus terminuses, and know what it’s like sitting at the back of the bus that used to go to the suburbs.

“I was impacted by the war of liberation and recall my mother listening to Radio Zambia during the early evening,” she said.
After her A-Levels, she went to the University of Zimbabwe where she did her Bachelor of Arts degree.
She reminisces of the time: “The graduation speeches by the late Professor Walter Kamba still reverberate in my ears. There was no Great Hall then: Ceremonies were held on the steps to the library.

“As I look back the second UZ intake after independence produced a number of nation builders who are at the helm of parastatals and the private sector.”
Mrs Nyoni-Mpofu also holds a Masters in Policy Studies and a BA General in English, Geography and Sociology.
She is also the director of Southern Intelligence Consultancy Company and a founder member of Tusanani Cover Trust (working on child empowerment especially the vulnerable).

Mrs Nyoni-Mpofu has also founded Women and Gender Research Trust, whose flagship project is an all stakeholder bathrooms and toilet renovation project in public health institutions.
She is a trained facilitator who graduated from the Pacific Institute after studying an “Investment in Excellence and Youth and Young Adults” course: “Path to Extreme Excellence”.

Facilitation and training are central to her consulting role with development organisations. Mrs Nyoni-Mpofu has worked with many development agencies in facilitating transformative processes, conducted evaluations and impact assessments of projects over the past 25 years.
“My career has had it all. Working for Government, non-governmental organisations, international NGOs and faith-based organisations. I have had my fair share of travel and exposure on the African continent, Europe and America. I need to look East now.

“I have been greatly privileged to have worked in a fund management position which exposed me to nearly every district of Zimbabwe. It’s always humbling to find out what the lived reality of some of our people is.
“Having seen the good and the bad of Zimbabwe, I am convinced we have a great opportunity to build our nation to amazing heights,” she said.

She has also contributed to development work at various levels and has worked with international organisations such as CIDA, and UK-based Practical Action, consulting for local and international organisations (Solar Energy Society of Zimbabwe, International Labour Organisation, World Bank and Danida).
Her work has also been significantly hands-on. Through her involvement with Tusanani Cover Trust, she has been supporting vulnerable children in Hatcliffe, Epworth, Hopley and working with 11 children’s homes in Harare, Goromonzi/Melfort and Kadoma.

The projects included supply of textbooks, stationery, uniforms, paying school fees, supporting inner healing and self-motivation orphans and children in difficult circumstances.
Three children’s homes have benefited from a computerisation project that promotes knowledge and access to Internet, and computer literacy skills. In one of the homes, pre-school children are receiving basic computer literacy. But having done so much work, she still urges corporations to be genuine and cautious when carrying out CSR work.

“Can doing good backfire? A big fat “Yes”. Intentions do not translate into good results depending on the processes we engage in and the ingredients we put in order to achieve a given end.
“It is possible to have good intentions but reap undesirable results and this may be due to a number of reasons. The motivation for CSR has to be genuine otherwise the consumers will see through the thin veneer,” she said.

She is married and has four daughters. She considers her family and religion as her props.
“I have been able to do what I have wanted to do with tremendous support from my brothers and sister. My own family continues to be source of inspiration to greater heights.

“I will always be grateful for a having a supportive husband and four girls with dreams and ambitions that know no limit. Also the counsel and the input of godly men and women has indeed been a great blessing,” she said.