Board Members
Takanyi Garanganga
Founder
Born in Mbare, Harare (Zimbabwe), Takanyi Garanganga learned to play tennis at the age of six. He completed his primary school education at Alexandra Park in Harare. In 2003 he attended Prince Edward High School for one year before moving to Atlanta, USA to develop his tennis further. While in the United States he completed Pre-University courses by 2010 with Keystone High School in Pennsylvania, USA. In 2020 he completed several University courses on the Associations of Tennis Professionals (ATP) learning platform.
Takanyi is one of the top tennis players in Zimbabwe and has been an integral part of the Davis Cup Team since aged 16. In 2008, he won the African Junior Championship in Gaborone and reached No. 17 in the world junior tennis rank. He won a Gold Medal at the 2011 Maputo All-Africa Games. Has won several men’s singles International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments and reached multiple Semifinals and Quarterfinals on the ATP Challenger Tour reaching a ranking of No. 288 on the ATP World Tour. Takanyi is a certified advanced players coach through the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Takanyi created Total Greatness International (TGI), which is a youth-centered development organization promoting education, skills development and life leadership skills.
MR Mike J Maketho
Co- Founder
A humanitarian specialist with over 13 years’ experience in program development, management and implementation. Mike has practical experience of working with teams providing leadership and technical advice on a wide range of program and policy issues including assessment and analysis, needed developments and testing of innovative approaches and the development of strategies. Mike has worked for a number of International and National Organizations and the United Nations in various capacities and has been actively involved in various technical assignments instrumental for the formulation and implementation of several programs in the development sector in Southern Africa.
Mike has excellent understanding of youth empowerment, community development as well as fundraising and resource mobilization. He also has experience in developing and maintaining partnerships as well as communication. Mike is passionate about sport development and strategy. His love for tennis started at the age of seven when he was introduced to the sport. He represented Midlands province at Junior level. His passion for creating opportunities for young tennis players to reach the highest level is what prompted him to co found Total Greatness International. As a co-founder of Total Greatness, Mike envisions an organization that will make a lasting impact in the lives of thousands of youths. Academically, Mike is a holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies (Midlands State University), Master of Science in Peace and Governance (Bindura University) as well as a Master of Arts in Development Studies (Midlands State University).
Ambassador Dr Faith Nyamukapa
Chairperson
Ambassador Dr Faith Nyamukapa (nee Katsonga) is a dedicated, young, christian , multi-award winning entrepreneur in Zimbabwe whose efforts have been recognized both locally, regional and internationally. She is married to Allen Nyamukapa, an Entrepreneur and Trained Pastor and have 3 children. She is a holder of 2 Doctorate degrees in Business Leadership (Women’s University in Mauritius) and Humane Letters (International Institute of Philanthropy), Honorary Masters in Business Leadership (Women’s University in Mauritius), Executive Masters Degree in Business Administration and Degree in Accountancy (Honors) Degree from Africa University. Dr Faith Nyamukapa has represented the country in various ways on different platforms locally, regionally and internationally since 2016.
She has attained over 80 awards and recognitions as part of her achievements. She is into Education and Training, Capacity building, Women Empowerment, Youth Empowerment, Community Development, Livelihoods programs, Early Childhood Development and Community initiatives locally and regionally which include the support of children, the girl and boy child and livelihoods. She is a strategist, an Accountant by profession, Auditor by practice, Mentor and Inspirational speaker by passion, a Social Media Marketer by passion and experience, a Leader, a Writer, Publisher and devout Christian.
Mr Abisai Chingwecha
Treasurer
Mr Abisai Chingwecha is the Chief Finance Officer of Amalgamate Regional Trading (ART). Mr Chingwecha is a qualified and certified public accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science Degree and is a Fellow of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants.
He has extensive experience in the retail and manufacturing sectors having worked for several companies in the clothing, chemicals and detergents, steel fabrication, printing and plastic industries. He holds a BCompt degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and an MBA from the University of Roehampton, United Kingdom. Mr Chingwecha is a keen golfer and a family man, married with two children.
Mrs Sheillah Essof
Board Member
Mrs Sheillah Essof is the founder of “Give Life Foundation” a Non-Profit Organization which mostly survives on donations. Her initiatives rehabilitate children living with Disabilities, Down Syndromes, HIV mothers and Children, Widows, and Cerebral Palsy. She has assisted at a Private Hospital where she was Counseling Drug Abusers, HIV Patients, Down Syndromes and children living with disabilities. As a business woman she runs a clothing manufacturing company, Legacy Wear (Pvt) Ltd specializing mostly in Protective and Promotional Wear. Her formal education begun at Chitsere Primary School and secondary at Harare High School in Mbare, Zimbabwe.
Sheillah attended The University of Zimbabwe for a Marketing Degree and furthered her education with a Diploma in IMM (Institute of Marketing Management) in South Africa. For a time she also lived in Coventry, England attending Henley College, and completed a Diploma in Nursing (Specializing in Psychiatric Rehabilitation). A mother of two girls she relishes being part of TGI. Through experience from interacting with many vulnerable children some without both parents, she found TGI on the right trajectory in aiming for inclusive growth and equality.
Tendai Mashamhanda
Board Member
Qualifications: Bachelor of Social Science in Organizational Psychology and Economics, Bachelor of Commerce Economics Honours and Masters In Financial Markets In Economics all degrees attained from Rhodes University. Profession: Director at Mashwede Holdings. Description of Company: Mashwede Holdings has various subsidiaries with vast interests in Real Estate ,Leasing of earth moving equipment, Fuel Distribution,Property Development,Mining and the supply of various commodities to local authorities and government.
Tendai Mashamhanda is involved in the daily operations of the business. Interests and Hobbies:Playing basketball,tennis,golf and reading. Academic Endeavors: Tendai Mashamhanda is currently studying a BCOMM in Law with Unisa University. In 2022 he aims to publish his Masters Thesis in Economics focused on the Role of FDI on economic growth in Zimbabwe. Tendai Mashamhanda is a family man and a devout Christian
Rebecca Manford
Board Member
Rebecca Manford is a young leader who is passionate about women and youth empowerment. Currently, she serves as the Chief Finance Officer of Cavendish Lloyd Zimbabwe. Her current portfolio is over Finance and Operations. She is a qualified chartered certified accountant (ACCA) and also holds a Bachelor in Accounting Science Degree (UNISA). She has continued to further her studies with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with the University of Suffolk (UOS). She has experience in external auditing, internal auditing, financial accounting, cost accounting and treasury with a career spanning over many years including very large conglomerates in Zimbabwe.
She has been dubbed an all-rounder also having experience in Administration, Human Resources, Shipping/logistics and procurement. She is passionate about the plight and welfare of young people and is involved in various initiatives that empower and inspire them. Manford is a public/motivational speaker and also a renowned gospel singer. She is a strong advocate for health and lifestyle and is a fitness fanatic. She plays golf and is a member of the Marden singers.
Petronella Nyamapfene
Board Member
Petronella Nyamapfene is a Senior Lawyer with over twenty years’ experience in both the practice of law and civic society. Her career started in the private law firms as a junior lawyer wherein she gained experience to litigate in all the courts of Zimbabwe. This exposed her to the practices and procedures of both the civil and criminal justice system of Zimbabwe. After the first five years of purely private practice she also exposed herself to Civic Society wherein she became more involved in the development of laws and policies around women and children. Her major strength is in analyzing and monitoring whether the laws as they are applied and implemented are in line with the lived realities of women and children in Zimbabwe. In addition, she lectured International Law at the University of Zimbabwe from 2007-2009 which helped to develop her interest in training. In the year 2008 she participated in the International Visitors Leadership Program through the State Department of the United States of America. She is one of the lawyers who has been requested by government, civic society nationally and regionally to present and offer technical support on women, children and the law.
Petronella has sat on various Boards of corporates, parastatals and nonprofit making organizations among them Africa Community Publishers, Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust, and The Anti-Domestic Violence Council and currently she is serving as a Board member for Media Monitors thus she has knowledgeable in corporate governance of institutions. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law in the year 2001 from the University of Zimbabwe. She is also a holder of an MSc in International Relations (University of Zimbabwe 2006) and a Masters in Women’s Law. Petronella was admitted to practice law in Zimbabwe in October 2001 wherein she was registered as a Legal Practitioner, Notary Public and Conveyancer.
MR Pascal Holliger
Advisory Team
Mr. Pascal HOLLIGER (Swiss citizen) was born in Brazil in 1980 and grew up in various countries including Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA. In 1999, he and a friend cycled from Morocco to Switzerland in a fundraising campaign for the NGO Doctors of the World. In 2001 he co-founded an NGO called IMBEWU, through which for a decade he worked in the field of youth education and development through sport, mostly in South African townships. In 2004, IMBEWU became the first implementing partner of the newly formed RogerFedererFoundation, and played an important role in bringing the 2010 FIFA World Cup event to the grassroots through programs that engaged youth from underprivileged urban and rural areas.
Mr. Holliger graduated in 2007 with a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. In 2011 he joined the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. After a year at the Department’s headquarters in Bern (policy unit and election-support), he was posted to the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria as Senior Political Adviser, where he led Switzerland’s peace policy activities, both bilaterally with Nigeria and regionally with ECOWAS. This included peace mediation, conflict transformation, elections, humanitarian aid and human rights. He initiated and coordinated Switzerland’s mandate of facilitating dialogue between the Nigerian Federal Government and the Boko Haram insurgents, leading among others to the successful release of hundreds of hostages. In 2019 he moved to Harare, Zimbabwe, where he currently leads the Swiss Embassy’s peace policy and human security program (political dialogue, national healing, elections, and security sector governance). Mr. Holliger is also a member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA). Privately, he is an avid traveller and sports fan – especially tennis and football. He is married and has two children aged 11 and 9.