UZ team for Mexico ‘World Cup’

Business Reporter
THE eight-member University of Zimbabwe BOOST-Enactus team which won the national finals in July will represent the country at this year’s World Cup finals in Mexico on September 29.Building Opportunities on Student Talent is a non-profit making business organisation while Enactus aims to provide a platform to improve youth productivity and national competitiveness while it brings together the “top leaders of today and tomorrow”.

This is done through networking and sharing experiences and also hearing about ways in which young people across Zimbabwe have been using their talents to implement community projects to improve the lives of people.

Speaking in Harare yesterday at a send-off ceremony for the team representing Zimbabwe in Mexico, UZ Registrar Mr Sergeant Chevo, who was standing in for the Vice Chancellor, Professor Levi Nyagura, challenged the team to give a good account of themselves at the finals.

“As you go into battle in Mexico, you are not only representing the university but the country at large and I therefore urge you to behave well, never panic and try to give a good account of both the country and yourselves.

“Most importantly, our expectations are very simple — bring the cup home,” he said.
Enactus Zimbabwe country director Mrs Saliwe Mutetwa-Zakariya expressed gratitude to corporates that chipped in with financial assistance to ensure the trip to Mexico comes to fruition.

“At some point we thought we would not manage to secure enough funding for the trip but I am glad to say that we have received overwhelming support from the corporate world and hopefully the UZ team will do the nation proud by bringing the cup home.

“As Enactus we have confidence in the team and we believe they have what it takes to conquer the world,” she said.
Mrs Zakariya added that teams that participate in the national finals for the sole ticket to represent the country at the World cup are drawn from the country’s universities.

Each of the participating teams are required to come up with business projects that transforms communities by enhancing livelihoods.
“Enactus works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilise university students to make a difference in their communities while developing skills to become socially responsible business leaders.

“Participating students form teams at their respective universities and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

“Annual series of regional and national competitions are then held and teams present results of their projects which are evaluated by business leaders who serve as judges and eventually national champions advance to the prestigious Enactus World Cup,” she added.

UZ Dean of Students Dr Munyaradzi Madambi will lead the 10-member delegation that comprises the eight students and another official.
In last year’s edition held in the United States of America, Midlands State University represented the country and came fourth while in 2011 Chinhoyi University of Technology came second in the finals hosted by Malaysia.

UZ made history by becoming the first African university to win the World Cup after clinching the 2005 edition held in Canada.