The Sunday Mail
Debra Matabvu
Whilst his peers are sitting for Ordinary Level examinations, 16-year-old Mukundi Chifamba is preparing for first-year end of semester examinations at the University of Zimbabwe.
What makes Mukundi’s story extra ordinary is that his sister Maud made history three years ago by enrolling at the same institution at the age of 14. Maud completed her Ordinary and Advanced Level in four years as she was home schooling due to financial challenges.
Whilst it might seem like the genius DNA runs in the family, theirs is a story of hard work, determination and extra ordinary talent.
“My parents passed away when I was very young. I was three when my father passed on and I never stayed with my mother because she was ill for as long as I can remember and she passed on in 2011. I never got to know them that much,” says young Mukundi.
“My father was a soldier and my mother was a mere housewife so I really do not think they were geniuses in any way,” he chuckles childishly.
“Many people say I am a genius, I think I am intelligent but being a genius, I do not think so, I have always been seen as a hard worker and a purpose-driven individual but I am not a genius,” he says shyly.
Born on April 22, 1999 in Hunters resettlement area in Chegutu, Mukundi started school at the age of five and had to walk over seven kilometres to the make-shift school. Being the youngest in a class of over 70 children, he says he was fast a learner whose aim was to outshine his colleagues and his sister, Maud.
Maud Chifamba (right), stresses a point at the University of Zimbabwe, while her brother Mukundi listens attentively.(Picture by Rumbidzai Nhaitayi)
“The class was a combination of Grades One and Two. However, whenever a question was posed for the Grade Two class, I would feel the urge to answer it, just to feel I was more intelligent than my sister,” he remembers.
“Muku was very competitive and he wanted to be better than me in everything that we did since we were young. He succeeded most of the time,” interjects a beaming Maud.
“I remember I used to carry him, and at times he would fall asleep on my back on our way to school, but when we got to class he would be so alert and full of energy, trying so hard to compete with me,” adds the soft-spoken Maud.
But in-spite of so much intelligence and determination, Mukundi had to drop out of school in 2008 when he was doing the final term of Grade Six due to financial challenges.
However, his elder brother had the desire to see Mukundi complete his education by all means possible. He managed to enrol the young boy at a small private school where the principal was a family friend.
This meant that Mukundi had to negotiate his way through the accounts department when he had outstanding fees.
“However, the college did not have a primary school, thus I had to skip Grade Seven and start Form One that same year. I passed with flying colours and I proceeded to Form Two the following year,” he narrated.
“When I was in Form Three, my brother again failed to pay for my school fees and a benefactor from the Ministry of Education at Chegutu district office volunteered to pay for my fees so I was transferred to Moleli High School.”
However in 2012, life threw another curve ball as the man who had volunteered to pay for Mukundi’s fees passed away. Mukundi had to drop out of school again.
As hope of ever attaining decent education was lost, he decided to venture into vending.
For a year, young Mukundi helped his brother supply vegetables to vendors in the small town of Chegutu.
“I used to watch other children of my age go school or play street soccer and I could not do that. It pained me that I could not have a normal life, a life that children my age had,” he said in low voice.
“And that was the same time that Maud left for Harare, I felt lonelier.”
But despite the distance, Maud did not forget her brother. During her industrial attachment at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), Maud saved money for her brother to sit for the November 2013 O-Level examinations.
“She just called one morning and told me she had secured enough funds for me to sit for November examinations,” he said.
“I started preparing for the examinations in September and since I had no money for a tutor I had to do it on my own. To be honest it was hard because I had last laid my eyes on a book the previous year when I was still at Moleli and it was a real uphill struggle but I was determined to make it.”
In November that year, Mukundi sat for Business Studies, Commerce, Bible Knowledge, Mathematics, Integrated Science and English. He passed with 4Bs and 2Cs.
Maud managed to get someone, who has preferred not to be mentioned, to sponsor his brother’s studies and Mukundi started his Advanced Level at Mazowe High School last year.
With the encouragement of his sister, Mukundi sat for A-Level examinations in June this year and scored eight points after writing Economics, Accounting and Business Studies.
He applied at the University of Zimbabwe, secured a place to study Business Studies and is now a First year student.
“I never knew my father since he passed on when I was very young, but I think he knew I was going to overcome a lot in life, I think he knew I was a victor, hence the name Mukundi,” he said with pride.
“I know I would not have done it without my role model and the only friend I have ever known — Maud — and I am very grateful.”
Maud believes she did what any other sister would for a young brother.
“He is my brother, I love him. I want him to be his own man, I did what any sister would do for his brother,” she said humbly.
Mukundi is also indebted to the University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor, Professor Levi Nyagura, and his personal assistant, Mrs Kadzima for taking him under their care.
“I want to make them really proud, I think I will build houses for them because they have done so much for me,” he says.
“No!” he quickly changes his mind
“I am going to work really hard, pass, attain as many degrees as possible, probably surpass Professor Nyagura’s degrees,” he says confidently.
“I know if I do that they will be really happy and I just want to make them happy.”
