The end of July marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for University of Kent Sanctuary scholar Makomborero “Mako” Haruzivishe. Just days after marrying his wife, Teclar, in Canterbury, Mako celebrated successfully completing the third stage of his Law and Politics degree and progressing to the Integrated Master’s in Solicitors’ Practice (MLaw), bringing him one step closer to achieving his ambition of becoming a commercial lawyer.
Mako survived imprisonment as a political prisoner in Zimbabwe before fleeing into exile, unable to say goodbye to his parents and siblings. Since arriving at Kent as a Sanctuary Scholar, he has rebuilt his life through his studies, finding both a sense of purpose and a community while working towards his dream of becoming a world-class lawyer.
Although his long-term ambition is to build a career in commercial law, Mako hopes one day to return to Zimbabwe and use his legal knowledge and experience to make a difference.
Reflecting on his journey, Mako described meeting Teclar in 2019 in Harare. Their courtship was a slow burn; he spent months quietly admiring her discipline as she rose at 5am each morning to study accounting before eventually telling her how he felt.
Their relationship was tested most severely during Mako’s imprisonment, when Teclar stood by him at a time when he could not even speak to his own family. She brought him food, despite restrictions on what prisoners could receive, and provided the unwavering support that helped him through one of the most difficult periods of his life.
Exile brought its own challenges as Mako navigated job applications, university admissions and the task of rebuilding a life from nothing in a new country. Looking back on his studies at Kent so far, he said he had hoped to achieve a distinction-level performance and was proud to have secured a strong 2:1 as he completed the undergraduate stage of his degree. Speaking during the wedding celebrations, he added with a smile: “I think today I scored a distinction.”
The marriage took place in Canterbury, with the celebrations held in the shadow of the Wigoder Law Building on the University of Kent campus. Back in Zimbabwe, the occasion was marked through important cultural traditions. Mako’s family sent a formal delegation to Teclar’s family, securing permission for her elder brother, Briggs, to travel to the UK and bless the marriage, arriving with what the family described as “the mandate of the father.”
Briggs spoke with evident pride about his younger sister. “We are very proud of her. She is focused, driven, and it is amazing to see her become the remarkable woman she has become. She is the jewel of our family.”
With his wedding behind him and the next stage of his legal studies ahead, Mako is now preparing to begin the Integrated Master’s in Solicitors’ Practice (MLaw), where he will continue developing the practical legal knowledge and professional skills needed for a career as a solicitor.
Reflecting on a remarkable week of milestones, Mako smiled and said: “We’re starting a very beautiful chapter now.”
Mako and Teclar celebrating on campus and leaving Beacon House, Whitstable.