By Byron Mutingwende
David Mascott Country School once again hogged the limelight when its proprietor and founder, Mrs. Gertrude Mandizvidza bagged a glamorous award at the Women in Enterprise Conference and Awards ceremony held in Harare recently.
Mrs Mandizvidza was awarded as the second runner up in the Education and Training category of the Women in Enterprise Awards held at the famous Cresta Lodge in Harare.
Women are hardworking and take various responsibilities in society. Available statistics show that despite being the majority of the population, most women in Africa lack top positions in the management of education.
Mrs Mandizvidza, an entrepreneur in her own right, took a bold decision to build the Good Care Pre School and the David Mascott Primary School despite the sector being predominantly manned by men.
As a woman, Mrs Mandizvidza became a key driver of change by promoting the advancement of education in her community.
“Women in the education sector are key change agents that help our children realise and see their own role in socio-economic transformation in the nation,” Ms. Faith Mazanhi, the Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) said.
Ms Mazanhi encouraged women to uphold good corporate governance by shunning corruption and working in a fair and transparent manner in their delivery of education to the nation.
The awards were meant to help women in business in the education sector to attain and offer quality education (SDG #4) to children in Zimbabwe thus laying an ideal foundation for the children at a young age.
The 2019 Women in Enterprise Award is Mrs Mandizvidza’s ninth top recognition as an educator and entreprenueur.
“I was very humbled when I got the ninth award that I dedicate to David Mascott Country School. It is not my award alone but a result of a solid teamwork from my family, workmates and the community. I urge all stakeholders to continue working with us in our endeavor to provide quality education to the nation,” Mrs. Mandizvidza said in her award acceptance speech.