Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
From the dusty roads of Bikita, Masvingo Province, to the hallowed halls of academia, 23-year-old Colletah Zabuya has authored a remarkable success story, graduating with a First-Class Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Agronomy from Midlands State University. Her journey, characterised by relentless hard work and determination, culminated in an impressive 84 percent Grade Point Average (GPA), 43 distinctions, and a staggering 14 accolades from various sponsors.
While her scholarship covered tuition fees, Colletah benefited from the Government’s “work-for-fees” scheme, an initiative that allowed her to participate in this programme. This programme enabled her to work for the university in exchange for accommodation and food fees, providing vital support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Throughout her academic journey, Colletah was recognisable by her simple, freehand hairstyle and her modest attire, often wearing the same clothes repeatedly due to financial constraints.
“It wasn’t an easy task; it required hard work,” she said. “From my first semester until I finished, I consistently achieved seven distinctions or more. We would have a minimum of six modules per semester, but I just made sure that I passed with at least seven distinctions every semester. Sometimes, when I had fewer modules, I would take additional modules from other programmes just to make it eight or more.”
Zabuya’s early life in a rural area was marked by adversity. Raised alongside her twin brother by their blind maternal grandmother after their father’s death, financial hardship was a constant challenge. Her academic promise first shone through at St Joseph Tongoona High School in Zaka.
“I grew up in Bikita, staying with my grandmother. My father passed away in 2005, so I was raised by my granny while my mother worked outside the village to support us. Since my grandmother was blind, I had to become self-sufficient from a young age. From Grade 3 onwards, I would take care of myself, cooking and doing all the household chores. This experience taught me the value of hard work.
“After completing Grade 7, my mother invited us to join her in Zaka, citing the long distance we would have to walk to attend a nearby high school. We relocated to Zaka, where I completed both my O-Level and A-Level. I passed my O-Level and was fortunate enough to secure a sponsor who funded my A-Level education.”
After completing Ordinary Level with flying colours, a generous sponsor stepped in, propelling her and her twin brother through Advanced Level, where they achieved a perfect 15 points in Geography, Crop Science, and Biology — a combination chosen to align with her deep-seated passion for agriculture and environmental conservation.
She recalled that when she was in A-Level, they had no lights for night study. “When I was in A-Level, we had no lights for night study, so we would just study during the day, but my twin brother and I both managed to score 15 points.”
Due to financial constraints, Colletah’s twin brother had to delay his university education, but he was later able to join her at the university through the work-for-fees programme.
“I was the first to secure a scholarship, so my twin brother and I couldn’t attend university together, and he had to take a gap year. While I was at university, I learned about a programme that allowed students to work in exchange for tuition fees. I decided to apply for this programme on behalf of my brother so that he could join me at the university. I also joined the same programme to cover my own food and accommodation expenses, since my scholarship only covered tuition fees. By working, my brother and I were able to receive free food and accommodation.”
She attributed her success to hard work, saying that from the day she started studying, she knew she would get results.
“I would study all night, from 8 pm to 5 am, only sleeping when we finished early. My reading culture, along with my friends’, motivated our classmates. In fact, our class had six people with first-class honours, which was a first in the history of MSU. Due to our reading culture, we had a deep understanding of the material and were able to assist our classmates in understanding the concepts.”
She said she never gave in to peer pressure, sticking to her simple freehand hairstyle while others frequently changed theirs. “My priority was working to cover basic needs like accommodation and food. I couldn’t justify spending on new clothes or hairstyles. Fortunately, kind-hearted individuals and even room-mates often stepped in to help me out with clothes.”
Her humble background and the challenges she faced became the driving force behind her determination to succeed. The weight of responsibility to meet her sponsor’s expectations every semester fuelled her hard work, and the fear of disappointing them or returning home empty-handed only strengthened her resolve.
“Every semester, I was required to send my results to my sponsor, so I had to produce results that would please him. The thought of my sponsor quitting when I was just in Level 1 was daunting, and the prospect of returning home was even scarier. So, every time I sent in my results, I would breathe a sigh of relief, and my sponsor would exclaim in amazement.”
Her perseverance paid dividends at the recent graduation ceremony, where she was showered with honours, including the prestigious His Excellency and Chancellor Cde Dr Mnangagwa Award for Innovation at Undergraduate Level (US$1 000) and the Overall Best Female Student Award (US$500). Other notable acknowledgements came from Econet Wireless, Chicken Inn, Coral Soft, Nicoz, ZB Bank, CBZ, ZINARA, and NetOne.
Zabuya believes these accolades are not just personal victories but a source of motivation for her peers, stating, “What goes around comes back around.” Looking ahead, Zabuya plans to leverage her education to address national food security challenges, specifically through the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into agricultural research.
Her ultimate ambition is to pursue Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy studies, deepening her understanding of sustainable agricultural systems, innovative solutions, and plant breeding to enhance crop yields tailored for different environmental gradients.
“By the age of 32, I aim to have earned my doctorate and be addressed as Doctor. If I secure a scholarship, I plan to pursue my master’s degree and then my PhD, continuing my education.”
Her message to other students was simple: “I would advise fellow students to combine hard work, dedication, determination, and passion in their academic pursuits. This winning formula is sure to yield positive results.”
