Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
CULTURAL stalwart Thabani Hillary Moyo, has received a fitting tribute for his decades of dedication: the Global Teachers Assembly (GTA) Award for Community Leadership and Service.
The international honour, announced on World Teachers’ Day, recognises Moyo’s outstanding contribution to education through the arts, celebrating nearly three decades of transformative work in nurturing young talent and promoting creative learning.
The GTA cited his “excellence in fostering active student participation and motivation, and for inspiring learners to pursue theatre as a professional path.”
As co-founder of the Centre for Talent Development (CTD) and an accomplished theatre practitioner, Moyo has long been at the forefront of reshaping how literature and theatre are taught and experienced. In an interview, he expressed his gratitude for the award.
“This recognition means a great deal to me because it acknowledges not only my individual efforts, but also the collective spirit of teachers and learners who believe in education as a force for transformation,” he said.
For Moyo, the GTA award honours not just himself, but all teachers who serve with love and resilience.
“Teaching is more than a profession. It’s an act of service, faith and hope. I dedicate this award to all teachers and to my learners, past and present, who remind me daily why we teach — to ignite curiosity, build purpose and shape the future.”
Since joining the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in 1996, Moyo has championed the belief that learning should inspire creativity, confidence and community growth. However, he encountered a troubling pattern: talented students passionate about theatre were often discouraged or ignored after school due to the stigma that “theatre was for misfits or the uneducated.”
“We needed to change that perception. Educated young people should also be in theatre. I saw how learners would thrive in drama clubs but disappear after school. CTD was born to give them a platform to continue and grow.”
Founded in 2014, CTD has since become a creative powerhouse. Its mission: to help young people find professional pathways in theatre while earning income doing what they love.
“Most of our participants come through the school system. We link them to the larger theatre industry. Many are now in college or university, exploring theatre as a serious career option,” he said.
CTD’s signature programmes — including Performance-Based Literature Workshops, the Final Act Festival and Poetry in Motion—have redefined learning. Students do not merely read texts; they bring them to life.
“Written texts are just words on a page. When students perform them, they add movement, action and emotion. It’s a powerful teaching method that bridges understanding.”
From local works like Umhlaba lo! by Gogo Barbara Clara Nkala Makhalisa to Shakespearean classics such as Romeo and Juliet and Othello, CTD’s approach has transformed literature into lived experience.
Never one to remain static, Moyo has expanded CTD’s scope to include history and heritage. Collaborations with theatre groups such as Umkhathi Theatre Works have brought productions like
King Lobengula, Bayethe Nkosi and Ihloka to life, preserving stories of identity and pride.
After a decade of impact, Moyo is now focused on sustainability.
“Over the past five years, we’ve formalised CTD operations. We now run year-round, with structured systems and new leadership. I’ve stepped back from directing to focus on co-ordination and marketing, while Gift Chakuvinga leads the creative side.”
A teacher at Eveline High School since 1997, following his stint at St Columba’s, Moyo has mentored generations of students who now shine in various creative industries. His influence extends nationally — he was part of the team that drafted the Visual and Performing Arts curriculum, a proud achievement he calls “a dream fulfilled.”
“The Heritage-Based Curriculum encourages us to connect learning with our culture and identity. I’m proud to have contributed, even in a small way, toward that vision.” — @MbuleloMpofu
