By Staff ReporterGreat Zimbabwe University (GZU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Masvingo Root of Development Organization Trust (MaRODO) in a move aimed at strengthening mental health support, research and community outreach programmes for young people in Masvingo Province.The agreement, signed on May 18, 2026 brings together the university’s academic expertise and MaRODO’s community-based youth initiatives under the Helping Everyone Achieve Robust Thoughts and Souls (HEARTS) programme.The initiative seeks to address the growing mental health challenges affecting young people, including depression, drug and substance abuse, anxiety and suicide.GZU Registrar Dr Sinikiwe Gwatidzo signed the agreement on behalf of the university, while MaRODO founder and executive director Acknowledge Mawere represented the youth-led organisation.Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mawere emphasised the importance of prioritising mental health in national development efforts.“Everything begins with the mind. Mental health is foundational to human wellbeing, productivity, peace and development. We are building a generation where asking for help is accepted, where speaking out is normalized and where emotional vulnerability is not viewed as weakness. Through partnerships such as this one, we envision a Masvingo Province with zero suicide cases and reduced crime linked to mental health challenges,” said Mawere.Mawere appealed to development partners, corporates, researchers, non-governmental organisations and well-wishers to support the initiative.“MaRODO is not merely youth-led, but results-driven and impact-driven. Investing in mental health is not an expense; it is an investment in peace, productivity, human capital and national development,” he said.GZU Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Business Development and Industrialisation Professor Marian Tukuta said the partnership should go beyond ceremonial commitments and result in meaningful programmes that positively impact communities.She also commended the Julius Nyerere School of Social Sciences, which will oversee the collaboration, for actively pursuing partnerships with community-based organizations that work directly with young people.The partnership comes at a time when mental health concerns among youths are increasingly becoming a national issue, particularly in urban communities and tertiary institutions. Stakeholders in the health and education sectors have raised alarm over the rise in substance abuse and mental health-related cases affecting young people across Zimbabwe.Through the HEARTS initiative, the two institutions aim to promote a mentally healthy and resilient youth population by providing psychosocial support, mental health education, research opportunities and improved access to affordable care services. The programme will target schools, communities and tertiary institutions throughout Masvingo Province.GZU will provide academic and technical support to the programme including training peer educators, supporting research projects and encouraging student participation in community outreach activities. The university will also make selected facilities, including lecture rooms, innovation hubs and libraries, available for joint programmes and engagements.MaRODO, on the other hand, will lead community outreach programmes and coordinate the training of youth peer educators. The organisation also plans to establish youth empowerment hubs that will serve as safe spaces for counselling, mentorship and resilience-building activities for young people.In addition, the organisation will spearhead advocacy campaigns and digital awareness initiatives aimed at reducing stigma surrounding mental health. Working together with GZU, MaRODO will also help translate academic research into practical community interventions in line with Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 framework.The two institutions are also expected to jointly host workshops, leadership seminars, mentorship programmes and mental health awareness campaigns designed to strengthen youth wellbeing and community resilience..
