Proud Mom and Daughter Share Graduation Stage

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The UKZN April 2019 Graduation was a proud moment for Mrs Harriet T Mamba and her daughter, Ms Lindelwa T Mamba, who graduated with a Master’s in Public Health and a Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy, respectively.

‘We are excited, especially because we enrolled in different years and never anticipated that we would graduate on the same day,’ said Harriet.

She added, ‘My husband, kids, my mom and siblings are ecstatic about our achievement. The family is planning a thanksgiving.’

Harriet said Lindelwa encouraged her to register at UKZN. They supported each other along the way: ‘When you are studying, there are days that are dark and you feel like giving up, we would encourage each other to focus on the final outcome. We had a motto: “failure is not final but is delayed success”,’ she said.

Family support, commitment and prayer helped them overcome their challenges. ‘The family and church members were praying for us all the time,’ Harriet said.

Lindelwa thanked the Department of Occupational Therapy as well as her house-mates for their support; while Harriet expressed her gratitude to her supervisor, Dr Khumbulani Hlongwana and Dr Anna Voce.

Harriet is currently employed as the National HIV Linkages Co-ordinator in the Eswatini National AIDS Program and Lindelwa, is providing occupational therapy services to children at a private school. She plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, while her mother intends to enroll for her PhD.

Words: Nombuso Dlamini

Photograph: Abhi Indrarajan