When Smelly Dube speaks about her childhood, she does so with both humility and pride.
Born in the bushy, sparsely populated stretches of Mberengwa in the Midlands province, she grew up far from the glitter of the boardrooms she now commands.
Today, she is one of Zimbabwe’s leading businesswomen, a powerhouse globally whose rise — built from grit, resilience and relentless ambition — has become a blueprint for many.
Yet despite her success, Dube has never forgotten where she comes from.
“I am who I am because I started with nothing, but belief, mentorship and opportunity,” she said.
“Every child, no matter where they are born, deserves the same chance to rise.”
It is this conviction that birthed the S & M Hand of Compassion, a charity arm of River Valley Group, named after Dube and her husband Mncedisi Dube.
S & M Hand of Compassion is a vehicle through which Dube is channeling her energy, resources and influence to empower young people, women, and marginalized communities across the country.
- Shurugwi miners slammed for lavish lifestyles amid poverty
- Desire to serve drives Smelly Dube’s philanthropic work
- Businesswoman recognised for philanthropy
- Gweru business magnate Smelly Dube honoured
Keep Reading
The River Valley Group charity arm is built on the belief that geography must never determine destiny.
Having risen from a remote rural village to become a global business icon, Dube understands that talent is universal — opportunity is not.
“My rural upbringing shaped my character,” she said.
“It taught me discipline, survival, and humility.
“But it also showed me the inequalities that keep many brilliant young people stuck. I knew I had to do something.”
Dube’s mission seeks to support and invest in the personal and professional development of Zimbabwean communities while helping youth and women become global leaders.
These commitments are anchored on values of care, inclusivity, innovation and excellence, principles Dube said guided every programme carried out under S & M Hand of Compassion’s name.
Over the years, S & M Hand of Compassion has established itself as a reliable source of empowerment for vulnerable groups.
Its work is structured around four key pillars that respond to some of the most pressing societal needs.
The foundation pays school fees, provides learning materials, and identifies exceptionally talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“Education changed my life. Without it, there is no Dr Smelly Dube. So I want children who remind me of my younger self to have doors opened for them, not shut,” she said.
In communities where early motherhood, poverty and lack of opportunities trap girls in cycles of dependence, S & M Hand of Compassion provides practical life skills, counselling and mentorship.
Dube, a recipient of several awards, locally and globally, believes empowering a woman is empowering a generation.
“When a woman gains confidence and skills, she lifts not only herself but her entire family,” she noted.
S & M Hand of Compassion offers mentorship, business skills training and access to essential resources to young entrepreneurs.
The foundation also recognises outstanding young business owners who have helped uplift others.
“Young entrepreneurs are the backbone of a thriving economy,” Dube said.
“I want them to know they are not alone. Someone believes in their dreams.”
The foundation extends aid to people with disabilities — one of the most overlooked groups in many communities.
This includes material support, medical assistance and inclusion programmes.
“Disability is not inability. It is society that must adjust, not the individual,” Dube said passionately.
What sets the S & M Hand of Compassion apart is its emphasis on empowerment rather than charity.
All its programmes are designed to build independent thinkers, innovators and leaders who can transform their own communities.
One of S & M Hand of Compassion's core objectives is to mobilise successful Zimbabweans to invest in youth and women, fostering a culture of mentorship and shared growth.
“Success means nothing if we climb the ladder alone,” Dube said.
“I want Zimbabweans who have made it to pull others up.”
S & M Hand of Compassion’s work reflects Dube’s own journey — from a rural girl with big dreams to a self-made mogul.
Her story is woven into every initiative S & M Hand of Compassion undertakes.
She reminds her team often: “I am proof that background does not define your future.”
“With guidance and opportunity, we can rewrite the stories of our young people.”
This philosophy has sparked programmes in the Midlands province, with partnerships emerging across corporate, academic and civil society sectors.
As the festive season beckons, Dube is once again preparing to spread cheer to the vulnerable.
Through S & M Hand of Compassion, Dube has brought joy to thousands of widows and orphans over the years by donating Christmas hampers, food, and clothing.
Over the years, the foundation has contributed money and groceries worth thousands of dollars to the Gweru Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund.
Makara Children’s Home and several other charitable organisations have also benefited from Dube’s consistent philanthropic work.
Dube buys uniforms and pays school fees for 500 pupils across the Midlands province.
At Hwida Primary School in Shurugwi, she adopted learners from the special class, bought them uniforms and paid their fees until the end of their academic journey.
As S & M Hand of Compassion grows, so too does its impact.
Community leaders, beneficiaries and partners speak of S & M Hand of Compassion as a “ladder” — one that lifts the vulnerable from despair to possibility.
Dube sees the work as just the beginning.
“Zimbabwe’s greatest resource is its people — its women, its youth, its dreamers,” she said.
“If we invest in them, we invest in the future of our nation. That is the legacy I want to build.”
S & M Hand of Compassion is quietly sowing seeds of hope, opportunity and resilience.
For the underprivileged child, the unemployed youth, the forgotten girl — or the young entrepreneur with a dream — S & M Hand of Compassion is more than an organisation.
It is proof that one woman’s rise can inspire thousands more.
*The African Philanthropy Network (APN) is documenting success stories of African individuals and organisations engaged in philanthropic acts to raise awareness and to motivate locally driven development.
