Breaking Barriers and Cultivating Change

Breaking Barriers and Cultivating Change

In a remarkable display of perseverance, dedication and leadership, Ms Nosisa Zaca, a PhD candidate in Food Security at UKZN, has achieved extraordinary success that extends beyond lecture halls and classrooms.

As a recent graduate of the prestigious 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Zaca’s participation in the Leadership in Business course at the University of Nevada in the United States marks another chapter in her inspiring journey.

Her story is not just a testament to academic excellence but a celebration of resilience, innovation and her unwavering commitment to empowering communities through sustainable agriculture.

Her stand-out achievements are a source of pride for the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science and UKZN as a whole.

Zaca’s journey began in Richmond in KwaZulu-Natal where her early experiences in the Phatheni area sowed the seeds of her passion for agriculture and sustainability. Helping her mother grow vegetables in their home garden, herding her father’s cattle with her siblings, and participating in gardening activities during her time at Phatheni Primary School laid the foundation for her commitment to improving food security.

Her interest in agriculture deepened during her time at Mkhobeni High School, where studying Agricultural Sciences solidified her desire to pursue a degree in Agricultural Economics at UKZN. Driven by a commitment to finding sustainable solutions to food insecurity and empowering rural farmers, Zaca earned a BA degree in Agricultural Economics with distinctions in several modules, including Development Economics, Orchard Management and Intermediate Econometrics.

It was clear, however, that her achievements up until that point were not easily obtained. Zaca opened up about how she initially faced significant academic setbacks even in high school. ‘I failed Mathematics in matric and that failure temporarily derailed my academic aspirations. Although I was accepted into other degree programmes at UKZN, I was determined to get into the Agricultural Economics programme so I returned to high school to upgrade my Mathematics.’

Thankfully, her determination and hard work paid off. She passed the subject and was accepted into the Agricultural Economics programme at UKZN the following year. Yet, her struggles continued in her first semester during which she failed all her modules. Despite this, she persevered and learned invaluable lessons in resilience and perseverance – qualities that have been crucial throughout her academic, professional and personal journey.

Building on this solid foundation, Zaca went on to complete a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics. Her research focused on understanding the relationship between social grant dependence and the on-farm entrepreneurial behaviour of smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. Throughout her academic career, she has been recognised for her exceptional achievements with multiple scholarships, including prestigious awards that supported her studies and research. One of these was UKZN and the National Research Foundation of South Africa awarding her scholarships. She was also honoured by being invited to join the Golden Key International Honour Society, and served as the fundraising director for the 2021/2022 UKZN Golden Key Executive Committee.

Her studies in Agricultural Economics, which included economics and farm management modules, inspired her to start her own business, La Sisa Farm, in 2020. La Sisa Farm’s innovative approach earned recognition and funding in the 2022 UKZN InQubate ENSPIRE Business Innovation Challenge. In 2023, she completed the Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Leadership Centre-Southern Africa (YALI RLC-SA) programme under the Business and Entrepreneurship Development track. These successes, among others, led to Zaca’s selection for the prestigious 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders programme. This transformative experience, which took place in the United States of America (USA), further enhanced her leadership and business skills.

During the Fellowship, Zaca completed the Leadership in Business course at the University of Nevada in Reno, gaining skills in business and entrepreneurship, including running a sustainable business and understanding innovation principles. Engaging with young leaders from sub-Saharan Africa and United States professionals expanded her network and opened new opportunities for the La Sisa Farm. A notable highlight of the Fellowship was introducing South Africa’s legendary, five-time Grammy Award-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo on stage at the 29^th Annual Artown Festival in Reno. This experience significantly enhanced her public speaking and presentation skills.

She says sharing the stage with Beth Macmillan, the Executive Director of Artown, was an honour.

Reflecting on her journey, Zaca shared that she was deeply grateful for all the good – and bad – experiences that have shaped her path. She believes that her journey is a testament to the idea that, ‘everything occurring in our lives has been perfectly orchestrated to inspire our maximal evolution as human beings and bring us where we are meant to go.’

She thanked Jesus Christ for being her pillar of strength and for His unconditional love and grace, and also her family and friends for their unwavering support, and her mentors, including Professor Edilegnaw Wale Zegeye, Dr Mjabuliseni Ngidi, Dr Unity Chipfupa, and Dr Lavhelesani Rodney Managa, for their invaluable guidance.

Words: Ciki Gwambe

Photograph: Supplied