The Chevening educational assistance programme seeks to further the skills and knowledge of young Zimbabweans in their respective professional spheres so that, upon graduation, they can return to contribute to the development of their country.
Established in 1983, the programme makes awards to outstanding individuals who demonstrate the potential to become future leaders, decision makers and opinion formers. Chevening scholars come from over 116 countries. To date 420 Zimbabweans have participated in the scheme. Mutangadura, who studied under the Chevening scheme between 2005 and 2006,recently attended a reception for beneficiaries who had just returned from their educational sojourns in the UK.
Following her successful completion of a master’s degree in Business Studies at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom in 2005 Mutangadura rose to become Managing Director for AON Zimbabwe, the country’s largest insurance broker.
Before the scholarship, she was the Company Secretary and Legal Advisor for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, heading the Legal Division which she set up at the formation of the Authority.
She says she applied for the scholarship with the vision that an MBA programme would boost her knowledge regarding leadership.
“I was part of the team that was appointed to establish systems within the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority at its inception. It proved to be a complex, challenging but exciting process.
After my experience as a member of the Executive Management Committee at ZIMRA, I was curious to understand what it would take to steer such a huge organisation to success. I wanted to be a leader,” said Mutangadura.
She said the Chevening scholarship gave her the opportunity to understand a different way of life as well as to interact and network with students from different countries.
“The academic qualification has set me apart from my peers and equipped me to take on the challenges that I encounter as Managing Director of a multinational organisation. At a personal level the experience broadened my perspective and has made me even more confident and determined to achieve my goals,” she added. In 2009 Mutangadura, together with her brother, who is a specialist dermatologist, launched a program to help people living with albinism.
“There is a lot of stigma and superstition around albinism and albinos are often ostracised and discriminated against. We assist by providing sunscreen creams that they so desperately need to protect them against the sun. Without such interventions most of them succumb to skin cancer,” she said.
Mutangadura also holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB Hons) degree from the University of Zimbabwe. She started her professional career in the practice of Messrs Danziger and Partners where she became the youngest lawyer and first woman to be admitted as a partner in the practice since its formation in 1915. She is a member of the Board of Directors of FBC Bank Limited and La Farge Cement Zimbabwe, where she serves on the Audit Committee.
Post published in: News