Let’s keep the winning mentality
A MONTH hardly passes by without one of our young Zimbabwean innovators winning a prestigious award.
The winning culture is now defining us as a proud and resilient nation.
It’s now clear that we hardly lose in every international competition that we participate in.
To be precise, Zimbabwe is a productive nursery for some of the world’s most intelligent and innovative geniuses.
In the education sector, we are ruling the roost as well as creating new records.
Last month, we celebrated the Zimbabwean robotics team, which brought gold home after winning an international competition held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Prior to that, we had a Zim Moot Court team winning two international awards in July in the United States and in Europe.
The high school students made all of us proud and even met President Mnangagwa, who hailed them for flying our national flag high.
Last weekend, nine-year-old Tamar Muchineuta made the nation proud after winning the Little Miss Universe Super Talent contest in Dubai.
Tamar shrugged off stiff competition and a number of distractions to walk to the winners’ podium with pride. She competed against models from 42 other countries.
Despite a nightmarish trip in Dubai, where she was stuck over unpaid hotel bills of US$1780, Tamar got a consolation. Zimbabwean modelling instructor, Mercy Mushaninga, was behind the mess that she encountered.
Tamar’s mother, Shalom Ramunyenyiwa, was also caught up in the mess. The youngster deserves to be pampered with love as a shining star.
The flame she lit should never be allowed to dim.
During the same weekend, Zimbabwean innovator - Tracy Mapfumo - scooped the Small to Medium Enterprise first prize in the African Women in Agribusiness awards.
The awards ceremony was held in Accra, Ghana. She is currently in Michigan, United States, where young innovators are undertaking training and networking with other innovators.
Although many of us got to know her after her triumph, surely such stars should be fully utilised to inspire others.
We need to keep this winning culture alive.
By so doing, we will create a generation of hardworking people who are determined to make an impression and a difference. The winning mentality should become part of our DNA.
However, it’s sad that we don’t keep records of shining stars who continue to lift the country’s flag.
Whether it is out of envy or simply being ignorant, we don’t seem to respect our stars and give them the recognition they deserve.
We should be inspired by our daughters and sons who always make us proud. Appreciating each other is the best way to go since it inspires them to go the extra mile. By doing so, we are also promoting the winning culture which can make Zimbabwe a better place to live.
As proud Zimbabweans, we should be remembered as a nation of winners, who are driven by patriotism and team work. We can’t afford to ignore these little geniuses who have a lot to offer in the turnaround of the country’s fortunes.