Two exceptional students from Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS), Chioneso Mutakiwa and Ausley Takundwa, have been selected as UNESCO O3 Youth Change Makers (2025–2026), making them the only students from Zimbabwe chosen to represent the nation at the regional level.

This prestigious selection places MSUAS on the continental stage as Mutakiwa and Takundwa take part in UNESCO’s Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3 Plus) programme.

The initiative empowers young leaders across Africa to champion youth empowerment, sexual and reproductive

health and rights, gender equality, and the fight against gender-based violence.

Mutakiwa is pursuing a degree in Chemical and Processing Engineering, while Takundwa is studying Mining and Mineral Processing.

Through the programme, the duo will lead advocacy not only within higher and tertiary education institutions, but also in partnership with schools under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, working to build safer, healthier, and more inclusive learning environments across the region.

Their achievement reflects exceptional leadership, active community engagement, and a deep commitment to driving meaningful change in society.

As O3 Youth Change Makers, they will play a vital role in amplifying youth voices, promoting equality, and advancing the vision of education systems that empower all learners to reach their full potential.

This milestone also underscores MSUAS’s commitment to producing socially responsible and globally engaged graduates who apply their knowledge to foster innovation, sustainable development, and positive change in their communities.

Congratulations to Chioneso Mutakiwa and Ausley Takundwa for this outstanding accomplishment, which brings pride to the MSUAS community and to Zimbabwe as a whole, while inspiring a new generation of young leaders determined to shape a brighter future for Africa.