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NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the ZOU Alumni March 2019 e-newsletter specifically packaged for our alumni, friends and families.

In this issue we are going to share with you the importance of networking as alumni. We will also share a testimonial from a ZOU alumnus. We are, however, saddened to share with you the passing of Zimbabwe's veteran journalist and ZOU alumnus, Desmond Duri.

We continue to urge you to share y o u r s u c c e s s s t o r i e s o r testimonials for consideration in our future newsletter publications. Your success s tor ies and testimonials are meant to inspire fellow alumni and active students.Have a wonderful month and remember to stay in touch.Contact:Mrs J. Z. Mtezo on:(A lumni Coord ina t ion Un i t Director)+263-24-2793003/7/8 ext 256/7. alumnirelations@zou.ac.zwYou can also follow us on social media;Facebook: Zimbabwe Open University Alumni AssociationTwitter: ZOU_AlumniInstagram: zou_alumni/

Editor’s Note

March 2019March 2019March 2019

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ZOU ALUMNUS AND ZBC ZOU ALUMNUS AND ZBC VETERAN JOURNALIST VETERAN JOURNALIST DESMOND DURI DIESDESMOND DURI DIES

ZOU ALUMNUS AND ZBC VETERAN JOURNALIST DESMOND DURI DIES

ZOU alumnus and veteran journalist Desmond Duri died on 14 March 2019 in Harare after a short illness.According to ZBC news, the late ZBC reporter, Desmond Duri was described as an intelligent professional, who valued education.

Family members, workmates and friends, who attended the funeral service for Duri in Chitungwiza, said they were now poorer without the veteran journalist in their midst.

Duri's father, Kenias, said he cannot imagine life without his eldest son, adding that he accepts the will of God, who gives and takes at his best time. Duri's uncle, Dr Phillip Matemera said that Desmond was naturally intelligent. “He was a gifted boy from his tender age. He eventually became a Communications Officer at Fredda Rebecca Mine because of his sharpness. That is how his journalism career began. The rest of the story is told by his period at ZBC. The family will

miss the exemplary character he displayed to his siblings,” he said. Desmond's sister, Spiwe Duri, revealed that her brother was inspired by Joseph Madhimba, a former ZBC news reader, to become a journalist, adding that he valued education and encouraged family members to pursue it.

Duri's nephew, Saru, broke down while giving her speech, with the aunt, Mai Sidhuna saying Desmond was someone who wanted to continue with education.

A workmate from ZBC, Kudakwashe Matumba Machiri, who also hails from Chipinge as Duri, was at loss of words in describing her close friend, while ZBC TV Director, Mr Robson Mhandu, who is also a ZOU alumnus, hailed Desmond's dedication to his work.

“When ZBC posted him to Masvingo, that is when his career blossomed. The company had entrusted him with covering the province,” Mr Mhandu said.

Desmond was born on 3 November 1978, attended Gaza Primary School in Chipinge from 1985 to1991 and Mt Selinda High School from 1992 to 1995.

He was a holder of a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and a Bachelor of Arts Honours in English and Media Studies with the Zimbabwe Open University and the Great Zimbabwe University in 2006 and 2017 respectively.

He was buried on 17 March at Chipinge Town Cemetery.

The late ZOU Alumnus, Desmond Duri

NEWSLETTER

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ILLUSTRIOUS ALUMNIA Testimonial by Mr Coster Nkala

My name is Coster Nkala. This text gives a reflection on my personal history, professional accomplishments, and future aspirations.I grew up in deep rural areas of an African village. I attended rural schools that were characterized by a lack of career guidance. To me, education was purposeless. We went to school because parents sent us to go to school. I was from a poor family, hence payment of school fees was always a challenge. The environment was characterized by that stigma of being a student coming to school barefooted and at the same time with never ending levies arrears. Escaping from the jaws of living in a poor rural environment, was followed by moving into town during the period when m y c o u n t r y , Z i m b a b w e , w a s exper ienc ing ser ious economic challenges that were never witnessed anywhere on the planet earth.

All these challenges pushed me to have a desire to succeed even under serious challenges. Through part-time earnings, I embarked on an advanced level course through distance education. My passion to be a professional in the accounting field was not discouraged by being a Registered and practicing health practitioner.

Accounting is an integral part of the business world. I felt propelled and obliged to pursue my goal of earning a degree in the field of Accounting in order for me to effectively contribute to the profession. I envisaged a situation whereby I will effectively contribute to my country development and advancement by becoming a conversant specialist in the industry and in an institution of Higher learning like a university. I believed n o t h i n g c o u l d s u b s t i t u t e t h e effectiveness of attaining an academic qualification. I decided that pursuing my account ing degree studies was something I really wanted to accomplish.

Let's face it, a full-time career, attending schoo l fu l l - t ime , work ing , and maintaining some semblance of family life can make a person feel very fragmented. Fortunately, there was Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) that offered flexible programmes. I enrolled for a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting degree.

Earning a degree is a high academic distinction, and the decision to move forward with my education and professional career required hard work and dedication. At times I experienced detours and bumps in my path. But determination and perseverance helped me make it to the end. As with any new endeavour, the road in front of me seemed uncertain. But there was at my disposal a variety of tools and provisions that helped me reach the end of my journey successfully. There were lecturers and other staff that were there to help me stay on track and provided with the support needed to be successful in my program.

Networking, building relationships and making the right connections were key pieces to building positive relationships that enabled me to achieve my goals. Connecting with learners who were focused on the same thing with me allowed me to stay focused. In this community, I was supported, challenged, and celebrated, and built relationships

that stayed with me long past graduation.I established realistic goals with limited time. In order to achieve my goals, I needed to attain balance with all of the competing priorit ies by properly appropriating my time, energy, and resources between university school, work, and family life. I made sure that my time management plan prioritized the activities that positively contributed to my selected goals.

The passion to become an expert in the business world drove me to enrol for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). I graduated with a University Book Prize for being the best student graduating with a distinction in the dissertation. I got a part-time teaching post at Zimbabwe Open University's Faculty of Commerce and Law, where I help Bachelors and Masters students. Faced with challenges that came with teaching students who already know what they were doing, I enrolled and later graduated with a Master of Commerce in Applied Accounting (MCom App Acc) degree at the Great Zimbabwe University attaining 6 distinctions out of 10 courses. I am currently a Walden University Ph.D. independent scholar specializing in Accounting.

Studying with ZOU helped me rise through the ranks from being a Health Education Officer and Regional Malaria C o o r d i n a t o r f o r Wo r l d V i s i o n International and Population Service International respectively to a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in one of the organizations under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. I also hold voluntary and board positions in different organizations including being the National Treasurer ZOUAA, the member and later Chairperson of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic Advisory Counci l , Treasurer-Const i tuency Development Fund (CDF-Gwanda North), ex officio Trustee Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust (GCSOT), General Manager Finance in the Matabeleland South Provincial Sports Development Committee among others. I still feel resonated by a desire to do more with ZOU as my university of choice that gave me the foundation of my career.

Mr C. Nkala

NEWSLETTER

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Studying with the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) has its uniqueness compared to other conventional universities. As a student you rarely had time classmates compared to conventional students. Some of your intake mates were employed and rarely had time to attend your group discussions and tutorials. You however have that little connection and bond created by just joining this University of the moment. After graduation you parted away with the memorable moments made at the University. The tutorial days, assignment due dates, project, examination time and of cause the exam fever; always memorable isn't it? But on your graduation you parted away with the Institution, yet your heart still misses the memorable days you spent with the ZOU.

The aforementioned brings us to the pith of this piece, the importance of networking as ZOU Alumni.

You barely had time to share personal, business and other necessary information because you had limited time to study and work or attend to other duties. You actually discovered some of your colleagues or seniors at a company that you do business with. In the course of life, you realised more and more reasons you took for granted as students. It's time to come together as ZOU Alumni and network.

The power of networking as alumni (especially physical rather than online) has a potential to build

a good image for your business growth as well as provide room for well detailed information on your business to your college mates. These in turn will act as your business reference in other parts of the world, be it their workplace, school, home and other platforms. They will have all information hence they can fully explain to their friends, colleagues and families about your business. This happens subconsciously as you will have fed them with your business information at an event or so forth. So networking is not just beneficial to job seekers alone as many would think.

That brings us to the next part, which is how job seekers and unemployed graduates can benefit from alumni networking. Alumni networking activities provides you an opportunity to show your knowledge, market yourself and get information on different organisations. Yes, especially as a ZOU alumnus you are at an advantage as most ZOU alumni are employed and most are in influential positions. These can be a leeway for you to get insight into their companies and equip yourself with essential information for future interviews. You might not be called for interviews at the same company but at similar organisations and thus you get an edge over other competitors in the interviews.

Indeed, making online connections is less burdensome and easier but face to face interactions help you to get to know much about the person whom you are interacting with and this can be remarkably fruitful.

Alumni Associations link members in formal and less formal ways. Zimbabwe Open University Alumni Association (ZOUAA) Chapters can organise seminars, discussions, lectures, presentations, social meetings, aerobics, fun runs, golf tournaments among many other events where alumni can network.

With the growing importance of networking and international experience, joining the ZOUAA can possibly be your breakthrough to new experiences and also a possible boost for your curriculum vitae.

WHY NETWORKING IS VITAL FOR ZOU ALUMNI