Thatcher's Lounge

HARARE – A Zimbabwean student who scored five As at “A” Level is heading to Harvard University in the US in August. Terrens Muradzikwa achieved top grades in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Economics and Business Studies. He had previously gained 16 As at “O” Level. The 19-year-old said he had received an offer from the American university Harvard, one of the world’s leading tertiary institutions, and plans to study Computer Science from August, possibly in conjunction with Economics.

Terrens Muradzikwa and fellow students on Usap programme

Muradzikwa has received a four-year scholarship to study at Harvard university under the United States Achievers Programme (USAP), an initiative of the US Embassy Education Advising Centre to assist academically gifted but economically disadvantaged students.

Born on 16 December 1994, Muradzikwa is a moderately built, down-to-earth boy, very accommodating, without a trait of arrogance or pomp.

He was a student at Marist Nyanga Boys High School, commonly known as Nyanga High, which attained a 100 percent pass rate in 2013.

In 2011 when he attained 16 As at “O” Level, he was awarded the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo scholarship, a fund which sponsors Zimbabwean students who demonstrate high academic excellence and responsive community leadership.

Muradzikwa said he hopes one day he will use the knowledge and experience he will gain in the US to improve the lot of Zimbabweans and Africans.

He owes his success to God, mental support by parents, school and programmes that he is a member of.

Lazarus Dokora, the minister of Primary and Secondary Education, who graced the 2013 Prize Giving Day at Nyanga High, described Muradzikwa as an exceptional young man who makes Zimbabwe proud and “is surely destined for greatness.” Daily News