Old Mutual rewards Zimbabwe’s top mathematics students
ROBIN PHIRI
Financial services giant Old Mutual Zimbabwe, in partnership with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, on Friday honoured the country’s top mathematics students at a prize-giving ceremony held in Harare.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company Managing Director, Rutendo Magorimbo, described the event as a testament to collective investment in Zimbabwe’s next generation of innovators.
“Over the years, many Olympiad participants have gone on to become leading engineers, scientists, actuaries, and innovators shaping industries and solving problems here at home and around the world. That legacy continues today,” Magorimbo said.
She added: “At Old Mutual, we believe that confidence in the future begins with investment in young minds. Mathematics teaches discipline, creativity, and resilience — the very skills our country needs as we build a modern, knowledge-driven economy.”
Representing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Moses Mhike, director Innocent Chishumba described the Olympiad as both a celebration of academic excellence and a model of how collaboration among government, academia, and the private sector can advance national development.
“The Ministry recognises that programmes of this nature are fully in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the Heritage-Based Curriculum, both of which seek to produce competent, innovative, and patriotic citizens capable of driving the nation’s industrialisation and modernisation agenda. Mathematics, as the foundation of science, technology, and innovation, lies at the heart of this transformation,” Mhike said.
He revealed that the ministry is developing a comprehensive STEM Strategy to coordinate and monitor science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education across all levels of schooling.
“The ministry now seeks to harmonise and take the lead in all Olympiads — be they in Mathematics, Science, or other related fields — working closely with partners like the UZ and Old Mutual Zimbabwe to ensure inclusivity, quality, and sustainability. We want these initiatives to reach every corner of our country, from urban schools to the most remote rural communities, so that every learner has the opportunity to discover and develop their potential,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Mathematics Development Projects (ZMDP) also recognised outstanding achievers, noting the programme’s alignment with Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) and International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) standards.
As part of its long-term vision, the ZMDP aims to train between 10 and 20 teachers per province each year to establish mathematics clubs that nurture curiosity and confidence among learners.
Winners were praised for their perseverance and dedication, while educators and parents were commended for their essential role in nurturing young mathematical talent.
