Online Reporter
Dr Thandiwe Chidzungu (PhD)
A week ago I sat down with Dr Iris Zemza Nozizwe Mhlanga. We were classmates at Townsend Girls High School in Bulawayo many years ago. Today, she is one of Zimbabwe’s most respected humanitarians, and her work is changing lives at home and across the world.
She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Nozizwe Mother of Nations Trust. The organisation serves children, women, people living with disabilities, and families facing hardship. Its work covers education, healthcare, food security, empowerment, and restoring dignity.
For Dr Mhlanga, it is simple. “Every individual deserves an opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances,” she told me.
A Bulawayo girl with a global heart Dr Mhlanga credits her Bulawayo upbringing for the values she lives by today.
She grew up in a close-knit community where family and neighbours looked out for each other.
“My childhood memories are filled with strong family values, community spirit, and the importance of helping one another,” she said.
She watched both hardship and generosity up close. That shaped how she understands leadership. For her, leadership is not about titles. It is about service.
The women around her showed her the way. Her mother, grandmothers, teachers, and other women in her community taught her courage, faith, perseverance, and selflessness. “They showed me that true leadership is rooted in serving others, not in seeking recognition,” she said.
The road was not always easy. But she sees challenges differently now. “Life’s difficulties became growth opportunities. Each experience drew me closer to my purpose.”
If she could speak to her five-year-old self today, she would say: “You are stronger than you know, and your pain will one day become your purpose.” That sentence sums up both her story and the philosophy behind her Trust.
The work of Nozizwe Mother of Nations Trust
The Trust does the kind of work that meets people where they are hurting. In Zimbabwe, the organisation runs soup kitchens. It supports children to stay in school through educational programmes. It assists homeless individuals. It provides care for the elderly. It also runs programmes for people living with disabilities. But the impact does not stop at our borders.
The Trust’s philanthropic work has reached beneficiaries in Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, and Pakistan. What drives her is not awards, but results. “My greatest motivation comes from witnessing lives transformed,” she said. “Children returning to school. Families regaining hope. Individuals reclaiming their dignity.”
She also speaks with pride about Zimbabwean women. “We are resilient, graceful, and determined. We have a remarkable ability to overcome adversity while still nurturing our families, communities, and enterprises.”
Recognition, but the focus remains on service
Despite her low-key nature, Dr Mhlanga’s work has drawn wide recognition. Her honours include the Women’s Iconic Award 2024 for philanthropic and community empowerment work, the Mahatma Gandhi Global Peace Award 2024, Humanitarian Award Global Winner 2024, African Influencer Awards 2024 for Zimbabwe, and the Women Icon 2025 Award. She is also a nominee for three 2026 UK-based honours: She Inspires Global Agent of Change, Global Woman, and Global Women Influencer.
When I asked if the awards matter to her, she was clear. “I am grateful, but I stay focused on impact. The accolades are not the goal. The people are.”
A message to the next generation
Dr Mhlanga spends a lot of time thinking about young girls in Zimbabwe. She hopes that the next generation will grow up knowing their dreams are valid and possible.
She envisions a Zimbabwe where girls have access to quality education, leadership opportunities, financial independence, and communities that support them.
“Above all,” she said, “I want them to know that their voices matter. They have the capacity to become agents of positive change.”
That belief comes from experience. She knows what it means to be a girl from Bulawayo with big dreams and limited resources. And she knows what it means to turn that into purpose.
The legacy she wants
When I asked her how she wants to be remembered, she did not hesitate. “Compassion in action,” she said. She hopes to be remembered as someone who used her platform, resources, and influence to open doors for others, especially the most vulnerable. Her vision is for sustainable change built on empathy, purpose, and service. “Ultimately,” she said, “I hope that when my story is told, people will remember a life dedicated to love, selfless service, and an unwavering belief in human dignity. If my work has inspired hope, transformed lives, and encouraged others to serve humanity, then I will consider my life well lived.”
Why does her story matter?
In a time when we are often bombarded with bad news, Dr Mhlanga’s story is a reminder that one person can still make a difference. She is proof that values learned in a Bulawayo classroom can travel across continents. She is proof that service, done consistently and with heart, builds communities. From Townsend Girls to Mother of Nations, Dr Iris Zemza Nozizwe Mhlanga is showing us what it looks like to lead with compassion. And in doing so, she is giving thousands of people a reason to believe again.
*Dr Thandiwe Chidzungu holds a PhD in Geography from the University of the Witwatersrand. She researches teacher education, climate change, and sustainable development at the University of Johannesburg.
