MUTOKO GRADUATE'S JOURNEY FROM EXPULSION TO EXCELLENCE HIGHLIGHTS POWER OF SECOND CHANCES

Nelson Geje

MUTOKO — Among the 311 graduates who received their certificates at the third graduation and prize-giving ceremony for Mashonaland East vocational training centres, held at Tabudirira Vocational Training Centre in Mutoko, one story stood out as a testament to resilience: that of Munyaradzi Ngwazi, who graduated as a qualified motor mechanic after a turbulent journey through his teenage years.

Munyaradzi grew up under the guidance of his mother, who moved him between different schools in search of the right environment for him to thrive. But his path was not smooth. At one point, he was expelled from school due to misbehaviour, a low point that also strained his relationship with his grandmother, who was deeply unhappy with his drinking habits.

The turning point came when Munyaradzi chose to pursue mechanics. His mother, ever supportive, paid his school fees, giving him the opportunity to redirect his energy into a trade. Yesterday, that decision bore fruit, as he stood among his peers to receive his certificate as a qualified motor mechanic.

His grandmother, reflecting on how far he has come, urged him to remain disciplined going forward, cautioning him that talent without discipline is a disaster and advising him to stay away from beer.

Munyaradzi's transformation echoed the very themes at the centre of the ceremony. Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, said the day marked a milestone for disciplined learners who had transformed into skilled individuals ready to add value to the province and the country at large.

"It is the time when effort becomes achievement, for dreams which were rightly silent in classrooms now take their rightful place in the real world," said Ndudzo, congratulating the graduates. He invoked the Shona proverb, which is the government mantra "Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo," reminding graduates that development begins with those who own it.

Ndudzo said vocational training remained central to the philosophy of the Second Republic, describing it as part of the fight for "the war of the mind." He said the centres gave meaning to the youth by equipping them with practical problem-solving skills, empowering them not merely to seek employment but to create jobs and serve their communities.

Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Development and Vocational Training honourable Kudakwashe Mupamhanga said the ceremony celebrated 311 graduates, comprising 180 males and 131 females. He acknowledged the role of parents and guardians, noting that their contribution had gone far beyond the payment of fees.

Mupamhanga reminded the graduates that completing their training was not the end of their educational journey but the beginning of something greater. He urged them to treat their certificates as tools for improving their communities and to continue upgrading their skills, in line with the Second Republic's drive to build human capital and help citizens identify opportunities.

For Munyaradzi, the certificate represents more than a qualification — it is proof that setbacks in youth need not define the future, and that support from family, paired with discipline, can turn a difficult journey into a story of achievement.