MY JOURNEY
I was born in the Zaka Rural District of Masvingo Province – an arid area where crops can only be successfully grown with a great deal of backbreaking effort. This was my first lesson in life: if you want results, you have to sweat!

I was only 11 years old and in Grade 6 when my parents told me that they could no longer afford to send me to school. So, I dropped out of school. I began working as a herd boy, herding cattle and goats as well as being a general hand for two families in our village, so that my earnings could help support my siblings and possibly sent me back to school.

Life as a ‘school dropout’ was an incredibly challenging period for me – I felt I was missing out on the education I craved for. It was also a defining moment in my life: I resolved that I would one day go back to school. I also promised myself that I would never be poor. I made a vow that I would work as hard as necessary to avoid ever feeling so poor, useless and helpless again.

Through hard work and support from ‘good Samaritans’ I was able to get my studies back on track, ultimately going on to study at the University of Zimbabwe (Harare, Zimbabwe), the University of Pretoria (Pretoria, South Africa), Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (Barcelona, Spain) and Unisa (Pretoria, South Africa).

Throughout my journey, I never once wavered in my belief that education is the key to success. This is a belief that has informed my journey to date – and it is the reason I leap out of bed every morning.

This experience made me realise that if education meant this much to me, then surely it was just as important to impoverished young people across Africa. In my forthcoming book, “Hope. Persevere. Realise”, I expand on my conviction that education offers the only sustainable escape from poverty and marginalisation.

Let’s connect
I look forward to engaging with you and sharing ideas.
eddiem@eddiemahembe.com
info@eddiemahembe.com
Cell/WhatsApp: +27 (0)60 532 8754 (South Affrica) /
+263 (0)78 572 1343 (Zimbabwe)