It’s not for the faint-hearted – any of it. The single parenting, studying molecular biology to the master’s level, trying to make a success of oneself in a crumbling economy where almost everyone with a profession is fleeing to neighbouring countries or abroad.
But this 40-year-old hailing from the small village of Nemangwe in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe dared to attempt the “impossible”. She’s done so with the greatest elan possible too, earning the very rare accomplishment of getting her MSc upgraded to a PhD because it was simply just so good.
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The eldest of three siblings, Rachiel obtained a BSc Honours Degree in Biological Sciences from Midlands State University in Zimbabwe in 2005 but could not continue with her studies due to a lack of grants and bursaries. She ended up working as a laboratory assistant at Hwange Colliery Hospital Laboratory and teaching mathematics, physical science and biology to high school learners.
Although that was never really part of the original game plan for her career, Rachiel says she is grateful for having had the opportunity to teach. “Teaching was an incredibly worthwhile experience as it boosted my confidence, taught me to be patient with pupils, creative and above all, it gave me a good sense of humour.”
Two years later as the economic state got more and more dire in Zim, the single mother of two boys decided to move to South Africa to further her studies. But funding was hard to come by as a non-citizen.
To make ends meet, Rachiel offered private after-school lessons to learners and also did part-time tutoring with Education Matters in Cape Town before taking a job as a secretary at Forest Creations (Pty) Ltd, a woodwork company in the City.
Her faith in God also kept her going, she tells Drum.
“When things got tough, I kept reminding myself that I am doing this for my kids,” she says.
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“I relied mainly on my faith as I juggled raising my two boys and pursuing my studies. I believe that God himself placed my supervisors Prof Michele Miller and Dr Tanya Kerr in my path to support me professionally and personally and to help me reach the pinnacle of academic success.”
When Prof Michele Miller from Stellenbosch University’s (SU’s) Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics in 2018 sought a new student to join the Animal TB Research Group, Rachiel immediately applied. Miller would later become her supervisor along with Dr Tanya Kerr from the same division.
“When I joined the group in 2019, my dream of continuing my studies became a reality,” says Rachiel.
“After obtaining her BSc Honours in Molecular Biology from SU in 2019, Gumbo enrolled for a MSc in the same field. Such was the quality of her research, that the master’s was upgraded to a PhD,” according to the SU.
“This is a remarkable and rare achievement in academia. While busy with her doctorate, Gumbo published seven articles in international academic journals and received a prestigious scholarship from the Germany Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).”
