In a global era where leadership and visibility are often confused, Courtney Tadivanashe Jongwe represents a different model of influence. Rooted in systems, services and long-term national impacts.
Crowned Miss World Zimbabwe and Miss Earth Zimbabwe 2023, Jongwe has used her global platform not as an endpoint, but as an entryway to a deeper mission. Her work focuses on mental health reform, youth well-being, and community-led development through her organization, Sanctuary.ZW. This is an expansion of our commitment to mental health that addresses one of Zimbabwe’s most urgent and under-discussed challenges.
For Jongwe, the title was never the destination.
“Becoming Miss World Zimbabwe was the realization of a lifelong dream,” she explains. “But as I grew, I realized that a platform only mattered if it was aligned with purpose. It became an opportunity to serve, uplift, and leave something meaningful behind.”
That sense of purpose is shaped by a context that has little to do with pageantry. Jongwe is trained in chemical engineering. Chemical engineering is a discipline that shapes how she approaches leadership, policy, and influence.
“Engineering teaches you to understand systems, identify gaps, and optimize outcomes,” she says. “I apply the same idea to leadership: don’t reinvent everything; refine, enhance, and sustainably scale what exists.”
She founded Sanctuary.ZW after seeing troubling national patterns with this system-driven mindset. Rising suicide rates, increased drug and substance abuse, and a culture of silence about mental health, especially among young people, have revealed structural rather than individual problems.
“We often deal with the visible symptoms without confronting the underlying mental health issues that are causing the symptoms,” Jongwe points out. “We felt we had to focus on the root causes rather than surface-level effects.”
Sanctuary.ZW prioritizes the creation of a therapeutic community that is not centered solely on raising awareness, but is an intentional choice grounded in African values.
“Awareness alone is not enough,” she explains. “Healing happens through community. This approach reflects Ubuntu’s idea of healing with and through community. This builds ownership, continuity, and long-term resilience.”
Mental health in Zimbabwe is starting to be discussed in public, but access to resources remains limited, she says. Research shows that one in five young Zimbabweans experience mental health problems, with depression being the most common. Despite increased conversations, biases and institutional gaps remain.
In the international space, Jongwe often challenges assumptions not only about Zimbabwe, but about African women more broadly.
“There is a deep-seated belief that they are incompetent,” she says. “African women are often underrepresented globally. We will work twice as hard to get half the credit. But opportunities should be given based on ability, not race or background.”
Her visibility through flamboyant production is thus translated into careful action. Jongwe prioritizes partnerships with institutions that align with his mission and collaborates with other competition leaders to expand impact beyond borders. These global networks allow Sanctuary.ZW to scale while remaining locally grounded.
But what surprised her most was the response from the young people themselves.
“They understood the mission right away,” she says. “They showed up with skill, time and dedication. Young people are not indifferent. They are waiting for a platform that respects their intelligence and purpose.”
Fulfilling public responsibilities requires discipline. Jongwe is passionate about taking care of his mental health through faith, family, physical activity, reflection, and rest.
“My relationship with God keeps me stable,” she says. “I am constantly aware of my emotional state and look for healthy ways to take care of my mind.”
When representing Zimbabwe on the international stage, credibility is non-negotiable.
“I show up as an unapologetically African person,” she explains. “My race doesn’t disqualify me. It empowers me. I represent girls who are still discovering their place in the world.”
Her message to Zimbabwe’s youth is direct.
“Your dreams are valid. Circumstances do not determine your future. Courage, persistence, and faith do.”
Jongwe sees mental health not as an isolated social issue, but as an economic and developmental issue.
“A healthy mind builds a healthy nation,” she says. “For Africa to develop, mental health must be treated as basic infrastructure, not an afterthought.”
Looking ahead, her long-term vision for Sanctuary.ZW is expansive, but precise. She plans to establish fully equipped community mental health centers across Zimbabwe and eventually across Africa. These centers integrate healthcare, sports, technology, and wellness programs into accessible community hubs.
Success, she insists, is not measured by titles.
“The title ends. The impact lives on,” she says. “Success is growth and life change.”
At a time when leadership across the continent is being redefined, Courtney Tadivanashe Jongwe represents a new archetype. A world where service precedes status, systems outlast the spotlight, and where national progress begins with mental health.
Voice of Africa Insights
Zimbabwe, like the rest of the continent, is a young country. The challenges cannot be measured in comparison to countries whose institutions have matured over centuries. Leaders who build patiently, invest in people, and address fundamental issues like mental health are shaping a future defined by possibility, not comparison.
