ACN Regional Event, Harare, Zimbabwe
From May 6–7, 2025, the Africa Careers Networks (ACN), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, hosted over 200 ALA and Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni in Harare, Zimbabwe, for a powerful two-day Regional Event that brought together youth, employers, industry leaders and educators – including Education Matters, an affiliate for ACN in Zimbabwe. The conference, centered around the theme “Catalysts for Change,” created a vibrant space for connection, collaboration, and critical conversations about the future of work, leadership, and impact across the African continent.
Youth Meet Industry: A Platform for Real Conversations
One of the standout moments of the event was the Youth & Industry Panel Discussion, where industry leaders including Nicholas Rungungu (Investment Banking Associate, ABSA) , Rebecca Zeigler Mano (Director Education Matters and USAP Community School), Tendai Carlton Saunyama (Youth Development Specialist ), Hannerietta Choga (Head of Human Resources) (PPC), and Esnath Divasoni (ED Manager at CAMFED) emphasised a pressing call to employers: hire for potential, not just experience.
“Don’t be the employer asking for three years of experience from someone just out of university,” one panelist noted. Instead, they encouraged organizations to be intentional about nurturing emerging talent, building bridges between academia and the workplace.
Henrietta Choga pointed to the urgent need to bridge the skills mismatch, noting that many university graduates are armed with theory but lack the technical and digital literacy needed in today’s workplace, even something as fundamental as professional email etiquette. Her message was clear: “Mindset shift is critical. Africa needs you.”
Reimagining Careers: Solving Problems, Not Just Getting Jobs
Rebecca Zeigler Mano challenged young people to stop obsessing over founding startups and instead pursue collaboration and co-founding efforts. “Ask yourself: What Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) do you want to contribute to?” she urged. Her reminder- Don’t aim to change the world overnight, instead focus on creating meaningful, localized impact.
Nicholars Rungungu, reflecting on his journey in banking and finance, shared that his mission as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar is to unlock capital for sustainable development. Meanwhile, Esnath Dirasoni, who grew up in a rural community plagued by child marriages, shared her journey of using a science background to drive development work as she is doing phenomenal work in alternative protein making use of the insect- cricket. Her voice was a call for young people to “see beyond your environment—there is a future beyond marriage or circumstance.”
Tendai Saunyama reminded scholars that career paths are not always linear: “It’s okay to restart. Don’t fake progress. Active patience ( which became a mantra at the event) will prepare you to be the perfect missing puzzle piece when the right opportunity comes.”
Unlocking the Promise of Southern Africa’s Youth: Building a Future of Opportunity and Innovation.
The keynote by Dr. Lovemore Mukono was a clarion call for youth leadership through tangible action. “We all want to eat—but who is producing the food?” he asked pointedly, emphasizing the importance of using education to create goods and services that uplift local economies.
His message was simple but powerful: “We must move from acknowledgement to action.” He urged young Africans to stop waiting for perfect conditions and to instead get their hands dirty, create networks that encourage productive thinking, and lead with purpose in politics, business, religion, and beyond.
Workshops, Sector Deep-Dives & Career Fair
The conference was not just about inspiration, it delivered practical tools and exposure. Workshops ranged from CV and cover letter labs to career search strategies, LinkedIn mastery, and interview simulations.
Education Matters led a workshop running under the theme: “Your Story, Your Edge: CV and Cover Letter Writing,” which was co-led by Betty Mafemera and Sibusisiwe Mukwakwami, with support from Lloyd Maodzeka. The team emphasized the importance of preparation before opportunity. Crafting your CV long before a job opening appears.
Key insights included:
- Contextualize every CV for the specific role.
- Let your CV reflect daily professional choices like upskilling, volunteering, or certifications.
- Live the professional life your CV claims—not just write about it.
The Career Fair provided invaluable exposure to employers and sectors. Nicole Kumbula and Betty Mafemera represented Education Matters with excellence, connecting with scholars and showcasing the role the organization plays in supporting scholars and alumni in the diaspora and in Zimbabwe to find meaningful careers of impact on the African Continent and in Zimbabwe.
Scholars engaged directly with employers like IOM which will be collaborating on sector challenges, and explored sector-specific career pathways in healthcare, education, agriculture, arts, and professional services.
Scholars also engaged with sector leaders in healthcare, education, agriculture, professional services, and the arts where they saw firsthand how their skills and studies can translate into solutions for African challenges.
Jomo Erick, Infrastructure Program Manager, reminded attendees that “it’s only hard until you begin”, encouraging them to not self-eliminate from opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of collaborating with influencers and leveraging social capital.
Culture, Creativity, and Celebration
Beyond the panels and presentations, the event celebrated African creativity and heritage. There were spoken word performances, African traditional dances , and a fashion showcase of Rutendo Georgia Kusano work, demonstrating how culture and career can go hand-in-hand in building Africa’s future. Artists like the Bulawayo-born poet now based in Rwanda used their platforms to speak truth to power and express the aspirations of a generation on the move.
Over a Decade of Accelerating Careers – Introduction to African Leadership Academy and Africa Career Networks
Val Wiggett, Senior Director at African Leadership Academy, broke down ACN’s intentional model for building youth leadership:
- Build Individuals
- Connect Them to Peer Communities
- Link Them to Real Employment Pathways
She reminded attendees that ecosystem building isn’t an abstract concept—it’s a deliberate structure backed by internships, fellowships, and sector networks across seven impactful sectors.
Discussions also delved into manufacturing challenges, intellectual property, and Africa’s place in global competition especially around the flood of cheap imports. These dialogues reinforced the urgency of supporting research, enabling innovation, and backing youth with real investment, not just encouragement.
Takeaways: From Potential to Purpose
Some of the most powerful lessons came in the form of simple yet transformational insights:
- “You are not just potential — you are capable.”
- “We tell young people to build CVs, but not industries. That must change.”
- “Stop trying to survive the system; prepare to transform it.” – Lerato Kubuzie
- “Your education is not just for you—it’s a tool to fix something back home.” – Rebecca Mano
- “Be ready, so when opportunity comes, you’re the missing puzzle piece.” – Tendai Saunyama
Looking Ahead: Building for Legacy
The ACN Regional Event was more than a conference. It was a catalyst for careers of impact, a platform for bold ideas, and a place where young Africans dared to envision a continent led by producers, not consumers; by collaborators, not competitors.
As Faridah Nalunkuuma and Kedei Ibiang demoed ACN’s new Career Platform, they equipped attendees not just with tools, but with hope grounded in action as they led the Accelerate Your Career with ACN – Career Discovery and Sector Success Programs presentation.
Because Africa doesn’t just need more graduates — it needs problem solvers, producers, and transformational leaders.
To the Employers: Be the Change
“Be the employer who doesn’t demand five years of experience, but offers the chance to gain it.”
And to the youth: your dreams are valid. Africa needs your energy, your skills, and your belief that this continent’s best days are not behind—it’s being built, by you.
Stay connected with Africa Career Networks and Education Matters Africa through its Zimbabwe Career Connect Program, your partners in navigating careers of impact across the continent. Whether you’re looking for internships, graduate trainee programs, or professional pathways, the journey continues. Let’s build — together.
