SINANZIWE NDLOVU

Sinanziwe is also known as "Sinazo" is an international speaker, professional MC, mentor, Public Relations and Communications consultant and an entrepreneur who is passionate about uplifting young entrepreneurs through organizing networking events and providing career and life advice to those that need it. She was born in a small town called Mguza in Zimbabwe and has been living in South Africa since the age of 10.

“Giving up is not an option for me.”

Q: Tell us a few things about your country, and also your life's story!

I am a Zimbabwean-born young girl, from Magwegwe in Bulawayo. Magwegwe is a small town where most of the citizens survive through entrepreneurship. I was raised by an entrepreneur, my late mother Sibekiwe Ngwenya. She was a single mother to five children whom she strived to take care of. I saw life better with her around. However, I left Zimbabwe when I was ten and travelled to South Africa to help my sister with her new baby. I stopped school for that year. It was a start of a new life, I had always heard stories about South Africa – I laugh at the memory of everyone saying it had white soil. I arrived after travelling alone at the age of ten.

My life then began in Johannesburg in a small place called Yoeville. My sister lived in one room sharing with another family, the room was divided by a curtain. The scent was different and so was the atmosphere, but I was so happy. Four years later. we received the news that my mother had passed away leaving a one-month-old child and I was incredibly sad. I remember this day like it was yesterday, I was 15 and we had just finished eating supper when a call came from Zimbabwe. That day my fate changed, and my whole life turned upside down. She was my rock and my strength. I had always promised to build her a house someday.

Suddenly my sister had to become the breadwinner and take care of all of us – all four of us and two of her own children. Coming from a family where no one had ever finished grade 7, I had always had a dream to be an educated young woman. This dream was shattered when my sister faced financial strains and could not afford to pay for my studies. It is amazing how life can change in a moment. I realised in that moment that my dreams were up to me, and I had to trust in my dreams. So, I began my fight and journey to education. I remember being chased out of school every day due to non-payment of my fees. But every day I went back. That was until the sun rose in my life and a wonderful man full of wisdom, the director, recognised me and gave me an opportunity to complete high school. Life is a journey, but most of all it is a process that requires patience. As my sister strived to take care of all of us, I strived to achieve my educational dream. I worked hard and prayed hard. I became a prefect, and later head girl. I delivered motivational speeches across different platforms, I became a youth development ambassador. I graduated high school on a great note. I could not go to university due to financial constraints, so it was time to fight again. I worked different jobs to help my family survive. I worked in retail, as a cleaner, and as a shopkeeper. Then one day I got a place in youth leadership development, which placed me in a space where I could motivate young people to achieve their dreams. I was happy again. I was doing something fulfilling.

Life is a process and each stage requires a different version of you. I understood this saying and lived by it. I began to travel, telling the stories African youth to different stakeholders, at different events. I got an opportunity to tell the stories of young people at an Add Hope event. It was amazing. Through that event I was offered a 3-year contract to be an ambassador of Add Hope with KFC South Africa, which included a 3-year scholarship to study at the University of Johannesburg. I am now a qualified PR and Communications Consultant.

My journey is just starting and it is important that I keep fighting. Today, I face different types of challenges that stop me from reaching my destiny and my dreams. Now I run different initiatives to uplift and inspire other young people to fight for their dreams. In the fight against GBV, I run an initiative to strengthen young women to be independent. It is my wish to change lives and serve others.

Q: What was your experience of the global pandemic crisis? Did it change your life and/or your views about the world? If so, how?

Covid-19 was devastating, especially in Africa. It made me remember the environment that I grew up in where seven people lived in one room, all sharing one kitchen and one bathroom. It made me reflect on a lot of circumstances, but most of all it made me participate in foundations that were offering food packages to those in need. 

I realised through the pandemic that very strict analysis must be done before placing restrictions. South Africa has different types of challenges and what may work in America, won’t necessarily work in Africa. For example, we went under lockdown and domestic violence increased rapidly. Social distance was requested from everyone, however many citizens lived in crowded townships where it was impossible. Spiritual places which stood as places of hope were closed, which increased the number of suicides and many people were depressed. It was clear what our government prioritised. It was the economy and not the wellbeing of the people. Many weaknesses in our country systems have been revealed through this pandemic.

There is truly a lot of work to do in Africa. I watched many friends lose their jobs and we received salary cuts that challenged our way of living. I realised that one needs to be business-minded and begin a new journey towards understanding the business world. Only business people survived this pandemic. I also learnt that everything has an end in life, therefore we need to constantly adapt and be ready for change.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

• Youth Unemployment

• Lack of entrepreneurship skills

• Identity documents issue

• Mental slavery, especially among young people 

• Leadership crisis

Q: Can you share with us some of the hurdles that you have had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

I have always believed that nothing is forever, and so my pains and struggles will not last forever. It is because of this that I am strong in faith, that all will be well. Giving up is not an option for me. After the financial crisis, I kept going and had faith that one day my dreams will come true. It is through faith in Mfihlakalo (God).

Q: If you were to ask one thing from our current leaders, what would it be?

To open their eyes and realise that politics alone will not free the people. They need to recognise African spirituality as the key to breaking the chains of mental slavery.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

A mentor is a devil's advocate whose end goal is to stretch me beyond my limits. A mentor helps in making you realise your inner strength and guides you by sharing their wisdom.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

If you have an opportunity to learn from an elder, take it with both hands for they carry wisdom of life. We are always learning.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives!

Dr S B Radebe Foundation

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

GBV and lack of access to entrepreneurial opportunities. However, with foundations like Dr SB Radebe, there are opportunities to educate young women and provide access to jobs. They provide entrepreneurial opportunities through their distribution model. Many NGOs have intervened to educate young women on their rights as women.

Q: Share with us a phrase, a poem or a story that you love or you find interesting!

Everybody is free to wear sunscreen by Baz Lurhammn (A 50-year-old man asked me to listen and do as he says. It was a great feeling and since then it's been my motivation)

"Be a good ancestor" By Fraser Lamp

Q: Can you share with us a project that you would like to make happen for your country or a cause that you are passionate about? 

The Brands By Females project that exists to economically empower young women in business. They offer financial education, share investment opportunities, and provide business education around building empires. This project is currently hosting events to build a network of young women from different communities.