Tawanda Collins Muzamwese, from Chitakatira to glo...

Tawanda Collins Muzamwese, from Chitakatira to global sustainability figure

Edmore Zvinonzwa

International consultant Tawanda Collins Muzamwese is an environmental, health, energy expert whose name cannot be left out when you talk about versatility.

Tawanda was born of an engineer father and a teacher – the first child in a family of three – in Mutasa District in the eastern Highlands and grew up at Chitakatira in Zimunya communal lands where he did his primary education.

“At an early stage, both my parents left the country to pursue tertiary education – with my father going to the then Soviet Union while my mother was in Cuba. As such, my early years were spent living with my grandparents,” says Tawanda about his upbringing.

Tawanda, who turned 37 last weekend, is married to Ruvimbo Patience Muzamwese and together they have a beautiful daughter – Maya Tadiswa. He is an avid lover of football who travelled to Qatar to watch the 2022 World Cup and he also does music.

He believes his early years at Chitakatira Primary School, a humble institution, shaped who he is today with the desire to achieve excellence.

After a long absence, his parents returned to establish themselves permanently in Harare and he would occasionally visit them during the holidays, eventually moving schools and joining David Livingstone Junior School from 1996. For his high school, he went to St Augustine’s (KwaTsambe).

“My time at St Augustine’s therefore becomes quite a symbolic period in my life because it then shapes the bigger part of my character, resilience an Anglican institution built around moral values, respect, belief, brotherhood and sharing, brotherhood, religion and spirituality qualities that are difficult to find in today’s young people,” Tawanda said.

Tawanda says today, schools have a bias towards sciences but one can succeed in every field. “As we do career guidance for children, we should do that with an open mind. My parents wanted me to be a medical doctor but after “A” Level, I missed Medical School by a couple of points and went to study Applied Environmental Science. The challenge that many see is that when they see other people succeed, they push their children into those careers. We must never push our children into particular disciplines.”

After cutting a frustrated figure in the first weeks at the University of Zimbabwe, Tawanda found peace after researching on the Applied Environmental Science programme. “I discovered that environmental issues were becoming significant. I actually found that I was in the right place and made up my mind that I would graduate with very good grades. I spent three years at the University of Zimbabwe. I am a philosophical person, I am self-motivated, thrive on challenges, keen to make history, especially in difficult circumstances,” he said

In 2008, Tawanda graduated with a First Class and as the top student in the programme. His earlier disappointment with the programme was out of ignorance and he says that is a problem with most parents face. “They force their children into programmes they have limited information about. It was during this period that this obsession of going international. My father passed on a year later in 2009.”

Tawanda is one person who took advantage of the stringent Covid-19 restrictions to pen five books. “When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, I began to take my writing seriously and I have written five books now since the March 2020.

“I also launched the Green Business Gazette, the only environmental magazine from the private sector. But, we have only just begun.

“In 2009, I announced my arrival in the environmental career. I worked for Scientific and Industrial Research and development Centre as a research scientist focussing on environmental issues, helping companies with waste water, pollution chemicals, helping companies comply with Environmental Management Agency regulations. I got a scholarship to do a Mater’s in Environment and Energy Management with the University of Twente – a multi-cultural institution – from the Dutch government. It was interesting to go to The Netherlands, one of the greenest economies in the world – a place that taught me efficiency. It was my first time in Europe and provided me with a rare opportunity of exposure and learning to tolerate others.

“The people who succeed are those who dream, people who take risks even in the Bible there are examples.

“I went to Germany for my internship. That same boy from Chitakatira was now in Europe.”

“I came back to Zimbabwe in 2011 after receiving my Master of Science degree with a Cum Laude, the highest level of academic accomplishment, which in other words could be referred to as a distinction.

“I worked for just about a year before leaving employment at the age of 27 on 28 February, 2013. The inspiration was my background and I had decided not to work over five years. It was not an easy decision to make. Many friends, relatives were surprised at the move but I told them that my purpose was not to be transformed but to be a transformer, a conformer not to conform and register Toxiconsol and this is the company that I lead. The name Toxiconsol: African Sustainability Consultancy came up while I was in the second year at the University of Zimbabwe.

“Today, Toxiconsol employs a number of young people here again showing that dreams can be achieved. We started without a single chair.

“We help investors with time expanded into health and safety as well as quality management and ISO certification.

“I advise companies, development banks and governments. In the past, I have served as Director for Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe. I lectured at the University of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Institute of Management.

Tawanda said one can still make an impact in their own country. “I want to be part of that process of building my country. Besides, today with remote working, you can support global organisations from anywhere in the world. I also respect the aspect of family and Ubuntu, things you do not find in other places.”

Only towards the end of last year, Tawanda travelled to the United States as a recipient of the US State Department’s Professional Fellows Programme Alumni Impact Award, along with three others Mary James Gill (Pakistan), Cindy Geselle Regidor Rodriguez (Nicaragua) and Macdonald M Metzger (USA).

The award is given for the work individuals would have made in their communities and for Tawanda, it was for his work in sustainability in Zimbabwe.

He said of the award: “The award remains an inspiration to many people from humble beginnings. What is important is not where you begin but where you end. I started rural and turned global. Zimbabwe has many people who can achieve. Within our own country, we have individuals who can steer the country’s development. The biggest message, however, is that no one is coming to deliver Africa from its problems, from its poverty, among other ills but should take charge of its own development.”