This week we received an encouraging story from a girl child in Gauteng, South Africa. Her story has nothing to do with the horrors of immigrants being chased away from that country.
You see, there is nothing in Perpetua Sithole’s background to associate her with a long list of achievements that are associated with her name. This June, at the tender age of 24, she will attach the coveted degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA) from one of South Africa’s oldest universities.
But that is not the only achievement. Perpetua already has a job as a manager of an old established chain retail store, even before her graduation.
Her employers are equally proud of her work ethic and devotion to the company. She attended evening classes, burnt mid-night oil, while all the time keeping her day-job as manager.
“I felt that I could not let my people down. My sponsor, far away in the US, always sent a Christmas message, inspiring me to do well. My two siblings and my grandmother back in Gutu paramountcy, needed my support.” She told our correspondent.
Her story began in 2012. Professor Ken Mufuka brought some American students to Mazambara High School, in Gutu. Perpetua was asked to give a vote of thanks, or something that caught the attention of the visiting team.
Perpetua’s father had passed away during the pandemics that devastated Zimbabwe between 1991-2002. Perpetua’s mother supported her three children through her vending business. When, however, she fell ill, and she could no longer make the excruciating journeys to Botswana to secure merchandise.
When mother sought medical care in Chivi, a distant district, Perpetua and her two siblings were now left under the care of her ageing grandmother.
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The burden of looking after three children, and finding school fees for them was too much for grandma.
As heaven would have it. Professor Mufuka returned to the school two weeks after the Americans had left and asked about “that girl, the poetess (she had spoken in poetic verse in her vote of thanks).”
Perpetua was having difficulty raising school fees.
This is where the story breaks one’s heart. When Professor Mufuka was told how much Zee 250 was in United States dollars, tears fell from his cheeks. That sum was USD10 dollars.
Perpetua was placed on a Mufuka Bursary immediately. The story would have ended there but for the crafty and sharp thinking of Mazambara headmaster.
“Perpetua is our top student, and we expect she will be admitted to Great Zimbabwe University. I am “crying” (Zimbabwe English) for a sponsor before I finalize her admission to GZU.”
Sure enough, she enrolled at GZU between 2013-2016 graduating with B. Comm. (Hon) degree.
While working in the retail chain business in South Africa, she received another B. Comm (Supply Management) and this June, 2026, she capped it with an MBA from Regenesys Business School.
James Nemerai, chairman of the Mufuka Trust in Masvingo, revealed to our correspondent that the Trust is planning to make a big fuss in her honor this summer when she returns to say thank you.
Perpetua told our correspondent: “I am deeply grateful to the Mufuka Family Trust for changing the course of my life.”
