If-U-Miss-am, Zimbabwean whiz-kid Maud Chifamba grew up in grinding poverty, having lost both her parents at a tender age but at 14, she has defied adversity and hardship to break academic records.

Maud Chifamba, middle, started her studies in accounting September 10, 2012 at the University of Zimbabwe. Aged 14, she is the country’s youngest ever university student.

The extremely bright teenager became the youngest ever university student in Zimbabwe and in the whole of southern Africa.

Maud, standing next to Munyaradzi Madambi, the dean of students at the University of Zimbabwe, received last week a donation of a laptop by the TZU CHI Foundation

Now pursuing a Bachelor of Accountancy Honors Degree at the University of Zimbabwe, the country’s oldest and most esteemed educational institution, her intellectual prowess and hard work have earned her a four-year scholarship of nearly $10,000 after she excelled at 2011 Advanced Level exams.

She has been granted a four-year scholarship from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), valued at nearly $10,000

“My dream job is to become an accountant,” Maud says.

Maud shakes hands with Gershem Pasi, commissioner general of ZIMRA. “At 14, she has achieved a rare feat which some grown-ups have struggled to even initiate,” said Pasi as he announced Maud’s sponsorship package in late May, 2012