PHOTOS: Meet the youngest female Ph.D. holder in Africa: Musawenkosi Saurombe

Musawenkosi Saurombe is 23-year old Zimbabwean and currently holds the enviable title as Africa’s youngest Ph.D. holder, she studied in
South Africa and is now a higher education ambassador for Botswana.

Her Personal and familial sacrifices contributed largely to the academic journey that has earned her a doctorate degree in Industrial Psychology.

Musawenkosi is the first person to admit that her journey took a lot of psyching up to navigate through all the social pressures before reaching this level. She said, If I had "listened to what people said about my gender, age or race, I wouldn't have taken some of the bold steps that I took along the road.

“I remember one time, My father had to sell his car just to get me money through my 3rd year of study not forgetting some of the general social challenges being the youngest in my class,” Musawenkosi told News24 Beautiful News page.


Musawenkosi gained admission into the University at the age of 15 and at 19years, she attained her bachelor's degree and went ahead for her graduate studies. "I never thought I will one day be the youngest woman to have a Doctorate in Africa. I never envisaged that at the youngest age of 23, I would have a Ph.D. in industrial psychology,’ she said.

Saurombe left her native country, Zimbabwe with the intention to pursue tertiary education in South Africa. The North-West University which she attended is one of South Africa’s largest Universities.
 Today the institution takes the credit of giving birth to Africa’s youngest Ph.D. holder.

She's currently working as a post-doctoral researcher. She added that; "What motivates me in life is my responsibility to be good to any person I meet along the way. am now working as a post-doctoral researcher and a youth activist tasked to ensure that others people can reach their interests and their goals’.

Advice to young people

“As young people, it's very important to gather the right character traits, do not let anyone anywhere tells you that you are sub standard to society or unworthy of having a dream, so be bold, be daring and aggressive in your pursuit of excellence.”