Zim Community Trailblazers Awards

Dr Peta: First Zim to obtain Disability Studies PhD

Dr. Peta negotiates the complexities of the multilayered and multidimensional disability and development terrain with remarkable empathy, passion, humility, flexibility, expertise and determination

Published

7 months ago

February 2, 2024

Editor

Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Christine Peta raised the flag of Zimbabwe high by becoming the first Zimbabwean to obtain a PhD in Disability Studies, and the third person on the Continent of Africa to obtain such a qualification.

Dr Peta returned to Zimbabwe from the diaspora in 2018, under a Government of Zimbabwe-UNICEF partnership, to lead the process of making the first National Disability Policy of Zimbabwe, thus contributing greatly towards providing a clear roadmap for disability practice in the country.

A world-renowned disability, policy, research and international development expert, Dr Peta has a heart for disability issues, which dates back to her childhood years.

She has given her life to serving persons with disabilities in both rural and urban areas, including in difficult circumstances such as the 2019 Cyclone Idai period and the COVID-19 period which started when the “virus” arrived in Zimbabwe in March 2020.

During both the Cyclone Idai and COVID-19 periods, Dr. Peta put the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities ahead of hers, in scenarios where she directly interacted and assisted affected persons, including at grassroots level.

She also works to enhance the health and wellbeing of people who acquire disabilities because of landmines, which were planted by colonial forces during the war of liberation.

There is evidence that Dr. Peta negotiates the complexities of the multilayered and multidimensional disability and development terrain with remarkable empathy, passion, humility, flexibility, expertise and determination.

In championing the rights of persons with disabilities, Dr. Peta persistently talks about disability issues – on radio, television, in print media, on social media, on the phone and through one-on-one interaction with others.

She has written a book, book chapters and papers that have been published in scientific journals and that are being used as learning resources, including in universities throughout the world. Dr. Peta is a writer for the Sunday Mail, which publishes her disability articles every week.

Clad with humbleness and adjustability, one can find Dr. Peta sitting under a tree talking to women and children with disabilities or landmine victims with disabilities in a rural community, or making a presentation in a city boardroom with high level executives, or participating in international dialogue on disability rights in the main auditorium of the UN headquarters in New York.

Dr Peta later became the first substantive National Director of Disability Affairs, a position that was created by the Disabled Persons Act (Chapter 17:01) of 1992, but which had been vacant for 28 years, due to lack of the required expertise.

Peta has contributed greatly towards the whole of government and whole of society approach on disability issues, thus fostering closer and orderly tripartite relations between 1) government, 2) organizations of persons with disabilities, and 3) international development partners that include UN Agencies, CBM Global, CBM International and Sight Savers among others. She has been instrumental in creating a place of convergence for all disability actors.

In the SADC region, Dr. Peta works closely with the African Union (AU) Southern Africa Youth Council-Disability Chapter, which is headed by a fellow Zimbabwean with disability, Ambassador Nyasha Nhau, and which focuses on enhancing the wellbeing of SADC youth with disabilities by using a twin-track approach of mainstreaming disability in various thematic areas as well as establishing targeted disability projects.

She is also the:

Chairperson of the State Service Disablement Benefits Board under the State Service (Disability Benefits) Act (Chapter 16:05),

Ex-officio member of the National Disability Board under the Disabled Persons Act (Chapter 17:01).

Chairperson of the National Technical Committee on Disability Inclusion which comprises representatives from all government ministries, organizations of persons with disabilities and development partners that include UN agencies.

Co-chairperson of the “Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Persons with Disabilities Thematic Working Group” under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy II

Co-chairperson of the National Technical Working Group on Disability and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), gender-based violence (GBV), HIV/AIDS and harmful practices (HP),Focal person of the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD).

Breaking News

Zim Community Trailblazers Awards (ZCTA) Call for Entries (5th Edition)

Published

2 months ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

Nominations for the fifth edition of Zimbabwe’s most prestigious community awards, the Zim Community Trailblazers Awards 2024 (ZCTA), will be open from today, Tuesday 2 July 2024 and are closing on 31 November 2024.

The awards, which are aimed at recognising and honouring outstanding achievements within our diverse communities, are a solution-based initiative from Perfection Media (Pvt) Ltd.

The prestigious event is set for Friday 31 January 2025 at the Harare International Conference Centre.

ZCTA 2024 AWARDS CATEGORIES

Tourism and Hospitality
1. Distinguished Tourism Association
2. Distinguished Hotel Brand
3. Distinguished Airline Partner
4. Outstanding Luxury Airport Lounge
5. Outstanding Luxury Cruise Liner
6. Outstanding Tourism Industry Professional
7. Outstanding Tourism Reporter
Agriculture
8. Distinguished Agriculture Inputs Producer
9. Outstanding Agriculture Empowerment Project
10. Outstanding Small Scale Farmer
11. Outstanding Agriculture Reporter
Wildlife
12. Outstanding Safari Operator
13. Outstanding Wildlife Conservation Project
Health Sector
14. Distinguished Medical Centre
15. Distinguished Health Champion
16. Outstanding Pharmaceutical company
17. Outstanding Health Reporter
Education
18. Distinguished Higher and Tertiary Education Institute
19. Outstanding Tertiary Education Technology Hub
20. Outstanding High School
21. Outstanding Educationist
22. Outstanding Education Reporter
Mining
23. Distinguished Miner
24. Outstanding Mining Empowerment Project
25. Outstanding Mining Reporter
Service Delivery
26. Outstanding Urban Municipality
27. Outstanding Rural District Council
Business
28. Distinguished Real Estate company
29. Distinguished Businessman
30. Distinguished Clean Energy Champion
31. Distinguished Telecommunications Company
32. Businessman of the Year
33. Outstanding Construction Company
34. Outstanding Business Couple
35. Outstanding Business Reporter
Community Champions
36. Distinguished Disability Advocacy Champion
37. Distinguished Social Entrepreneur
38. Distinguished Community Leader
39. Distinguished humanitarian organisation
40. Outstanding Anti-Drugs Fight Champion
41. Outstanding Environment Champion
42. Diaspora Community Champion
Media Awards
43. Distinguished Media Association
44. Distinguished Media Company
Sport
45. Distinguished sportsperson
46. Outstanding National Sports Team
47. Team of the Year
Arts
48. Outstanding Literary Work
49. Arts Promotion Champion
50. Outstanding Musician
People’s Choice Award

Eligibility

All trailblazing Zimbabwean individuals, organisations and partners from our local and the Diaspora communities are invited to submit entries for the biggest awards ceremony in the country.

Entries

Potential awardees for the individual awards will present direct entries with their profiles and brief citations demonstrating why their work should be honoured in their chosen category/ies.

Individuals can submit a maximum of one entry/portfolio per category.

Entries are to be submitted by emailing to: zctanominations@gmail.com

Further Enquiries: Cell 0776 963414

Note: The selection panel will highly consider how each nominees’ trailblazing work has positively impacted the community.

Zim Community Trailblazers Awards

Dr Vivek Solanki shines

Dr Vivek Solanki calls on gvt to revisit Zim advertising regulations

Published

6 months ago

March 6, 2024

Editor

Dr Vivek Solanki's speech after winning the Zim Community Trailblazers Distinguished Doctor award

Dr Solanki awards ZCTA acceptance speech

Entertainment

ZCTA Innovative Live Show winner Blessing Deve’s profile

I surrender completely to the Holy Spirit so that He will flow through me at His will to His people

Published

6 months ago

March 2, 2024

Editor

Photo: Shutterstock

Gospel music minister, Worship Leader, Entrepreneur and Women’s Advocate

Summary

Blessing Deve is a gospel music minister and a devoted follower of Christ who is passionate to deliver good news to people across the world in song. She is also an entrepreneur, a business development officer for a thriving media broadcaster and she serves in the worship and women’s ministry in her local church. Blessing is a proud mother of three and an advocate for women.

Background

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Blessing believes her call to the music ministry came at a very tender age. She spent most of her upbringing in church owing to the strong Christian family within which she was raised, which laid a foundation to her deep love for God. It is in that time that the passion to serve God through music was ignited within her and she began participating in various choirs and music groups. Some of the choirs and music groups include: Voices of Worship, a non-denominational music outfit which she founded and codirected, as well as an acapella singing group called Sweet Fellowship within the AFM church where she once served. Blessing currently serves as a worship leader in the United Family International Church (UFIC) choir under the mentorship of Prophet Emmanuel and Prophetess Ruth Makandiwa.

Musical Inspiration

Blessing maintains that the key to her music ministry is simply acknowledging Jesus Christ, the owner of the gift and giving Him centre stage in all she does. Her deep spirituality comes through in each and every song and ministration as she states, “Each opportunity I have to minister, I surrender completely to the Holy Spirit so that He will flow through me at His will to His people”. The goal and major highlight for her is to witness the move of God visibly touching lives and deliverance through moments of ministration.

Although she is deeply Christ-centred in her approach to music, Blessing also draws inspiration from other musicians both internationally and locally in her home country Zimbabwe. Internationally she is inspired by acclaimed worshippers such as Sinach, Cece Winans, Darlene Zschech and the gospel outfit Hillsong. As such, the sound in her music also takes an international feel in line with her vision and desire to touch people across the world. Although she sees the world as her pulpit, Blessing remains profoundly connected within her local Zimbabwean music field drawing inspiration from other fellow local musicians some of whom she has shared the stage with. These include people like Minister Michael Mahendere, Janet Manyowa, Hannah Mapepeta and Jane Doka.

Music Discography

Blessing stepped out as a solo gospel music artist with the release of her debut album God is able in 2016. Craftily produced by exceptionally talented award-winning producer Nigel Nyangombe, the seven-track album captures Blessing’s heart and music outlook. It features songs which draw and point people to God as the source of hope. Blessing says that she wrote and composed these songs at a time when she was going through various transitions in her life where she found comfort and guidance in God who is able. Some of the tracks which still touch many people today include the title track God is able – a song close to Blessing’s heart which reminds people that God is a God of impossibilities. The same album features the song Ngatifare (let us rejoice) which is a song of gratitude. The album was succeeded by a singletrack Zita raJesu (the name of Jesus) produced in 2020, a song that exalts the name of Jesus Christ. Zita raJesu was so well received by the general public that it was recognised on the gospel music charts on major music stations in Zimbabwe including ZiFM Radio and StarFM Radio. Zita raJesu was number one for 6 consecutive on ZiFM Radio.

Following the release and success of Zita raJesu, Blessing successfully hosted a live worship experience in December 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic which she entitled ‘The Blessed Encounter’. She performed and ministered her songs live before a virtual audience who were greatly ministered to and gave positive comments and feedback during and after the event. Videos from the Blessed Encounter are available on her YouTube channel. Blessing is currently in the studio working on her third offering which will be another single release coming out soon.

Accolades and acknowledgements

Blessing was given a prize of a solar kit worth US$1500 for the success of Zita raJesu topping the charts on number one on ZiFM Radio for 6 consecutive weeks. The prize was sponsored by the company Voltman Solar, a major retail and wholesale supplier of renewable energy equipment and systems in Zimbabwe. Since then she has been attracting the interest of corporates, which is not an easy thing for most gospel musicians in Zimbabwe. Other corporates like the chemical and cosmetics brand Kusi Chemicals, a leading manufacturer and distributor of cleaning products, services, and equipment in Zimbabwe, have endorsed Blessing’s music and made her their brand ambassador. The endorsements have included extension of financial and logistical support to her ministry. God’s hand and favour on her ministry is seen in these major endorsements as well as numerous divine helpers supporting her music in various ways.

Other activities

Blessing is a growing adroit business entrepreneur in the beauty industry. She owns a beauty spa called B’s Nail and Beauty Bar, which aims to boost women’s confidence and selfesteem in the area of beauty. Blessing says that seeing her clients happy after a total makeover motivates her to continue improving her services in the nail and beauty business. Blessing is also a Business Development Officer for the giant media broadcaster Christ TV which has a global reach of an estimated 10 million worldwide. Outside music, work and church activities, Blessing enjoys talking to and counselling fellow women and girls in line with her goal to be an advocate for women. She aspires to be a talk show host in the near future and is in the process of writing a book.

Media links

https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/a-song-15-years-in-the-making

https://www.zimetro.co.zw/gospel-diva-blessing-deve-drops-new-project/

Social Media Handles

YouTube: @Blessing Deve

Facebook @Blessing Deve Official

Instagram @blessing_deve

Store Links

Godsent App Buddie beats Apple Music