UZ youngest graduate Maud Chifamba reveals her secret to success ‘…I am not intelligent’

She never allowed her being an orphan, her age and her sad life story to stand in the way of her dreams.

At 18, she is a proud record holder for being the youngest graduate in the University of Zimbabwe’s six decade history.

She finds herself in the Guinness Book of Records for that and after graduating at such a tender age, she is now studying towards her Masters.

Her story suits a script from a movie, simply titled “Against all Odds”.

Losing a father at five and mother years later due to cancer, for many young girls marks the end of a normal life and the beginning of all misery ‘early marriage’.

But not for Maud Chifamba.

“I am not as intelligent as people think but I just work extra hard,” Maud says in an interview.

As she chronicles her story of an innocent village girl who turned into the media limelight in 2012 and now a history maker, her childish manner isn’t hidden in her constant fidgeting and giggles throughout the interview.

“The same noise that was made when I came to Harare and enrolled at UZ is the same that is happening again four years later but at least now I have matured and know what is happening compared to 2014,” she says while under a tree just behind the Manfred Hudson Hall at the University of Zimbabwe.

“When I was in Grade 3, I was given a Grade 4 midyear examination paper and I score 100%,”she said as she appeared really rooted in her story of success, telling it with pride as it should be told.

“The rest is history I completed my primary school fours head ahead of others scoring 6 Units at Grade 7 final examination,” she says.

Unfortunately, she says her step brother could not afford to send her to secondary school and she ended up just a girl at home.

Again, she remained undeterred. Her desire to learn pushed her to read while at home, taking advantage of other privileged students who would lend her books and past examination papers.

“Every time I got the opportunity I could read secondary school text books and answer questions from all exam papers my friends brought during school holidays.

“But the most difficult part was there was no secondary school in our area so I had to wait for those papers and get them during school holidays.”

Two years later, her brother managed to pay for her examination fees and she passed all subjects she sat for.

Chifamba got financial assistance from the Education Ministry and went to Pfupajena High School in Chegutu for her Advanced Level.

She went on to score 12 points and got a bursary from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Chairman’s Charity Fund and enrolled at UZ at 14.

On her first days at the University of Zimbabwe, she says: “It was the media that created all the limelight and I became centre of attraction from other students.

“I was young and naive and was the first time to take care of myself from morning to bed time without instructions from my brother.”

“Some students would mock my kink hair saying I was backward and should have my hair done,” she says with a giggle.

“They forgot I was just a 14 year-old who should be playing child games somewhere in Kwekwe.”

She mentioned the UZ Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura for his guardianship that made her life at the UZ good and conducive.

She said her performance changed the attitude of other students towards her who started treating her as their little sister.

On prospects of her looking for a job now, Maud laughs and says: “l am still a young village girl and growing up, l just can’t imagine knocking doors at some companies dropping my CV.

“Let me continue on the academic desk for now as I still have this privilege of studying.”

Her message to her late parents, Chifamba had this say: “Your little Maud is now a big girl and still reading everything she picks up. Unfortunately you are not here to celebrate with me.”

FACT SHEET

Orphaned at the age of five.

Completes Primary education in 4 years at the age of 10.

Read through Ordinary Level on her own and sat for Exams in two years instead of four.

Completes Advanced Level at 13

In 2007 named Best Student under the most difficult conditions and 5th on the Forbes top 100 youngest powerful women in Africa

Enters the Guinness Book of Records by becoming the youngest university student in Africa

In 2013 was part of the delegation at the launch of Terres Des Homes campaign for girls in Rome Italy.

Attends numerous girl child events as guest of honour delivering motivational speeches

Graduates in 2016 at UZ making history

Now studying for her Masters