By Shingirai Vambe
Former Zimbabwean Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, has sparked a thought-provoking conversation on social media, sharing his candid views on the education system in Africa. He argues that despite significant investments, the current system has failed to yield meaningful growth and development for individuals and businesses, hindering their pursuit of life achievements.
This came few hours before Zifa elections were held after Walter Magaya’s prayer at the High Court before judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi was rejected. Chitapi dismissed an urgent chamber application by Yadah Stars owner Magaya who was challenging his disqualification from the ZIFA Presidential race set for January 25.
Judge Chitapi dismissed Magaya’s application, ruling that it lacked merit. Magaya had been disqualified by the ZIFA electoral committee for failing to submit his Ordinary Level certificate, a requirement for candidates. However, Magaya argued that this decision was grossly unreasonable, as he had submitted diplomas from the University of South Africa (UNISA), which he believed met the ZIFA statutes’ requirement for an equivalent qualification.
Magaya’s lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu, emphasized that the ZIFA Constitution states that candidates can submit an ‘O’ Level or an equivalent qualification. He argued that Magaya’s UNISA diplomas surpassed the ‘O’ Level requirement, making his disqualification unreasonable. Mpofu also pointed out that the electoral committee failed to provide reasons for rejecting Magaya’s diplomas as equivalent qualifications.

In response, ZIFA’s representative, Lovemore Madhuku, argued that Magaya’s application was not properly before the court. However, Judge Chitapi noted that ZIFA was required to provide a record of proceedings that led to Magaya’s disqualification, which was not presented in court.
Jonathan Moyo said on his X account, “It is therefore foolish and primitive to demand of grown up adults, especially middle aged adults between the ages of 40 to 65 years old, O-Level certificates as proof of their education. Imagine the stupidity of asking a Bill gates type of person for an undergraduate degree or high school qualification: to prove what?,” asked Moyo.
He went further and added that the practice of taking an O-Level certificate or its equivalent as an important lifetime qualification in education is a colonial hangover common in some former British colonies where an O-Level certificate awarded by Cambridge University used to be treated like a high if not the highest mark of education for Africans. It’s totally colonial thing. While the O-Level has been localized in many former British colonies, the colonial and slavery mentality attached to it still persists. And that’s even to this day, the Cambridge University O-Level Certificate is still taken as superior to its various local equivalents across former British colonies.
“But look around the world, you will not find that kind of crass practice in developed or properly developing countries that have freed themselves from mental colonialism and mental slavery, and are leading in the production of intellectual property. It is backward and silly to ask an adult a qualification for children, like an O-Level certificate. People and organizations that do that are steeped in the colonial past, playful mental slaves, and dangerous to societal development.
There’s a reason old-age wisdom holds that life begins at 40. By that age, one should have the necessary learning beyond a high school qualification for children, and should have acquired enough specialization and experience to get serious with life, towards the other side of midnight in their life!” Moyo said.
Former Minister of Higher and Tertiary education, Amon Murwira earlier said the reason why Government introduced Education 5.0 was to close the gap, where majority have hanging certificate on walls, failing to fit in today’s world.
“The current education system places a high premium on certificates, such as O-levels, A-levels, and degrees. This creates a culture of credentialism, where the value of an individual is often measured by their paper qualifications rather than their skills, experience, or character, the education system often prioritizes Western knowledge and values over local knowledge, traditions, and practices. This has led to a disconnection between what is taught in schools and the realities of everyday life resulting in inadequate preparation for life, the current education system often focuses on preparing students for exams rather than for life. This has also resulted in graduates who are ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of the real world,” Murwira said.
Precious Murena, the former CEO of Lafarge, delivered a thought-provoking address to the Private Healthcare Association of Zimbabwe in Victoria Falls. She emphasized the importance of embracing change and adaptability in leadership, particularly in today’s fast-paced world.

Murena shared her personal experience, highlighting that his 17 years of work experience were rooted in a world that no longer exists. She acknowledged that relying solely on past experiences can hinder effective leadership. Instead, he advocated for “mental agility” as a crucial leadership competence in the 21st century.
“Mental agility is about learning the art of changing your mind fast enough to lead,” Murena explained. This requires a willingness to challenge assumptions, adapt to new information, and pivot when necessary.
Murena also reflected on the limitations of traditional education systems. She noted that, in the past, students often had limited choices when it came to selecting their fields of study. University administrators would often dictate the course of study, without fully understanding the individual’s potential or interests, this system, still exist.
As a result, many people have built their lives around a degree that may not accurately reflect their strengths or passions. Murena argued that this can lead to stagnation and a failure to explore one’s true potential.
“Studying one faculty to PhD is not improving and exploring; it’s failing to open the unknown self,” Murena added. She encouraged the audience to embrace a growth mindset, be open to new experiences, and continuously challenge themselves to adapt and grow.
Meanwhile, Nqobile Magwizi has won the ZIFA presidency with a landslide victory, securing 61 votes out of 76, both Magaya and Mliswa who had earlier challenged the process, exerted their support to Magwizi.
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