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Amazing! Zimbabwe Girl, 14, Starts University
By CNN
She grew up in grinding poverty, losing both her parents at a tender age but 14-year-old whizz-kid Maud Chifamba has defied adversity and hardship to break academic records.
Against all odds, the extremely bright teenager has written history as last week she became the youngest ever university student in Zimbabwe — as well as the whole of southern Africa, according to education officials.
Maud, who was born on November 19, 1997, has just started her studies toward a Bachelor of Accountancy Honors Degree at the University of Zimbabwe, the country’s oldest and most esteemed educational institution. Her intellectual prowess and hard work have earned her a four-year scholarship of nearly $10,000 after she excelled at last year’s Advanced Level exams.
Now, one week into her new life at the university, softly-spoken Maud already feels settled.
“I’m really enjoying it,” she says with striking modesty. “It’s better than what I expected. I’m just enjoying all the lectures.”
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It really motivated me to work harder because there was no one to take care of me except myself.
But before deservedly claiming a spot inside the university’s vast lecture halls, finding herself amongst much older students, Zimbabwe’s wunderkind had to overcome tremendous financial and social challenges.
Born to a poor family in the Hunters resettlement community in Chegutu, central Zimbabwe, Maud lost her father when she was just five years old. Her mother also passed away last year. Her two brothers, who are general workers at a farm, were unable to pay the fees required to keep her at formal school so Maud started studying vigorously at home all by herself.
Armed with determination, Maud put all her efforts into studying, embarking on a disciplined reading routine that lasted for several hours each day. “I studied very hard,” she remembers. “For the biggest part of the day and even into the night,” adds Maud.
Maud says the death of her parents made her realize that she would have to take her destiny into her own hands.
“It really motivated me to work harder because there was no one to take care of me except myself in the future,” says Maud. “That was … a motivator for me to have something to do with my life.”
Gifted with natural intelligence, Maud’s promising future was apparent from an early age. Her remarkable aptitude impressed her primary school teachers who decided to move her up from Grade 3 to Grade 6.
Aged nine, she took her final primary school examinations, where she obtained top marks for all of her subjects. Lacking financial support to undertake her high school education, Maud studied on her own and completed her Ordinary Level in just two years after skipping two forms.
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Her hard work paid off last December when she scored 12 points at her A-Level exams, an astonishing feat that earned the 14-year-old girl a place at the Harare-based University of Zimbabwe.
“It’s phenomenal, especially if you consider that for her A-Levels she was not in formal school,” says Gershem Pasi, the commissioner general of the Zimbabwean Revenue Authority, the body that’s now sponsoring Maud’s university education. “She was just reading by herself at home and her brothers only managed to pay the examination fee.”
Munyaradzi Madambi, dean of students at the University of Zimbabwe, describes Maud as a “very warm and polite young woman,” whose intelligence and maturity shines through.
“(She is) confident, efficacious and unique in the sense that you don’t normally expect this position among kids from underprivileged backgrounds,” he says.
Madambi says the university is committed to helping its wonder student develop into a balanced individual while fulfilling her dreams.
Maud is an exceptional case in terms of intellectual prowess.
Munyaradzi Madambi, dean of students at the University of Zimbabwe
“We are making sure that she grows up to be a well-moulded, mature adult but of course without really suffocating her or putting her under any pressure,” he says.
Zimbabwe has an adult literacy rate of 92%, which is one of the highest in Africa, according to UNICEF. Madambi says people in the country have an “incredible and insatiable appetite for education.”
“Normally those that come from underprivileged backgrounds, their desire is really to work hard and excel and of course Maud is an exceptional case in terms of intellectual prowess,” he says.
Maud is now on course to conquer even greater heights, becoming Zimbabwe’s youngest ever accountant when she graduates in four years time.
“My dream job is to become an accountant,” she says.
Posted by Editor
on September 19, 2012. Filed under INTERNATIONAL NEWS.
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MUNYELO PWETE!
September 19, 2012 at 3:40 pm
This is not strange naimwe batumfweko!
Nicola
September 19, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Thats great, by 18 years she will be working.
isaac
September 19, 2012 at 3:53 pm
No doubt this is news if they say the whole of southern africa she is the only one how can it not be news? BY THE TIME SHE WILL BE OPEN TO THE SO CALLED DISTURBERERS, THE GUYS SHE WILL ALREADY BE A GRAGUATE.
ubutali
September 19, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Ubutali story yakwa Maud but I wish the young lass well in all her future endeavours, keep it up babes,
Smigo
September 19, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Sounds just like a filler to me.
PhD student - Harvard
September 19, 2012 at 6:02 pm
In Africa she should be the first child to enter University at that age. Definitely this is news. No wonder CNN picked it up. Guys ninshi jealous so?
On the World scene, l only know of Michael Kearney (born January 18, 1984) a child prodigy known for setting several world records, and teaching college at the age of 17. He is listed in the Guinness Book as the world’s youngest university graduate at the age of 10, receiving a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of South Alabama. This was after enrolling at Santa Rosa Junior College at the age of 6 years and 7 months, from which he graduated at the age of 8 with an associate of science in geology. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a master’s degree in chemistry at the age of 14, and taught in college at 17.
Gentlemen, lets make reading a hobby instead of passing demotivating comments.
Academician
September 19, 2012 at 6:12 pm
@ Munyelo Pwete. Nimwe ba grade shani tata? Just reading your alas name and comment, one can tell that you have not seen too much chalk, if any.
pemps
September 19, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Go girl go go.
Shelley
September 19, 2012 at 7:27 pm
May God continue to bless her and keep her strong.
Sex-by-pretence
September 19, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Banensu,lets be honest,she has achieved a feat none of us or our bululu’s ever have/will.just the way they were proud wen we won the afcon,thd list we can do is the same!elo kanchushi
ROY MASE
September 19, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Nice one, quite amazing. condolenceses to tha KAUNDA family, may tha soul of MAMA BETTY KAUNDA rest in peace.
tallo tiger
September 21, 2012 at 10:38 am
Guys, the girl is damn sharp. Some of you completed your senior seconday school when you were over 20years. Nomba ni ama jeleous iye ka munyelo pwete
belz
September 21, 2012 at 11:45 am
be detaimined and focus on the future, who says girls cant do it. u rock girl and congrats.
Malchi
September 21, 2012 at 12:44 pm
This is good especially that she had to study on her own.
Vibrosomal
September 21, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Genius! Keep it up girl!
Kalok
September 22, 2012 at 10:44 am
For a moment there I thought she was setting up a university!!! This is straight from the vernacular: atampa isukulu!!!!!!!
Wamuza
September 22, 2012 at 6:49 pm
This is definitely news. It deserves to be Headline news in the post. Certainly an example to be emulated by many children
mali
September 25, 2012 at 1:57 pm
wonder girl, 9 months was worth it, straight she will be someone in life. Bravo africa, show ba mwisa ati, we are just black in skin, brains brighter.
go, go AFRICA
Melissah
September 25, 2012 at 2:31 pm
May God continue blessing and seeing her through in all.So proud of you little gal. She has my blessings. Show the Africa,the world of what u GAT. She is blessed. I luv it.
Eric
September 25, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Divine providence shinning through.
Malamizo
September 27, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Speechless…so inspiring..congrats mwaiche.