The ManicaPost
By Ray Bande Senior Reporter
MUTARE Polytechnic has over the years led by example in offering quality tertiary education to its students and the various awards the college has won are ample testimony to this assertion.
The college and its leadership has been a recipient of the Outstanding Public Service Leader of the Year Award and they have also outshone competitors to land the 2017 Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Entrepreneurship Award.
As if that was enough, at the 2017 Women Leadership Awards (WOLA), Mutare Polytechnic principal, Ms Poniso Watema, scooped the Women Leadership Excellence Academic Institution of the Year.
The award is presented by the Women’s Heritage Society Organisation in conjunction with Zimbabwe Business Awards Council.
In her award acceptance speech in March this year, Ms Watema said this was a fulfilment of a childhood dream.
“I feel extremely honoured and appreciative for receiving this significant award – the Women’s Top Leadership Excellence Award Special Recognition in Higher and Tertiary Education – while Mutare Polytechnic receives the Women leadership Excellence Academic Institution of the year.
“I should admit I was a bit surprised when I learned about my nomination. Without false modesty, I feel that other leaders and institutions who are also worthy of these awards, especially being the first female principal in polytechnics where most of my colleagues are males, However, I realise that it can’t be divided into many, so again I want to express my gratitude to you. I am very pleased to receive this award.
“(The saying) ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ has always been my one of my childhood dreams to stand in front of many people accepting an award recognising my qualities and achievements. So, today you are present at the fulfilment of my dream. I can’t express my excitement and inspiration with this award. Then, in the years of my unclouded childhood I couldn’t imagine how interesting my life would be. Of course, I faced a lot of challenges but I succeeded to overcome them and gained outstanding experience,” she said.
She noted that the award boosts her confidence as well as those under her leadership at Mutare Polytechnic.
“Ladies and gentlemen, these awards boost my confidence and inspiration to realise my dreams in developing innovative and creative artisans, technicians technologists who stand a chance to contribute to industrialisation and modernisation of our country, thereby contributing to the GDP.
“My leadership journey is to make sure that female students are taking courses in those areas that are said to male dominated fields like Engineering and Civil and Construction Engineering. At Mutare Polytechnic we are giving priority in these courses.
“Moreso, we train human capital with skills and competencies empower them to be job creators and not job seekers because the Technical Vocational Education Training that they would have gone through allows them to do so.
“Most importantly, I want to thank all the superb staff and students of Mutare Polytechnic who have allowed me to lead them. Those people are the real award winners! I also want to express my gratitude to my family, who have supported me in all my undertakings, and all of you who make this organisation so successful. Thank for your choice and for your trust in me and Mutare Polytechnic. I will do my best to justify your trust and contribute to skilled human capital development,” she said.
