Some stories are not just told — they stand as evidence of what is possible when courage meets opportunity.
This is one of those stories.
A childhood shaped by loss
Dr. Julieth Gudo was born in Zaka District, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. In 1997, when she was only seven years old, her world collapsed. Her parents passed away just a month apart. Her mother followed shortly after her father, unable to cope with the loss.
She was taken in by her paternal grandparents, but life changed drastically. Her father had been the sole provider. After his death, his estate was seized and sold, leaving the children with nothing — a painful reality of the patriarchal system surrounding her.
School became difficult. Shoes and stationery were luxuries she could no longer afford. Yet despite the hardship, school became her refuge — the one place where she could still dream.
The future she refused to accept
In her Apostolic faith community, a girl who completed Grade 7 was expected to marry soon after. By the age of 12, Julieth discovered that preparations were underway for her to be married off to an older man. Gifts had already begun arriving.
It terrified her.
Her grandmother — the only person protecting her — passed away in 2003. With that loss, the forced marriage became inevitable.
But destiny intervened.
Her aunt, her late father’s sister, quietly gave her money to escape.
Running toward freedom
Julieth fled to her maternal grandmother in Bulawayo, hoping to find safety. Instead, she was made to feel unwelcome. At 16, she left Bulawayo for Beitbridge — and never returned.
At 17, she crossed the border into South Africa with a group of migrants and arrived in Musina, Limpopo, alone and undocumented.
She slept on the streets until a stranger warned her it was unsafe and took her to a church sheltering displaced girls and women from Zimbabwe. There were about 40–50 women and girls living there. She finally had food and a roof over her head — but had to look for work during the day.
She earned R50 every Saturday, cleaned offices voluntarily, and eventually trained as a receptionist when a position opened. Humanitarian organisations donated clothing, blankets, and essentials that helped her survive.
Still, one desire never faded.
Returning to school after nine lost years
Education remained her quiet rebellion.
At 20 years old, Julieth was given a chance to return to school. Based on her age, she should have started at Grade 8. Instead, with special support, she was placed directly into Grade 11, despite having lost nearly nine years of schooling.
The first year was hard.
Then she rose.
By Grade 12, she was among the top three students, passing with distinctions.
From refugee centre to university halls
With her results, Julieth gained admission to the University of Limpopo, where she pursued a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). For two years, she paid her fees out of pocket.
Then came the breakthrough.
A scholarship not only covered her remaining undergraduate studies — it funded her postgraduate education and refunded the money she had already paid. That single opportunity transformed her life.
She went on to obtain:
- Master of Laws (Commercial Law) — University of Cape Town
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Commercial Law) — University of Cape Town
By then, her life story had become her strength. Doors opened. Scholarships followed.
Scholar, researcher, and thought leader
Today, Dr. Julieth Gudo is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Comparative Law in Africa at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Her work sits at the intersection of:
- Commercial law
- Corporate governance in state-owned enterprises
- Civil society and accountability
- Climate change regulation in Africa
- Social justice and development
Her doctoral research examined how civil society organisations strengthen corporate governance in South Africa’s state-owned enterprises.
In 2024, she published a monograph with Routledge titled:
Civil Society Organisations and State-Owned Enterprises in South Africa: Advancing Accountability and Corporate Governance.
She has also explored how civil society can advance the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area, using comparative analysis across SADC, EAC, and ECOWAS, and teaches courses on corporate governance and regional integration.
“Education liberated me”
“I knew education would liberate me from the consequences of my disadvantaged background; and when I got the opportunity, I just couldn’t let go.”
A message to society
Dr. Gudo offers a powerful call to action:
“If one cannot help a needy child, free them so that the next person can assist. Homeless children and orphans should not be hesitant to stay in refugee centres or shelters — these spaces can be places of rebuilding and transformation.”
A story bigger than one life
From an orphaned child escaping forced marriage…
To a refugee crossing borders alone…
To a PhD holder shaping Africa’s legal and governance future —
Dr. Julieth Gudo’s journey is proof that education, when protected and supported, can rewrite destiny.
This is not just her story.
It is a reminder of what happens when girls are given a choice — and a chance.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julieth-gudo-150722115
Written by : Valentine Zoza
Email : valentine@womenpowerafrica.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/valentinezoza
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