…Makes a clarion humanitarian call to Manicaland businesspeople to unite and donate to Victoria Chitepo Hospital to help save lives.

Ngoni Dapira

FROM the semi-arid Matya village in Bocha, Marange where he grew up herding cattle in his childhood, to working as a teacher in his early adulthood years then later venturing into business, whilst still pursuing his passion of teaching, this is the remarkable story of Mutare educator cum businessman, Stephen Gwinyai  Mutsongodza who was recently accorded the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) national Businessman of the Year award at the national Business Awards held in Victoria Falls.

Mutsongodza who is the director-general of the Mutare based, First Class Group of Schools, broke a 20 years jinx becoming the second Manicaland businessman to scoop the prestigious national Businessman of the Year award after the late business magnate Hlanganiso Matangaidze, who first clinched the national title in 2006 and eight years later went on to become the first Manicaland businessman to be elected ZNCC national president in 2014.

Mutsongodza completed his Primary education at Chikuku Primary School in Marange and his High school in Nyanga, but during the school holidays, he would often visit his father in Mutare at his workplace, Founders Building Society, where he served as a messenger. He said that exposure allowed him to experience both rural and urban life, juggling between Matya village and Maonde, a residential section in Sakubva, which inspired him to dream big in his life and strive to achieve more in his life to give his parents and children a better life.

Born in a family of five siblings as the only boy child, the 55 years old teacher cum businessman began his teaching career at Sakubva Secondary School in 1994, after graduating in 1993. In 1996, he enrolled at Africa University to further his studies, focusing on administration and education. During his time at Africa University, a United Methodist Church affiliated university, which is his church of worship, Mutsongodza participated in exchange programs with universities in the United States. Notably, he spent time at the University of Illinois and Purdue University. Additionally, he was involved in exchange programs and fundraising initiatives with the AU choir, which took him to the USA.

He completed his Master’s degree in Administration in 2004 at Zimbabwe Open University and undertook another Master’s degree in Research with Liverpool University in England, which he completed in 2016. Currently, he is finalizing his PhD at Johnson University in the United States.

Mutsongodza (second from left) and his wife Tracy (in black dress) at the Manicaland Business Awards where he first received the provincial Businessman of the Year award.

Whilst still teaching at Sakubva High School Mutsongodza in 2005 established, First Class Academy, which is part of the First Class Group of Schools. The Academy was co-founded with his wife Tracy who is also a teacher and it was located in the high density suburb of Sakubva which was his second home. The concept was to cover a gap he noticed and establish an educational centre for High school dropouts and repeaters to get a second shot educationally. This was an ambitious project but its impressive pass rate results and impact in community made it a success. The school initially operated at a rented property along the Mutare- Masvingo highway just after Sakubva Swimming Pool, but he later acquired a permanent site for the Academy at a stand in between Chinyausunzi and Chisamba residential area in Sakubva, and his vision grew bigger to build a school of academic excellence that accommodated repeaters and school dropouts as well as affordable education for the locals in Sakubva and surrounding high density suburbs in Mutare.

“However we realized that the property had limitations in terms of size and accessibility. In response to a request from the City of Mutare, we entered into an agreement to develop the foot bridge that crossed from Chinyausunzi to Chisamba and construct a proper bridge that vehicles could use to resolve the accessibility problem. We built the bridge and then surrendered it to the local authority. This experience however also prompted us to explore alternative solutions, leading to the establishment of our second campus in Fern Valley years later,” said Mutsongodza. Later on in 2019 he established his Christian based private school, First Class High School in Fern Valley that has a boarding facility and is currently praised as a hub of academic excellence in Manicaland rated amongst the best academically performing schools in the province.

However in 2006, Mutsongodza ventured into the public transport business whilst stil focusing on his teaching profession. He started STM Tours with one vehicle, a Dong Feng ambulance that he bought at a City of Mutare auction then converted into a commuter omnibus.

He said after buying the Dong Feng ambulance, the advice to convert it into a commuter omnibus and venture into the public transport business came from renowned transport mogul Earnest Mungwari of Tenda Bus Services, his colleague pastor Doorson Pasirai of Mutare Metals and his former student, Blessing Madziro of Madziro trucking business. From humble beginnings the Dong Feng piloted the Chikanga Phase 3 route. Through money generated from piloting that route he was able to later on buy a second hand Toyota Hiace, and then another commuter omnibus, until he decided to buy second hand engines in South Africa from Engines for Africa, and rebuild second hand commuter omnibuses that he put on the road commuting local routes.

“The name STM Tours was a total coincidence and a funny story. It was a way of hiding our identity from the public because we were ashamed of being known as the owners of the funny shaped Dong Feng ambulance that we turned into a mini-bus. We started serving the Chikanga Phase 3 Machikichori route and the community supported us. Till this day I am thankful to the residents of Chikanga Phase 3 for accepting my innovation, and I have plans of one day putting up solar lights and street lights for the residents of that area just to thank the community,” he said.

Adding, “So STM is the acronym where the letter ‘S’ is my initial as Stephen then ‘T’ is the initial for my wife Tracy and ‘M’ is the initial for both our surnames, my wife’s maiden name Matenga and mine Mutsongodza. But our transport business eventually grew and we now have more than 10 vehicles including buses and omnibuses as part of our fleet,” said Mutsongodza.

He is also into farming with farming projects in Mutare and Rusape. Through his farming projects they grow fresh produce for their students at the Fern Valley High School boarding facility, promoting sustainability and self-sufficiency.

“Additionally, I have a keen interest in livestock farming and currently manage a herd of 80 cattle, 70 pigs and 40 goats. Furthermore, I have invested in irrigation infrastructure, including boreholes, at my rural farm in Bocha, with the aim of expanding my agricultural operations and contributing meaningfully to the growth of my rural community in support of governments rural industrialization and development drive,” he said.

He also created the Mutsongodza Family Trust that oversees the activities of First Class Academy and their public transport and logistics company STM Tours amongst other corporate social responsility initiatives.

“The objective of the Trust includes periodically producing 10 medical doctors who will be representatives from all of Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces that we hope can be deployed by the Ministry of Health and Childcare to areas of need in their respective provinces.  Supporting students doing Engineering degrees through scholarships and annually provide scholarships to 20 High school students that would have excelled but come from underprivileged backgrounds,” said Mutsongodza.

They also do community outreach initiatives where they offer their buses and vehicles for funeral services to those in need in Sakubva, as well as regularly assisting vulnerable communities surrounding First Class Academy in Sakubva in Chisamba and Chinyausunzi residential areas by donating foodstuffs occasionally.

“Collaborating with the Office of the President and National Museums and Monuments we also facilitate heritage tours for our students and youths in Sakubva. This is to help promote appreciation for Zimbabwe’s history amongst youths. We prioritize instilling a sense of national pride and heritage in our students, ensuring they visit the National Heroes Acre and other significant historical sites. Our thrust is to contribute meaningfully to Zimbabwe’s development,” he said.

Stephen Mutsongodza

The humble businessman who is known for his generosity and community building values when receiving the Manicaland Businessman of the Year award made a clarion call in his speech calling on Manicaland businesspeople to unite and donate to the provincial referral hospital Victoria Chitepo Hospital, to help save lives at the busy but under-resourced public hospital.

In January Mutsongodza also scored a first for Manicaland when he was invited at the 32nd edition of the World Summit School (Cluster of Achievers) xCOA awards in London, hosted in partnership with the House of Commons and Oxford University. The awards bring together educators, school leaders and innovators from across the globe, recognizing individuals and institutions that make meaningful change in the education sector through innovation.

Mutsongodza carved his name among the few Zimbabweans who have broken into this prestigious global circle of achievers and became the first recipient from Manicaland Province. This was an acknowledgement of how from humble beginnings, his First Class High School has been scoring the top best results at Advanced Level in Manicaland over the years, including last year where it produced 51 students with 15 points. Stemming from a humble vision of giving a second chance to school dropouts and repeaters, it is now a beacon of excellence in the education sector.