Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
FOR more than two years, gospel musician and labour practitioner Dr Rose Mambo deliberately stepped away from the spotlight, putting her music ministry on hold as she pursued one of the biggest academic milestones of her life.
The Bulawayo-born artiste recently graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Governance from Africa University after completing research that examined how effectively Zimbabwe’s National Employment Councils (NECs) resolve labour disputes.
Dr Mambo said the doctorate offered her an opportunity to find practical solutions to challenges she encounters daily in the labour sector.
“My research evaluated how effectively Zimbabwe’s National Employment Councils resolve labour disputes, looking at issues such as timeliness, accessibility, fairness and enforceability of the processes that ordinary workers and employers depend on,” she said.
“As someone who leads a National Employment Council, I witnessed the gap between what the law promises and what people actually experience. I wanted to understand that gap rigorously and find ways of improving the system.”
The journey demanded enormous sacrifices.
Dr Mambo said balancing academic research, ministry and music was impossible without making difficult choices, prompting her to pause her music career for more than two years.
“I stopped trying to balance everything and started learning to sequence my responsibilities. For more than two years, I deliberately allowed my music ministry to rest because the research demanded my full attention,” she said.
She credited discipline, careful planning and her Christian faith for helping her complete the demanding programme.
“What held everything together was structure, protected hours for writing, discipline borrowed from my running and a clear understanding that this season had a purpose. I also accepted that you cannot give everything your best at the same time,” said Dr Mambo.
Like many doctoral candidates, Dr Mambo experienced moments of self-doubt and long nights of revisions.
“The hardest moments were the lonely ones — the long nights of revision, the setbacks and the constant need to begin again. Doctoral study humbles you because it exposes the limits of your own strength,” she said.
“My faith became the foundation that carried me through when my confidence ran out. I believed that what God starts, He completes.”
Rather than separating her academic work, ministry and music, Dr Mambo said the doctorate strengthened her conviction that they all serve the same purpose.
“I no longer see my music, leadership and scholarship as separate compartments. There are different ways of advancing dignity, fairness and truth. The doctorate has taught me to lead with evidence while remaining committed to serving people,” she said.
Dr Mambo hopes her achievement encourages young Zimbabweans, particularly women, to pursue both education and their creative passions.
“We are often taught to choose between being an artiste or a scholar, but that is a false choice. A woman can write music and defend a doctoral thesis. Faith, art, intellect and ambition can all exist together,” she said.
Now that she has completed her studies, Dr Mambo is preparing to return to gospel music while continuing her work in labour relations.
She plans to strengthen labour dispute resolution systems through research and public scholarship while rebuilding her music ministry after the lengthy academic break.
“The academy should speak to the public, not only to itself. Whether through my profession or music, I want to continue serving using whatever gifts God has given me,” she said.
Dr Mambo’s musical journey began in 2003 with her debut album Kufamba na Jesu, produced by Misheck Mahendere and Jabulani Ndhlovu.
Over the years, she has expanded her sound beyond traditional gospel by incorporating house and Afro-pop influences. Her songs include Lujulile, featuring Rose Tshuma, which earned a nomination at the Star FM Listeners’ Choice Awards, and Handitenderedzeke.
She is also preparing to release Ezintabeni, a gospel-house collaboration with DJ Tamuka inspired by Psalm 121. Written together with Victor Stot during the Covid-19 pandemic, the song carries a message of hope and encouragement for people facing life’s challenges.
Born in Bulawayo on October 11, 1978, Dr Mambo also holds a degree in Politics and Administration, a Master’s in Public Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the
University of Zimbabwe, adding another significant milestone to a career that continues to bridge scholarship, leadership and music.
