Marist Brothers claim top spot in high school entrepreneurship competition
HARARE — Nyanga High School, Marist Brothers on Thursday left judges at the 2022 National Business Case Competition eating from their palm with a well articulated pig feed project that seeks to boost Nyanga’s agricultural economy.
A team of sixth form students — Donald Tombo, Isley Takure, Takudzashe Ndongwe, Akim Kunyarimwe, pitched their business venture before a panel of judges, chronicling how they had conducted trials on their school’s pigs and those of a third party farmer to come up with an optimum product.
The team that also comprised Kudzaiishe Chirapu and Isheanesu Dhafana also outlined their business plan from production to supply in an effort that landed first position and with it US$5,000 seed capital to capacitate the business venture.
In close second place was Westridge High School who pitched a bicycle venture while Milton High School settled for third spot.
The top five school teams won US$5,000 seed capital each and additional prize money as the competition ,which seeks to develop Africa’s future business leaders, closed its curtains for 2022.
A judges panel scrutinized the projects’ feasibility from production, marketing, financing, distribution to community benefit before awarding winners. Thirty schools from across 10 provinces in Zimbabwe were adjudicated on a five minute business presentation pitch.
Other notable presentations were from Mutendi High School who presented a soap making product, Munyaradzi High School who produced lap desks recycled from plastic paper.
Amai Mugabe High School developed a skin care product (body oil) produced from orange peels, lemons. Bradley High School backed themselves with a skin remedy (Beeswax, paraffin, Olive Oil) while St Dominics Mutare pitched a body lotion and oil.
Kutama College put their hand up with multi-use avocado oil while Chikangwe High School came up with tamarind juice and Marondera High School were confident a cactus juice which they had produced would be a sure seller.
Co-founder and Executive Director of Emergination Africa, Taku Machirori, said the competition seeks to see an African continent where all young people are equipped with the skills to create economic opportunities not only for themselves, but for others.
“So our vision has not only been a Zimbabwean vision,” he said.
“So looking to 2027 Our ambition is to reach and train 20,000 teachers who impact 2 million learners who will therefore create 360 Sustainable ventures, which we as an organization are looking to fund to the tune of $1.6 million. Our ambition is to run the largest platform and forum for young entrepreneurs across the African continent.”
Deputy minister of Primary and Secondary Education Edgar Moyo, paid tribute to Emergination Africa for equipping pupils with relevant knowledge and skills to prepare them for life and work.
“My Ministry appreciates Emergination Africa for bringing into our education system a program that speaks directly to the Competence Based Curriculum,”Moyo said.
“The Education Venture Development Programme clarifies and actions the role of teachers as facilitators in developing pupils who are innovative, critical thinkers, problem solvers as well as technologically astute just to name a few.
The Educator Development program has managed to train, since its inception, 263 high school educators from 140 schools who potentially impact 49 970 pupils.
“The teachers who go through the Educator Venture Development Programme (EVDP) have been making a huge difference in our schools,” Moyo said.
“The National Business Case Competition is proof that pupils are dreamers, innovators and doers, and all they need is a platform and support to thrive. Emergination Africa is providing pupils with a pathway for their future by allowing them to speak through innovation and entrepreneurship, tenets that we value as a Ministry.”
Earlier, Marist Brothers teacher coach Committee Nyamagwada won the teacher coach award – a prize given for how the teacher enforces project based learning and problem based learning as well as how the teacher engages with Emergination Africa.
Nqobile Ndhlamini from Marist Brothers took second runner up while Wartson Jena from St Dominics High School Chishawasha picked up the first runner up award.
