March 2024

Prominent philanthropist and award-winning businesswoman Divine Simbi Ndhlukula has unveiled a state-of-the-art computer lab and library programme at Makudo Business Centre in Gutu. More than 4 000 primary school pupils from the district are expected to benefit from the Mbuya Mary Simbi (MMS) Library. The unveiling of the computer lab at the weekend coincided with Securico’s International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024 celebration, further emphasising the company’s commitment to empowering communities, particularly women and girls, through education and technology. Recognising the importance of bridging the digital divide, Dr Ndhlukula set a key goal to develop a computer lab within the library premises. The first of its kind in the district, the computer lab will service several schools in Gutu. At the launch of her debut book, “Entrepreneurial Success: Insights on Growing Business in a Fluid Economy” in February, Dr Ndhlukula committed to raise funds for the realisation of her dream of this computer lab for rural learners. An auction was held and some notable individuals’ like West Property chief executive Ken Sharpe, Gloria Zvaravanhu and Emilia Chisango pledged towards the first hardware for the lab. The weekend’s event witnessed a gathering of key figures from both the public and private sectors, united in their commitment to advance education and technology access in rural Gutu. Officiating at the event, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between Government entities, community leaders, and private enterprises in addressing the challenges faced by undeserved communities. She reaffirmed the ministry’s unwavering support for the lab, emphasising that the initiative was in line with the Government’s digitilisation agenda. Dr Ndhlukula said she decided to invest in the computer lab to bridge the digital divide between the rural and urban students. “Within the Mbuya Mary Simbi Library and Lab hangs a colossal world map, inspiring learners  to dream expansively, transcending the boundaries of their immediate reality. The many books within will undoubtedly propel their minds towards a brighter tomorrow. “Now, these young minds can envision a future that extends beyond the confines of their immediate surroundings. In hindsight, I owe my greatest gifts — love, industry, and a passion for books — to my parents. ‘‘Books, the gateway to uncharted worlds for those who dare to dream, empowered me to stand before diverse audiences, to lead experts, and to champion my business.” Other notable guests among them Masvingo Provincial Education director, district and area schools inspectors, Chief Chitsa and representatives from The United Nations Development Programme, attended the event.

Prominent philanthropist and award-winning businesswoman Divine Simbi Ndhlukula unveiled a state-of-the-art computer lab and library programme at Makudo Business Centre in rural Gutu at the weekend. More than 4 000 primary school pupils from the district are expected to benefit from the Mbuya Mary Simbi (MMS) Library. The unveiling of the computer lab coincided with Securicos’s International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024 celebration, further emphasizing the company’s commitment to empower communities, particularly women and girls, through education and technology. Recognizing the importance of bridging the digital divide, Dr Ndhlukula set a key goal to develop a computer lab within the library premises. The first of its kind in the district, the computer lab will service several schools in Gutu. At the launch of her debut book, “Entrepreneurial Success: Insights on Growing Business in a Fluid Economy” in February, Dr Ndhlukula committed to raise funds for the realisation of her long held dream of this computer lab for rural learners. An auction was held and some notable individuals’ like West Property chief executive Ken Sharpe ,Gloria Zvaravanhu and Emilia Chisango rose to the occasion pledging towards the first hardware for the construction of the lab. The weekend’s event witnessed a distinguished gathering of key figures from both the public and private sectors, united in their commitment to advance education and technology access in rural Gutu. Officiating at the event, The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Tatenda Mavetera underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between government entities, community leaders, and private enterprises in addressing the challenges faced by underserved communities. She reaffirmed the ministry’s unwavering support for the lab, emphasising that the lab initiative was in line with the Government’s digitilisation agenda. Speaking at the event, Dr Ndhlukula said she decided to invest in the computer lab to bridge the digital technical divide between the rural and urban students. “Within the Mbuya Mary Simbi Library and Lab hangs a colossal world map, inspiring students to dream expansively, transcending the boundaries of their immediate reality. The many books within will undoubtedly propel their minds towards a brighter tomorrow. “Now, these young minds can envision a future that extends beyond the confines of their immediate surroundings. In hindsight, I owe my greatest gifts — love, industry, and a passion for books — to my parents. Books, the gateway to uncharted worlds for those who dare to dream, empowered me to stand before diverse audiences, to lead experts, and to champion my business. Other notable guests among them Masvingo Provincial Education Director, district and area schools inspectors, Chief Chitsa and representatives from The United Nations Development Programme, attended the event. The Herald

Important businesswoman inaugurates computer laboratory and library in the rural area of ​​Gutu Gutu, Zimbabwe – March 23, 2024 Divine Simbi Ndhlukula, a leading philanthropist and award-winning businesswoman, launched a state-of-the-art computer lab and library program at the Makudo Business Center in rural Gutu, which also houses Ndhlukula. This innovative initiative marks an important milestone in the advancement of education and access to technology in the region. The launch event took place on Saturday, March 23 at the Mbuya Mary Simbi (MMS) Library in Makudo, Gutu. Notably, this initiative coincided with SECURICO’s celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024, further emphasizing its commitment to empowering communities, particularly women and girls, through education and technology. In 2021, the MMS Library was inaugurated as a beacon of knowledge and learning in the rural community of Gutu. Recognizing the importance of bridging the digital divide, Dr Divine Simbi Ndhlukula set a key goal of developing a computer lab within the library premises. This visionary initiative marks an important milestone as the computer lab is the first of its kind in the district. Its establishment aims to serve seven primary and secondary schools, providing students with access to digital resources and tools for their academic journey. The development of the MMS Library and Computer Laboratory Program in rural Gutu has been a collaborative effort, with contributions from both individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting education and access to technology in the region. At the launch of her debut book “Entrepreneurial Success: Insights on Growing Business in a Fluid Economy” in February, Dr. Divine pledged to raise funds to make her long-held dream of a computer lab for rural students in her home a reality. hometown. . An auction was held and some notable people like Ken Sharpe, Gloria Zvaravanhu, Emilia Chisango and others rose to the occasion, who in turn helped with the hardware. investment. Part of the profits from the book are channeled to the Divine Simbi Ndhlukula Foundation, which was instrumental in the creation of the library 3 years ago. SECURICO has also been a great benefactor of this initiative, supporting the library’s infrastructure as well as the human resources costs to hire a librarian, among other necessary resources. Your support underscores the collective commitment to creating a culture of learning and knowledge sharing within the community, as well as closing the digital divide in rural communities. Dr. Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support and emphasized that the proceeds from her book will be channeled to help the less privileged. The lab’s launch event saw a distinguished gathering of key figures from the public and private sectors, united in their commitment to promoting education and access to technology in rural areas. Among the notable attendees was the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Hon. Dr. Tatenda Mavetera (MP); Masvingo Provincial Director of Education Shylette Mhike. Education officials from the district and area schools, the local community leader, Chief Chitsa, representatives from the United Nations Development Programme, the Divine Network and many friends of the MMS Library. Their presence underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between government entities, community leaders, and private businesses to address the challenges facing underserved communities. Additionally, the event featured enlightening speeches from Ms. Emilia Chisango, who emphasized the role of education and technology in advancing the community, and Ms. Elizabeth Magaya, who eloquently addressed the topic “Inspiring Inclusion.” for International Women’s Day 2024. This initiative exemplifies the power of partnerships in creating a more equitable and digitally literate society, ultimately paving the way to a better future for Gutu youth. During her speech at the event, Dr. Divine Simbi Ndhlukula articulated her vision on the transformative impact of donation on the community. With sincere conviction, she highlighted the profound value of reading and access to knowledge in shaping the future of Gutu’s youth. Ndhlukula added: “Inside the Mbuya Mary Simbi Library and Laboratory hangs a colossal world map, inspiring students to dream widely, transcending the limits of their immediate reality. The numerous books contained within will undoubtedly propel your minds towards a brighter tomorrow. Now, these young minds can imagine a future that extends beyond the limits of their immediate environment. In retrospect, I owe my greatest gifts: love, industriousness, and passion for books to my parents. Books, the gateway to unexplored worlds for those who dare to dream, allowed me to present to diverse audiences, lead experts and defend my business.” She said. News Skin Online

Gutu, Zimbabwe – March 23 2024 Divine Simbi Ndhlukula, a prominent philanthropist and award-winning businesswoman unveiled a state-of-the-art computer lab and library programme, at Makudo Business Center in rural Gutu which is also home to Ndhlukula. This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant milestone in advancing education and technology access in the region. The launch event happened on Saturday, March 23, at the Mbuya Mary Simbi (MMS) Library in Makudo, Gutu. Notably, this initiative coincided with SECURICO’s International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024 celebration, further emphasizing its commitment to empowering communities, particularly women and girls, through education and technology. In 2021, the MMS Library was inaugurated as a beacon of knowledge and learning in the rural Gutu community. Recognizing the importance of bridging the digital divide, Dr. Divine Simbi Ndhlukula set a key goal to develop a computer lab within the library premises. This visionary initiative marks a significant milestone, with the computer lab being the first of its kind in the district. Its establishment aims to serve seven primary and secondary schools, equipping students with access to digital resources and tools for their academic journey. The development of the MMS Library and Computer Lab Programme in rural Gutu has been a collaborative effort, with contributions from both individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing education and technology access in the region. At the launch of her debut book “Entrepreneurial Success: Insights on Growing Business in a Fluid Economy” in February, Dr. Divine committed to raising funds for the realization of her long-held dream of a computer lab for rural learners in her home village. An auction was held and some notable individuals like Ken Sharpe, Gloria Zvaravanhu, Emilia Chisango, and others rose to the occasion which in turn assisted with the hardware investment. Part of the profits of the book are channeled to the Divine Simbi Ndhlukula Foundation which was instrumental in setting up the library 3 years ago. SECURICO has also been a big benefactor to this initiative as they supported the library infrastructure as well as the human resource costs of employing a librarian, among other needed resources. Their support underscores the collective commitment to creating a culture of learning and knowledge-sharing within the community as well as bridging the digital divide in rural communities. The lab launch event witnessed a distinguished gathering of key figures from both the public and private sectors, united in their commitment to advancing education and technology access in rural areas. Among the notable attendees were The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services-Hon. Dr. Tatenda Mavetera (MP); The Masvingo Provincial Education Director Shylette Mhike. District Education and Area Schools officials, local community leadership Chief Chitsa, representatives from The United Nations Development Programme, the Divine Network, and many friends of the MMS Library. Their presence underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between government entities, community leaders, and private enterprises in addressing the challenges faced by underserved communities. Additionally, the event featured insightful speeches from Ms. Emilia Chisango, who emphasized the role of education and technology in community advancement, and Ms. Elizabeth Magaya, who eloquently addressed the theme of “Inspire Inclusion” for International Women’s Day 2024 This initiative exemplifies the power of partnerships in creating a more equitable and digitally literate society, ultimately paving the way for a brighter future for the youth of Gutu. During her address at the event, Dr. Divine Simbi Ndhlukula articulated her vision for the transformative impact of donation on the community. With heartfelt conviction, she highlighted the profound value of reading and access to knowledge in shaping the future of the youth in Gutu. Ndhlukula added, “Within the Mbuya Mary Simbi Library and Lab hangs a colossal world map, inspiring students to dream expansively, transcending the boundaries of their immediate reality. The many books within will undoubtedly propel their minds towards a brighter tomorrow. Now, these young minds can envision a future that extends beyond the confines of their immediate surroundings. In hindsight, I owe my greatest gifts – love, industry, and a passion for books to my parents. Books, the gateway to uncharted worlds for those who dare to dream, empowered me to stand before diverse audiences, to lead experts, and to champion my business.” She said. Zimeye

As a young girl growing up in the remote part of rural Gutu, in the Makudo area, I fondly remember my love for books and the joy they brought me. Today, I’m overjoyed to share the unveiling of a groundbreaking computer lab and library programme in our beloved Gutu! This event, coinciding with Securico Security IWD 2024 celebration, truly reflects our commitment to education and technology. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Friends of the Mbuya Mary Simbi Library and Computer Lab for their incredible support. Among other generous donations, we received 10 computers from Ken Sharpe Ken Sharpe on behalf of Zimworx . Special thanks to those who purchased several copies my book, “Entrepreneurial Success: Insights in Growing Business in a Fluid Economy,” at a premium price for the benefit of this rural community library. Gloria Zvaravanhu, Emilia Chisango, Chido Lloyd Mahovo, Nyasha Mangwiza, and everyone who donated books, your generosity warms my heart. Additionally, thank you to notable organizations like ZB Bank, First Insurance Brokers, and EDUCATE for purchasing books in large quantities. It was an honor to have esteemed guests join us, including The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services-Hon. Dr. Tatenda Annastancia Mavetera, the Masvingo Provincial Education Director Shylette Mhike, Chief Chitsa, community leaders, UNDP representatives, our bankers, and others. During the event, Emilia Chisango shared insights on education’s profound impact, while Elizabeth Magaya eloquently spoke on the theme of “Inspire Inclusion” for IWD 2024. I am filled with hope for this rural community’s future, knowing that together, we are making a difference, particularly in bridging the digital divide between them and urban learners. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all who contributed. There is still much more to be done. If you didn’t get the chance to contribute, you can still get involved in empowering this community of over 4000 learners in the targeted 7 schools. We need resources in kind, skills, and finances to strengthen connectivity, continue improving infrastructure so the lab is sustainable for future generations of students, and provide critical ICT skills transfer. If you would like to get involved, please email us at info@divinesimbindhlukula.co.zw. Let’s empower communities together. We are only just getting started.

By Mirriam Mangwaya  SECURICO Services founder and managing director, Divine Ndhlukula, has set up a library at her rural Gutu home that will benefit over 4 000 primary school pupils in the area. The library, named after Ndhlukula’s mother Ambuya Mary Simbi, which was officially launched at the weekend, is the first in the Chitsa area and has a computer laboratory. Ndhlukula said the library was established through collaborative funding by Securico as part of its corporate social responsibility and the Divine Ndhlukula Foundation. The businesswoman sought donations from corporates, friends, relatives and well-wishers to equip the library with books, computers and other necessities. She said the establishment of the solar-powered library was aimed at improving the pass rates at Zvinavashe and Firomumwe primary schools in her community. “We came up with the idea to set up the library following concerns of continued low pass rates at schools in our local community,” Ndhlukula said.  “There would be a single or no pupil with a pass. We discovered that the pupils did not have textbooks. They were not reading hence the poor performance.  But we also took cognisance of the new information and communication technologies, hence we decided to put in place a computer laboratory. We want to ensure that the pupils acquire digital skills. We are now working to ensure that we connect the library with internet services so that it is fully functional to enhance digital learning for pupils.” Speaking during the event, Information Communication Technology minister Tatenda Mavetera said the establishment of the library was in line with the government thrust to digitalise all communities. “We aim to digitalise every remote area in the country,” Mavetera said.  “We are giving out computers to such areas in line with Vision 2030.  But we can’t achieve that as a government on our own. We need partners. The thrust to develop a country is not a one-man  job. The President is clear, a nation is built by its own people), so individuals develop their own communities. “But it requires those with a willing heart to give back to the community. We are going to launch a programme, the Presidential Internet Scheme, very soon to ensure that we enhance internet access to every place in the countrywith the digitalisation agenda. The government remains committed to breaking the digital divide.” School authorities bemoaned the high cost of textbooks and other learning material which results in pupils especially, from low-income earning families failing to afford such resources.  NewsDay

Simbarashe Mtembo MIRROR REPORTER MASVINGO – All roads lead to Makudo Business Centre in Gutu this Saturday where philanthropist and award-winning businesswoman, Divine Simbi Ndhlukula is launching the Mbuya Mary Simbi Computer Laboratory.The lab is the first such in Gutu District.The event is starting at 10am and expected guests include education officers from the province, school heads, traditional and community leaders.The lab will compliment an already opened Mbuya Mary Simbi Library. The center serves several schools in one of the most remote areas of Gutu. The beneficiaries are Firomumwe, Zvinavashe, Chitsa, Mondo, and Machingambi primary and secondary schoolsDivine refurbished her late parents’ old shop and turned it into the library and computer lab.Ndhlukula is founder and managing director of SECURICO Security Services, a diversified security company. THE MIRROR