Online Reporter
Let’s Talk Ladies
Dr Thandiwe Chidzungu
MRS PAIDAMOYO MARINGWA is one the finest products of Harare’s Kuwadzana community.
She is a confidence and leadership coach whose story is both inspiring and deeply moving.
Life has a way of testing some people long before they are old enough to understand why. For Mrs Maringwa, those tests began at the age of six when she lost her father.
Nine years later, she lost her mother as well, leaving her to navigate adolescence without the two people who had shaped her earliest years.
Yet, rather than allowing tragedy to define her future, she chose to let it refine her character.
Today, Mrs Maringwa is the founder of the African Women’s Academy for Confidence and Leadership (AWACL), where she mentors women to rediscover their voices, build confidence and step into leadership.
Her journey — from an orphaned child to accountant and from job loss to purpose-driven entrepreneur — has become a source of inspiration for women across Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond. Reflecting on her childhood, Mrs Maringwa says that if she could speak to her five-year-old self, she would simply wrap her in the biggest hug.
“She has no idea how much her world is about to change,” she says with quiet emotion. “I would tell her, ‘Life is going to hurt more than you can possibly imagine, but it is also going to be beautiful.’”
She said she would encourage that little girl never to stop asking questions, never to stop dreaming and never to allow her circumstances define her destiny.
Above all, she says she would remind her to trust God, even during seasons when He seems silent.
“If I could leave her with one sentence, it would be this: Do not measure your life by what you lose. Measure it by what God is building in you.”
Although grief would later become part of her story, Mrs Maringwa’s childhood was also filled with moments she treasures deeply.
She fondly remembers Saturday mornings spent walking through the streets of Kuwadzana with her mother. Those hour-long walks, she says, were never really about exercise.
“They were about us.”
Without the distractions of mobile phones, mother and daughter talked endlessly.
Her mother patiently answered every curious question, unknowingly laying the foundation for the confidence Paida would one day teach others.
“She made me feel heard. She made me feel that my voice mattered.”
Their walks always ended at a local shop, where young Paida would choose a small treat before the two returned home to sit on the veranda together. She also recalls the excitement of accompanying her father to the National Sports Stadium to watch football.
Those memories, she says, remain priceless.
“When I lost both my parents, those memories became treasures that no one could take away.”
Growing up in Harare’s high-density suburb of Kuwadzana also taught her important life lessons.
“We didn’t measure happiness by what we owned. We measured it by the people around us.”
When grief became a teacher
Losing both parents shaped every aspect of her life.
“There are milestones in every girl’s life when she naturally reaches for her parents,” she reflects.
“I didn’t have that privilege.”
For years, she quietly carried that pain, missing their guidance and wondering what they would think if they could see the woman she has become.
She says: “Losing people you love may change your story, but it does not cancel God’s purpose for your life.”
Losing a career,
finding a calling
Another defining chapter came years later.
After returning from maternity leave in 2017, Mrs Maringwa lost her job as an accountant.
On paper, it was simply unemployment. In reality, she says, it felt like losing her identity.
“For years, I introduced myself by my profession. Suddenly, I was asking myself, ‘Who am I now?’”
Although she smiled in public, privately she struggled with disappointment and uncertainty.
However, she accelerated her growth by consuming books and podcasts, completing training programmes, and seeking out mentors who challenged her thinking.
After joining a Facebook community for women, a coach known as Zivai challenged members to stop remaining silent and introduce themselves. Mrs Maringwa accepted the challenge.
“I simply wrote, ‘Challenge accepted.’”
That single Facebook post became the beginning of a new chapter.
Another mentor, coach
In essence, she was challenged to think beyond earning an income and begin building a legacy. Gradually, women began asking her to mentor and coach them and speak at their events.
“I never planned to become a confidence coach.
“I simply shared my healing journey, and people found hope in it.
“When one woman finds her voice, she gives other women permission to find theirs, too.”
Education beyond
the classroom
As someone who built a successful career in accounting before transitioning into coaching, Mrs Maringwa remains a passionate advocate for education.
She says: “The world is changing rapidly. Employers are looking for people who can communicate effectively, solve problems, adapt to change, lead with integrity and work well with others. Your qualification may open the first door, but your confidence determines how far you will go once you walk through it.”
Faith, family and purpose
One of the most significant dates in her life remains April 29, 2017, when she married her husband.
She describes their wedding as more than a ceremony.
“It was a sacred covenant.”
God provided her with a supportive partner before she faced one of life’s greatest storms — losing her job.
As she reflects on her journey — from a little girl walking the streets of Kuwadzana with her mother to a woman helping thousands rebuild their confidence — Mrs Maringwa says: “You are not defined by what happened to you. You are defined by what you choose to become because of it. Fix your crown, my lady — you
have a unique success story in the making.”
