Growing up in Harare, Zimbabwe, Fadzai Priscilla Zonke never imagined she would one day pursue a career in Animal Science. At school, mathematics was her favourite subject and engineering seemed like the obvious path. But life – and a few weekends spent on her family’s small piggery farm – quietly set her on a different course.

The 26-year-old Stellenbosch University (SU) graduate has completed a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Animal Science) and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Agricultural Science (Animal Science), with dreams of one day working in animal breeding and genetics in Europe.

“My dad was an agronomist, so agriculture was always around me growing up,” she explains. “From the age of 11, we would visit the farm every weekend. I enjoyed being around the animals, but I never thought Animal Science would become my career. Looking back now, I guess you cannot really run away from your destiny.”

What excites Fadzai most about her field is the impact that small, thoughtful changes can have on animal wellbeing and productivity. 

“Whether it’s adjusting feeding times, changing handling methods or improving living conditions, small changes can lead to remarkable improvements in animal health and productivity,” she explains. “That’s what keeps me passionate about what I do.”

Alongside the demands of her master’s degree, Fadzai also does part-time, private tutoring in Maths BIO 124 – a first-year university course designed for students in the biological sciences. 

Her long-term goal is to relocate to Europe, where she hopes to work in animal breeding and genetics, either in research or within a breeding company. She also dreams of furthering her studies at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, one of the world’s leading agricultural institutions.

Her dedication and academic excellence have already earned significant recognition. During her undergraduate studies, she received Stellenbosch University’s Senior Merit Bursary in both 2023 and 2024. She was also recognised by the Golden Key International Honour Society, a nonprofit academic society recognising top-performing university students worldwide. 

One of her proudest achievements, however, was being recognised by the South African Society for Animal Science for outstanding academic achievement. 

“That recognition meant a lot because it showed that my hard work was having an impact beyond the university,” she says. “But honestly, one of my biggest achievements was simply completing my degree and graduating in record time. The awards don’t really capture the personal journey behind them.”

For Fadzai, her time at SU also taught her resilience, adaptability and the importance of staying open to change.

“It’s okay if your plans change,” she says. “If I had followed my original plan when I applied to Stellenbosch, I would never have had the opportunities I have today. Changing direction is not failure – sometimes it’s simply redirection towards something better.”

She encourages students to acknowledge their progress, even when it feels small.

“Keep track of everything you accomplish,” she advises. “Write it down somewhere. When you look back after a year, you’ll realise how much you’ve actually achieved, even during seasons when you felt like you were standing still.”

Fadzai credits her faith and her family for helping shape her journey.

“Firstly, I give all the glory to God,” she says. “I believe my abilities and success are gifts from Him. Secondly, I credit my mother and my late father. They sacrificed so much to make it possible for me to study here. My father did not get to see me graduate, but I carry him with me every day.”